The University of Wisconsin-Madison is making inroads to advance the state’s technology prowess after it recently announced the college has established a School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences (CDIS) in its College of Letters & Science.
A statement released by the university said the CDIS was set up to “strengthen research and education on campus, prepare tech-savvy graduates to fill new kinds of jobs, [and] support a wave of Wisconsin’s entrepreneurs,” as well as serve as a partner to the state’s traditional industry sectors to provide greater competitive advantage.
“As technology becomes more pervasive in our world on all levels — from smart devices to algorithms shaping the global flow of information and commerce — it is critical that our university continues to lead in this field,” said UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank. “The new School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences is a place where top researchers will shape the way the world uses technology, and where Wisconsin’s students can learn how digital-age tools enrich their lives and careers.”
The genesis of CDIS stems from a report put together by Wisconsin in the Information Age, a nine-member committee who recommended the new school in 2018 following increased demand from students seeking training in the areas, as well as growing research opportunities in the field, according to Provost Karl Scholz, who sat on the committee and was dean of the College of Letters & Science during that time.
While the university is no stranger to creating curriculum geared toward the development of hardware and software in the fields of computer science and engineering, the university said the application of big data in today’s society requires a new way of thinking about computing and information literacy.
It has also brought about unique challenges, including issues of privacy, ethics, security and more. By joining the College of Letters & Science, the university makes way for interdisciplinary studies in areas like psychology, journalism and mass communication, biology, and physics, combining the natural, social, and humanities disciplines, the college added.
The school says the approach will help increase the number of graduates with the skills necessary for tech jobs, as well as spur partnerships with traditional companies hoping to prop up existing workforces.
“We have a desire to really open up to Wisconsin industry, to help bring their people up to speed on the evolving way they can use data and computing,” said Tom Erickson, the school’s founding director, and a recognized tech entrepreneur best known for his leadership roles at the Boston-based cloud platform, Acquia. “We have a chance to create a strong ecosystem of innovation, to create jobs, and bring significant recognition to Wisconsin as a place where entrepreneurs want to be.”
CDIS will join the American Family Insurance Data Science Institute to aid its efforts. The university also plans to embark on a major fundraising campaign with the university and the UW Foundation, the college said.
