Dr. Yi Deng, Dean & Professor
School of Computing and Information Sciences
Florida International University
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Florida International University (FIU), the state university of Florida at Miami, is a young institution with its 30 year history. However, FIU has emerged as a power house in higher education and research in the nation. With 35,000 students and 190 baccalaureate, master's and doctoral degree programs in 19 colleges and schools, FIU is now one of the 30 largest universities in U.S., and is ranked by the Carnegie Foundation as a Doctoral/Research University-Extensive, the highest ranking of quality in its classification system. Our institution's competitive research funding has increased 500% over the past 10 years to $78 million in 2002 - 2003. Sponsored research funding from external sources has grown to $92 million for the year 2006-2007.
As a key program at FIU, the School of Computing and Information Sciences (CIS) is leading the university's charge to become a top, urban, public research university in the country. Our school's student population has doubled is the last 10 years to over 1100. Our education offerings continue to expand with bachelor's degrees in computer science (CS) and information technology (IT), and master's and Ph.D. degrees in CS. Our technology infrastructure has increased 500% in the same period with over 500 servers/workstations in 25 labs interconnected by high speed networks. To accommodate our growth, we are in the process of doubling the capacities of our undergraduate and graduate labs, and building new computer equipped instructional classrooms. For the past 5 years, the School has received an average $2 million annually in external research funding, doubling the amount averaged prior to 1997 and representing nearly 1000% growth in 10 years. CIS ranked top 65 in the country in competitive research funding from Federal agencies in 2001.
This is just the beginning! We are continuing to improve our education programs to provide our students with both the fundamental knowledge and state-of the-art technology skills needed to pursue a successful career. In the next a few years, our faculty and student team will grow significantly. Building on the strength of our funded research, we are striving to become a leader of multidisciplinary R&D by integrating computing and information with fields like biology, health & medicine, disaster management, hurricane damage assessment, GIS, etc., which are increasingly important to our nation. We are working hard to build a strong partnership with industry and community. I invite you to join us and work together to build a better future.
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The School of Computing and Information Sciences was formed in 1987 from the former Department of Mathematical Sciences.
The mission of the School has several dimensions, consistent with the overall mission of the
University and consistent with its role as part of the College of Engineering and Computing.
High Quality Undergraduate Program |
 | To offer an undergraduate
degree program leading to the BS in Computer Science which includes high
quality teaching by properly trained and experienced faculty. This program
prepares students for either continued graduate education or for BS level
careers in business, industry, or government. The program includes a mix
and balance of application oriented course work and study of the
underlying theory and principles of Computer Science. The program is
designed to educate students whose technical knowledge and skills will not
become rapidly outdated upon leaving the University. Towards those ends,
all faculty in the School are involved in undergraduate education,
including teaching beginning courses. Effective quality teaching is an
essential part of the responsibilities of all faculty in the School, and
special efforts are made to find ways of increasing that quality and
effectiveness. Consistent with our status as part of the College of
Engineering and Computing, the education of Computer Science majors should
not only include up-to-date technical material utilizing contemporary equipment but
also should provide opportunity for students to take advantage of their
educational opportunities to become broadly educated as citizens and
individuals. Consistent with the mission of the University, the School of
Computing and Information Sciences offers its undergraduate program to full and part-time degree seeking students and accommodates the special needs of mature students and lifelong learners. Because students from minority and other disadvantaged and/or underrepresented groups have been historically underrepresented in technological areas, the School has a special responsibility to recruit, encourage, and support undergraduate major students from those groups. |
Graduate Degree Programs for MS and PhD |
| To offer graduate degree programs leading to both the MS and PhD degrees. The MS program provides professionals now working in the field to update their knowledge and skills, as well as providing traditional students the opportunity to increase their abilities, knowledge, and value to future employers. The PhD program will prepare students for research and teaching at universities and/or to conduct basic and applied research in industry or government agencies. Because of a national shortage of PhD level researchers and faculty in Computer Science, the recent development of the PhD program in Computer Science provides the responsibility as well as the opportunity to make an especially significant contribution. |
Basic and Applied Research in CS |
| To conduct basic and applied research in Computer Science. Computer Science is a major component of almost all new technological development. By conducting high quality research in a variety of sub-areas of this field, the School of Computing and Information Sciences will make a contribution not only to this area and this nation, but to the entire world. Successful research will also enhance the reputation of the University and, therefore, its ability to successfully achieve all aspects of its mission. It is through our active research program that faculty maintain the knowledge and expertise necessary to provide quality education, especially at the graduate level. Research is conducted in areas relevant to the expertise of our faculty and is an inseparable part of doctoral education. In support of the research component of our mission and our graduate education mission, the School maintains laboratory facilities which are kept up to date with contemporary research quality equipment and software, and are supported with adequate and properly trained staff. |
Provide Course work & Support for Non-CS Students |
| To provide course work and support for students in other fields who need and want to learn computer skills and to understand and utilize computers either in their chosen careers or for personal intellectual growth and stimulation. As computer knowledge and skills become an important part of higher education for students in all areas, providing appropriate courses and instruction has become an increasingly important part of the mission of the School of Computing and Information Sciences, just as courses and instruction for non-majors has historically been part of the missions mathematics and English department. Because of the importance of these skills and this knowledge to success in higher education, this aspect of our mission carries with it a special component of responsibility to minority and other educationally disadvantaged students. |
Respond to needs of local & regional industry/govt. |
| Consistent with the mission of the University, to respond to the needs of local and regional industry and government. This includes cooperation with research and development efforts of local industry, sharing information through joint seminar participation, providing specific training and technical information to them. Cooperative research efforts with industry enhance the research mission of the School of Computing and Information Sciences and also help to promote economic development in our region. Similarly, joint activities with government agencies such as the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration in topics such as massively parallel computation provides opportunities for faculty and graduate student research as well as an opportunity for the School to provide a valuable service toward the solution of problems important to the entire world. |
Provide Technical expertise to entire University |
| To provide technical expertise to the entire University community so as to help with the integration of computers throughout all aspects of the University. The University of the future will have a distributed computer network at its center, linking and supporting a wide range of instructional, research and administrative activities. The School of Computing and Information Sciences, by virtue of having knowledge and expertise concerning both computer technology and also educational needs, has a special role to play in leading the development of such a University-wide integrated computer network and in deciding on how it is to be used. Working in cooperation with University Academic Computing Services and with other academic units, the School of Computing and Information Sciences should help lead the University in utilizing this technology in all phases of its educational mission. |
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