History of B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences
1964
The Computer Center reports that a new disk storage drive and related equipment is now fully installed
and operational. This adds two million digits of random access storage to our 1620 system.
The Computer Center announces that as in the past, it is necessary to sign up in advance for time on the computer and other equipment. During regular hours (8 to 5 Monday through Friday) time is available on a first-come, first-serve basis for both faculty and staff.
The Computer Center's present equipment can handle a maximum of 100 questions on four IBM mark-sense cards. With some modifications to the mark-sense equipment, the center can handle 150 questions on only three cards.
1966
Frederick C. Burgwardt, associate professor of electrical engineering, proposes that RIT join the
approximately 20 other institutions in the nation and implement a program in computer technology.
1967
BusinessWeek reports that for IBM alone, computer installations (IBM 1620 and IBM 360 batch-processing)
increased by 50 percent; total systems in the U.S. now number approximately 40,000, with a conservative
estimate of 70,000 installations by 1970.
The recommendation is made that the department of computer technology would most logically fit in the Institute College (which later becomes the College of Applied Science and Technology) since improvement of computers and computer systems is largely a result of applying new techniques as they are developed.
Under the program in computer technology proposal, the first class of students in the computer technology program would be accepted as second-year students consisting primarily of in-school transfers. Forty-five students were projected to enroll.
1969
The institute announces that they have engaged the services of Information Associates, Inc. to
assist in the development of a computer assisted admissions system.
RIT’s Center for Educational and Institutional Research reported on the needs of computers. The primary use of computers will be for conventional statistical analyses and for information retrieval as it applies to research. Very little use has been made of the computer in the past and only for statistical analyses. As the center grows, considerably more use of the computer is anticipated. Need for typewriter-printer is anticipated. The availability of a plotter to convert digital information to graphical information is desired.
1970
Dr. John L. Gunter, 33, is appointed Director of Computer Services. His primary duty is to establish
a centralized institute-wide computer facility and to serve on a planning committee to study the
feasibility of a School of Computer Science and Technologies.
Edward S. Todd, Vice President of Instructional Development and Planning, determines, “the time seems ripe to bring computing education at RIT to fruition” and presents a charge to an institute-wide Computer Education Committee (CEC).
A joint seminar titled “Basic Computing Principles” is presented by the controller and computer sciences.
Evelyn Rozanski joins RIT’s computing program as an instructor.
A joint seminar titled “Management Information Systems” is presented by the controller and computer sciences.
1971
President Paul Miller places a mandatory hold on computer systems and new programming requests,
changes, or additions, and decides to upgrade the computing capabilities by installing a Xerox Data
System Sigma 6 Computer system. This is a major conversion from the existing IBM-type programs to
XDS-type programs.
School of Computer Science and Technology program created. Watson Walker, head of the electrical engineering department offers courses in digital computer systems and digital computer workshop.
1972
RIT establishes one of the first undergraduate schools of computer science and technology in the
nation, called Computer Systems.
RIT announces a new bachelor of technology degree program in computer systems.
1972-1973
The School of Applied Science is established with Jim Forman appointed as director.
1973
The computer systems department is established with John L. Gunther appointed as acting chair.
The Institute College is created. It incorporates the School of Applied Science, department of
computer science and technology, department of packaging science and the Center for Community/Junior
College Relations.
1974
The master of science degree in computer system management is announced. Dr. Richard Cheng is appointed
as chairman.
1975-1976
The Institute College now offers courses such as: Introduction to Computers, Computer Techniques,
Program Language–FORTRAN, COBOL, and Computer Systems Software.
1977-1978
The Institute College now offers undergraduate programs in: applied software science, computer
science, computer systems, systems software science, computer engineering, packaging science, civil
engineering technology, electrical engineering technology, mechanical engineering technology, and
audiovisual communications.
1979
The School of Computer Science and Technology hosts its open house and tour of its new facilities
in the Ross Memorial Building.
1980
Applied software science becomes an option within the computer science program. Computer technology
is a program with software systems an option within it.
Jack Hollingsworth is named director of RIT’s School of Computer Science & Technology. He came to RIT in 1979 after 22 years at RPI where he started RPI’s computer science program.
1981
Institute College becomes the College of Applied Science & Technology. The college’s programs
include: computer engineering, computer science, packaging science, civil engineering technology,
electrical engineering technology, mechanical engineering technology, manufacturing engineering technology,
energy technology, and audiovisual communications.
1981-1982
A master of science degree program in computer science is offered. Also offered is a master of
science degree program in information science.
1982-1983
Three new master of science programs in computer science, computer systems management, and information
science are introduced.
1982
Michael Charles, Assistant VP of Information Systems and Computing, announces that the
campus computer facilities will expand and the Ross Building will house a micro-computing lab,
professional computing lab, and faculty computer development lab. The micro-computing lab will
be used for student computer literacy classes; the professional computing lab will be used by computer
science students; and the development lab will be used by faculty to improve micro, mini, and large-scale
computing skills.
mid-1980s
VAX computer system, building 10
1984
The primary mission of RIT’s School of Computer Science and Technology is to educate students
to become software development professionals. Software development is the central theme of computer
science.
1984-1985
The College of Applied Science and Technology adds a program in food, hotel and tourism management.
1987
RIT establishes a new master of science degree program in computer software development and management.
1987-1988
The department of applied computer studies now offers master of science degree programs in computer science and software development and management. The department also offers an advanced certificate in applied computer studies.
1988
The department of computer science received its accreditation.
1991
Computer Lab, building 10
1993
RIT begins development of what will eventually become the first undergraduate program in software engineering in the United States.
1996
RIT accepts its first freshman class of software engineering majors.
1997
The information technology department exhibits the CAROL project, an outgrowth of curriculum
taught by Gordon Goodman and Stephen Jacobs that used students to build websites for art museums
and other non-profit organizations, at the Association for Computing Machinery’s 50th anniversary conference.
1998
Three RIT computer science majors placed second in the Regional ACM International Collegiate Programming
Contest. Established in 1970, the contest is the world's oldest and largest collegiate programming competition. Each year more then 4,000 students from around the world participate.
2000
A final proposal is submitted to create the College of Computing. The College of Computing
will emerge from the College of Applied Science and Technology and will begin educating
3,000 students who are currently enrolled in the departments of computer science, information
technology, and software engineering. Additionally, the new college will include
an IT lab.
2001
RIT graduates the first class of software engineers in the United States.
RIT announces the formation of the B. Thomas Golisano
College of Computing and Information Sciences. The college will comprehensively address the
computing and information technologies of today, and into the future. Named for its founding donor,
B. Thomas Golisano, chairman and chief executive officer of Paychex Inc., the college owes its
launch to his gift of $14 million. The gift is the largest gift from an individual
in RIT history and is believed to be the largest given to any university or college in the Rochester
area.
RIT President Al Simone; Frontier CEO Martin Mucci; Senator James Alesi; Don
Boyd, IT Collaboratory director; Walter Wolf, acting dean, B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing
and Information Sciences; and Jeffrey Lasky, head of the IT Lab, break ground for the new cutting-edge
facility designed for research and development. Senator Alesi is instrumental in securing the
$1.5 million funding for the IT Lab.
Daisuke Asano becomes the first student to graduate from RIT after completing studies
here through a partnership with Kyoto Computer Gakuin in Japan. After finishing undergraduate course work
in Japan, Asano studied at RIT and earned
a master’s degree in information technology.
Breaking ground on October 12th for the new complex that will be home to the B. Thomas Golisano
College of Computing and Information Sciences. From left, Walter Wolf, interim dean; Stanley
McKenzie, provost; William Buckingham, chairman of the RIT Board of Trustees; B. Thomas Golisano,
CEO of Paychex Inc.; Albert Simone, RIT president; Joan Thomas, information technology academic
adviser; Jim Vallino, assistant professor of computer science and software engineering; and Bryan
Reich, Information Technology graduate student.
2002
Helping meet demand and tapping student interest, RIT creates an
advanced certificate in game programming, one of the first of its kind anywhere, offered
by RIT’s
information technology department. Three courses comprise the just-approved concentration: 2-D
Graphics Programming, Introduction to 3-D, and 3-D Graphics Programming.
Provost Stan McKenzie announces the appointment of Dr. Jorge L. Díaz-Herrera as the new dean of
the college, beginning July 24, 2002. Dr. Díaz-Herrera
will join RIT after having served for two years as the department head for the department of computer
science at Southern Polytechnic State University in Georgia.
RIT and invited dignitaries officially open the Lab for Applied Computing (formerly known as the IT Lab), a cutting-edge facility in IT research and development for upstate New York. The Lab for Applied Computing is the result of Senator James Alesi’s efforts working with the Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno in securing $1.5 million in New York state funds to build the facility. The lab will play a key part in developing regional strength in IT jobs and businesses, and an important step for RIT’s Information Technology Collaboratory—a STAR Center funded by $14 million from the state.
The college introduces a bachelor of science degree in applied networking and system administration. The degree focuses on the design, construction, and operation of computer networks using available components, along with managing the servers that keep users interconnected. Previously, these areas were handled as part of a broader curriculum within the department of information technology.
2003
RIT becomes one of the first universities to have an ABET-accredited degree in software engineering
in the U.S.
Operations at the college—one
of the nation’s leading providers of computer-related studies—are transferred into a brand-new wireless facility on campus. The move begins the process of consolidating most of the college’s
activities—formerly
conducted in a half-dozen buildings across campus—under one roof. The transition comes only
15 months after RIT officials broke ground on the three-story, 177,000-square-foot building.
Dean Jorge Díaz-Herrera announces that Dr. Roger Gaborski has been named associate dean for graduate studies and research, and director of the Laboratory for Applied Computing.
Edith Lawson is appointed associate dean of the college. Lawson previously served as chair of RIT’s information technology department. During that time, the undergraduate program grew from 234 students to more than 1,200. The graduate program, which started in 1995, has expanded to more than 500 students.
RIT at the SIGGRAPH Exposition, San Diego, CA. RIT’s College of Computing and Information Sciences
and College of Imaging Arts and Sciences join forces at the trade show that
enables attendees to promote their innovations nationally and internationally. The tradeshow showcases
animation, haptics, advanced rendering, augmented reality, Web-based visualization, and human-machine
systems.
Computer lab in building 70, the new B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences
RIT hosts the regional finals of the 2003 ACM Northeast North America Programming Contest an event in which RIT placed second in 1998.
RIT introduces a new master of science degree program in computing security and information assurance. The program consists of six core courses dealing with technical, business, ethical, and administrative aspects of security.