The Department successfully hosted a visiting review team from the Computer Science  Accreditation Board in 1994. The visitors commented favorably on the program. Feedback  provided after the visit provided the basis for several curricular changes implemented  this year, including the addition of Databases and Social Implications of Computing as  required undergraduate classes.

The Department completed the second year of the new MS CS degree program. Over 70  students are now enrolled in the graduate program. A system of Teaching Assistants and  Research Assistants was put in place, complete with review and evaluation processes, along  with the formation of a departmental graduate committee. A written plan for the  supervision and evaluation of graduate assistants was formulated and provided to the  University graduate school. Dr. David Bellin continued to serve as Director of Graduate  Studies in the department. Prof. Shearon Brown was appointed Acting Director of  Undergraduate Studies in November 1994, as a result of the departure of Professor Rodney  Harrigan to serve as Acting Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Studies in the Dean's  office.

To advise students, the Department refined its mentoring strategy. Students were  divided among the faculty members, and a weekly colloquium meeting was initiated to share  information relative to university information, job opportunities, research progress, and  computer and professional skill enhancement. In addition, students make private  appointments with their faculty mentors for the purpose of discussing personal challenges.

During the summer of 1994, the Department employed Dr. Ming Lin, Ph.D. in Computer  Science from the University of California at Berkeley.

The Department made excellent progress in the acquisition of funded research projects  during the year. Research awards totaled $ 870,000, an increase from last year's  total of $800,000. Prospects for next year are positive, with over $ 8,000,000 in  outstanding proposals.

II. SUBHEADINGS

A. COMPUTER SCIENCE

1. Enrollment totals, trends, and geographic spread:

Table 1 contains the enrollment data on the Computer Science Program for the past  eight years. A decrease in freshman enrollments may be noted over the last two years. This  trend is attributed to the higher requirements of the College of Engineering as compared  to the Liberal Arts and Sciences, and to the rigor of an accreditation compliant program.  The department intends to make efforts under the direction of the undergraduate director  to reverse the decrease in freshman enrollment and to increase retention rates. In this  regard, IBM Corporation is providing support through their "Project  Breakthrough" which conducted workshops and corporate mentoring for selected entering  freshmen, to follow through their graduation.

Table 1: CS Enrollment & Degree Data

	Enr	Yr						Degr	Conf
Acad Year	1	2	3	4	Total Enrl	Total UG	Total Grad	Bach	MS	PhD
94-95	51	67	65	64	317	247	70	36	12	n/a
93-94	81	84	88	64	367	317	50	42	n/a	n/a
92-93	198	56	55	58	367	367	n/a	48	n/a	n/a
91-92	158	68	63	52	341	341	n/a	40	n/a	n/a
90-91	121	74	68	50	313	313	n/a	40	n/a	n/a
89-90	128	73	71	38	312	312	n/a	32	n/a	n/a
88-89	127	89	52	41	309	309	n/a	54	n/a	n/a
87-88	166	83	63	40	354	354	n/a	50	n/a	n/a

2. Identification and solution to instructional problems:

The Department identified implementation of the new Undergraduate Colloquium as an  instructional problem, and implemented solutions which included a more flexible attendance  format. Further study is required in order to reach the level of excellence desired in  this area.

3. Innovations in teaching:

The Department has made a concerted effort to actively involve the students in the  learning process. We have the students do more discussing, presenting, and writing in all  of our courses. Students made presentations in the Undergraduate Colloquium. Students led  several graduate colloquium meetings.

Student project teams play a central role to several courses in the undergraduate and  graduate programs, particularly in the Software Engineering concentration. Students became  more actively involved with the Undergraduate and Graduate Colloquia courses.

4. Significant changes in the curricula or new programs approved:

Two new courses were proposed as undergraduate requirements: Databases and Social  Implications of Computing. Curricula are under development, and it is expected that  University approval will be granted in Fall, 1995.

COMP 466 Systems Programming was deleted from the curriculum, as the course had not  been offered for several years.

The MS program added a "General" track as an option for students who seek  increased flexibility in coursework and research. Consistent with this approach, a reading  list and sample questions were developed preparatory to the initiation of the MS  Comprehensive Examination option.

Our primary programming language has shifted to C and C++. Workshop and teaching  materials were developed for graduate Teaching Assistants to use in these classes.

The department had added a requirement of third semester Calculus last year to enhance  the theoretical foundations and mathematical background of our students. Due to changes in  content, this year we replaced that course with Differential Equations (Math 331), after  discussion with the Math department. Since freshmen were having difficulty in their second  semester math courses, progression requirements were modified such that Discrete II may be  taken in the first semester of the Sophomore year.

6. Efforts to improve academic advising:

We have adopted and strengthened our mentoring program. Each student is assigned a  faculty "mentor" upon declaring Computer Science as a major. A peer advisor,  paid by the department, is associated with each mentor to assist in providing informal  advice at least once each month. These relationships foster a rich social, ethical,  professional, and personal environment.

To emphasize the importance we put on the mentoring effort, the department formed a  "Student/Faculty Mentoring Council" in the Spring. Students elected three  undergraduate and one graduate representative. Staff and faculty representation is also  included. The Council held one meeting and is expected to contribute to the further  direction and development of our academic advisory efforts next year.

The success of our mentoring efforts are reflected in an increasing number of students  who intend to pursue graduate studies, and the multiple employment offers received by most  graduate students.

7. Recruitment efforts:

Letter and phone contact with admitted undergraduate students declaring the CS  major is made by the department chair. Letter and phone contact with prospective and  admitted graduate students is made by the department's graduate director. The chair  and faculty speak to student and professional organizations off campus about A&T and  Computer Science. The acting undergraduate director identified seventy high school seniors  of interest and mailed letters and departmental information to them. CS Department  Graduate Handbooks are mailed with a general data sheet to all students who inquire about  the MS program. Finally, a publicity effort has commenced to increase the profile of our  department both locally, regionally, and nationally. A major accomplishment this year was  the publication of an article in Computer Research News (January 1995) by Dr. Bellin and  Dr. Monroe.

8. Major public service and/or off-campus activities:

· CS  graduate students volunteered at the Participatory Design Conference, Chapel Hill, October  1994.

· CS graduate  and undergraduate students volunteered at the national ACM Computer Science Week,  Nashville TN, March 1995.

· Faculty  presented papers at national and regional professional meetings

· Faculty  presented tutorials at national professional conferences

· Faculty  engaged in exchanges with industry regionally

9. Grants and awards received:

A. $ 400,000 - US Army CECOM

B. $ 200,000 - SAS Institute Inc.

C. $ 125,000 - International Business Machines, Software Solutions Division

D. $ 60,000 - US Air Force Rome Laboratory

E. $ 47,000 - NC Department of Transportation

F. $ 25,000 - US Army Simulation Training & Instrumentation Command

 

10. Other developments and/or indications of progress:

The continuing demand for our graduates, and the increasing numbers of GEM awardees  applying to our graduate program, are our best indicators of progress.

B. Students

1. Honors received by majors and graduates:

Jonathan Mickles Golden Key Honor Society

Laurie Holloway Golden Key Honor Society, Who's Who Among College and  University Students

Natalie McNair Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society

Adam Hudson Golden Key Honor Society, Pi Mu Epsilon Honor Society

Brenda Conyers Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society

Christie McNair Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society

Kelly Evans Ford Scholar; PENS Scholar; NACME Scholar

Kenneth Creasy Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society

Na'ima Pendergrass Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society

Angela King Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society

Yolanda Ingram Chancellor Scholar

Melvin Johnson Chancellor Scholar

Kesha Harris Chancellor Scholar

Ashley Simon Chancellor Scholar

Felicia Morgan Chancellor Scholar

Travis Hayes PEN Scholar

2. Scholarships and fellowships received by  graduates:

Laurie Holloway: GEM Graduate Fellowship, NASA Summer Research  Fellowship

Kenneth Carter NASA Summer Research Fellowship

Doreen Brown Caterpillar Scholarship

Brenda Conyers Caterpillar Scholarship

Anita Page SAS Scholarship

Jayson Askew AT&T Scholarship

Nathan Ingram Delta Sigma Theta Scholarship

Isanita D. Odom AT&T Scholarship; Minorities in Engineering  Scholarship

David Wilson AT&T Scholarshp; NACME Scholarship

Eric Hunt NACME Scholarship

Ashley Simon AT&T Scholarship

Felicia Morgan AT&T Scholarship

Olivia Boone GEM Graduate Fellowship

3. Number of honor graduates:

Total  honor graduates: 17 (Summa Cum Laude: 7, Magna Cum Laude: 7, Cum laude: 3)

4.  Activities of organized student groups including civic and social work:

The  UPE computer science honor society inducted 27 new members, both gradute and undergraduate  students. Several members attended the national UPE meeting, and the UPE chapter conducted  a fund raiser during the Spring.

The ACM student chapter organized 10 student volunteers for the national ACM conference  in Nashville, TN. Additionally, the chapter created a student resume book, a student  directory, established of an industry cluster, and did fundraising.

5. Other activities and accomplishments:

A. Department Programming Contest, Spring semester

B. National Association for Equal Opportunity (NAFEO) Hi-Tech Award 1995, Student  Torrez Harris and Dr. David Bellin, for work on software metrics.

C. Presentation at Future Scientists Conference, Adam Hudson, March 1995.

C. Follow-up Study of Graduates

1. Number of majors: 317

2. Names of graduates receiving job offers:

BS: Kesha Harris, Laurie Hollaway, Ulysses Cannon, Doreen Brown, Edward Reaves,  Tonita Hyman.

MS: Carolyn Bell, Kietta Walker, Cheryl Seals, Maurice Tyler, Dwayne Branch,  Mary Jeter.

3. Names of companies and agencies making offers:

International Business Machines, Data General, Bell NorthernResearch, Freddie Mac,  Mitre, TI, E Systems, Hughes, AT & T, General Electric, American Management Systems,  Dow Chemical, DuPont, Lockheed, Martin Marietta, Champion International, Southern Bell,  E-Systems.

4. Other noteworthy accomplishments of graduates:

a) Mr. Torrez Harris: McNair Summer Research Fellowship, 1995 NAFEO Hi-Tech Award