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University of Florida Eliminates Computer Science Department

forbes.com

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Re: University of Florida Eliminates Computer Science Department

#2

Post by chwahoo »

I'm surprised that CS doesn't bring in enough funding to justify itself on those grounds alone. I'm a CS grad student, but I'll confess that I don't know much about UF's program.

As for article asking the reader to imagine the outcry if they cut football or other big sports, the ones that would cause an outcry are probably immensely profitable. It's a fair question whether college athletics has gotten too big, but it's almost entirely irrelevant to this article.

Re: University of Florida Eliminates Computer Science Department

#3

Post by pedalpete »

This article misses the reason behind closing the CS department. Was it completely due to budgetary concerns? Or was the University having difficulty competing with other CS schools. The article mentions the Florida Polytechnical University, has the creation of this school meant that their aren't enough CS students to fill classrooms at both colleges?

Though I, like most, was initially shocked that a CS school would be closing, maybe their is more to it than just budgetary cuts.

Re: University of Florida Eliminates Computer Science Department

#4

Post by mmuro »

As someone who works for a university, I can say that in some cases the athletics budget is completely separate from the educational side of things. They are independently funded and draw no resources from education.

I do not know if this is how UF handles its budgets.

Re: University of Florida Eliminates Computer Science Department

#5

Post by spoiledtechie »

disclaimer: This is a political rant from the articles facts.

This is a huge opinion article with a little bit of fact sprinkled over it accusing Gov. Rick Scott of doing the wrong thing.

For anyone that has been to Florida or knows what Florida Economics are currently, I think Rick Scott did a good thing. I think more so, the University staff ought to be to blame.

For some fact. Florida's economy has been hit the hardest out of almost every state except Nevada. But with budget cuts, Nasa employees being laid off, a staggering 18% unemployment, roughly 25% of children homeless/living in motels or living in poverty, and Florida's homestead/business taxes being some of the highest in the country, he is only trying to cut government spending to the levels it should be lowered to. Instead of blaming a governor for his cutting of education, maybe this article should look at how he is trying to rescue a state from over spending so that taxes can be lowered so the economy may rebound a bit.

Re: University of Florida Eliminates Computer Science Department

#6

Post by walexander »

chwahoo wrote: post #2

I'm surprised that CS doesn't bring in enough funding to justify itself on those grounds alone. I'm a CS grad student, but I'll confess that I don't know much about UF's program. As for article asking the reader to imagine the outcry if they cut football or other big sports, the ones that would cause an outcry are probably immensely profitable. It's a fair question whether college athletics has gotten too big, but it…

It's very relevant to this particular article because it's nerd linkbait.

I, personally, can't see a reason why a CS program would not be a priority for a university. I, personally, am also not an administrator at UF and don't need to have an opinion on it.

I'm sure this will pop up another 10 times this week though, as if there is a war on computer science.

Re: University of Florida Eliminates Computer Science Department

#7

Post by jonmb »

mmuro wrote: post #4

As someone who works for a university, I can say that in some cases the athletics budget is completely separate from the educational side of things. They are independently funded and draw no resources from education. I do not know if this is how UF handles its budgets.

I live in Gainesville and many students are very upset about this and have shown it online and in protests.

I'm not 100% certain, but I do believe the athletics budget is separate from academics.

Re: University of Florida Eliminates Computer Science Department

#9

Post by _delirium »

spoiledtechie wrote: post #5

disclaimer: This is a political rant from the articles facts. This is a huge opinion article with a little bit of fact sprinkled over it accusing Gov. Rick Scott of doing the wrong thing. For anyone that has been to Florida or knows what Florida Economics are currently, I think Rick Scott did a good thing. I think more so, the University staff ought to be to blame. For some fact. Florida's economy has been hit the ha…

A bit of a quibble: Florida has high taxes in some areas because it's one of only 7 states with no income tax. Overall taxation, considering the no-income-tax part, is pretty low, and its state+local spending is roughly in line with that of other states.
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