College of Computer Science records

Collection

Identifier: A029

Scope and Content Note

This collection is six cubic feet and spans 1971 to 1998 (bulk 1982-1989). It consists of the deans' office files and thoroughly documents all administrative aspects of the college, including the college's accreditation process, faculty concerns, student affairs (graduate and undergraduate), curriculum decisions, admissions, research activities, and strategic planning. Included are files documenting the computer companies with which the college has maintained professional relationships. Of note are files documenting the college's assistance in computer training and policy formation for Bouve College and the NU School of Law.

Dates

Creation: 1971-2004

Creator

Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). College of Computer Science (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access:

Records are closed for 25 years from their date of creation, unless researchers have written permission from the creating office. Personnel records (box 4, folders 14-48 and box 5, folders 1-20) are closed for 75 years from their date of creation.

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use:

Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the University Archivist.

Historical Note

In 1979 President Kenneth G. Ryder encouraged incoming Provost Melvin Mark to create an administrative unit for computer science instruction. The problem of restructuring the extant interdisciplinary program was overcome with the aid of several consultants. The issue was territorial, with the theoretical aspect of the program linked to the Mathematics Department in the College of Arts and Sciences and the application aspect of the program linked to the College of Engineering. On 12 April 1982 the Faculty Senate, following a vigorous protest by the engineering faculty, resolved 25-10-3 to establish the first college in America devoted exclusively to computer science. The Board of Trustees approved the university's first new college in 17 years on 19 June 1982.

By Fall 1982, the college had a faculty of 11, including nine faculty members who volunteered from the College of Arts and Sciences Mathematics Department; significantly, no one volunteered from the College of Engineering. Paul Kalaghan became the first dean of the College of Computer Science in the summer of 1982. Nationwide recruitment brought an additional 12 faculty the next year and five the year after that for a total of 27 full-time faculty members. The undergraduate curriculum consists of computer languages, systems and networks, databases, graphics, and artificial intelligence.

The college established a graduate program, offering an M.S. in Computer Science, on 11 June 1984. A Ph.D. in Computer Science was approved by the Faculty Senate on 13 April 1987, and the first doctorate was awarded in 1989. The college was accredited in June 1986, leading to substantial grant funding, mostly in the areas of artificial intelligence, neural network imaging, and programmed language development.

Extent

6 cubic feet (6 containers)

Language

English

Additional Description

Overview

Northeastern University's (NU) College of Computer Science (CCS) was the first college in the United States devoted exclusively to computer science. Despite the vigorous protest of NU's engineering faculty, NU's Faculty Senate resolved to establish the CCS in April 1982, and the Board of Trustees approved the CCS in June 1982. The CCS linked the theoretical approaches taught in the Dept. of Mathematics in the College of Arts and Sciences with the practical approaches taught in the College of Engineering. The CCS established a graduate program, offering an M.S. in Computer Science, in June 1984. A Ph.D. in Computer Science was approved by the Faculty Senate in April 1987, and the first doctorate was awarded in 1989. The CCS was accredited in June 1986, leading to substantial grant funding, mostly in the areas of artificial intelligence, neural network imaging, and programmed language development.

Overview

The Northeastern University College of Computer Science (CCS) records consist of files from the office of the CCS dean. The records thoroughly document all administrative aspects of the CCS, including the accreditation process, faculty concerns, student affairs (graduate and undergraduate), curricular decisions, admissions, research activities, and strategic planning. Included are records documenting the computer companies with professional relationships to the CCS.

System of Arrangement:

Arranged alphabetically.

Physical Location

29/1

Bibliography

"Admissions Publications." A29, Box 2, Folders 6-7.
Frederick, Antoinette, "Northeastern University: Coming of Age: The Ryder Years, 1975-1989." Boston: Northeastern University Press, 1995. CALL NUMBER: LD4011.N22F732 1995