The news from USF College of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity and Computer Science The project is still in its early stages, but task force chair Sudeep Sarkar is excited about the possibilities the college offers.
The college, which is scheduled to launch in fall 2025 following board approval, will be the first of its kind in Florida.
“We all want this university to be different,” Sarkar said. “We want this to be an example across the country.”
Sarkar is leading a task force to brainstorm ideas and explore logistics, according to an FAQ page.
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The working group is comprised of faculty from various USF colleges, the faculty senate, and students from cybersecurity and computer science organizations.
He said the college was particularly important amid the growing cybersecurity sector.
“Technology, AI, cybersecurity and computing are embedded in almost every discipline and impacting a wide variety of industries,” Sarkar said.
Intervention force co-chair Pritish Mukherjee said their aim is to develop the mission, vision and goals.
“Considerable efforts have been made to understand the current landscape and job market for students to prepare them to achieve the best possible results after graduation,” Mukherjee said.
He also said the demand for professionals in these fields is “skyrocketing.”
“USF has a unique opportunity to take a leadership position in the future of technology – an opportunity that no other university in the state has yet captured,” he said.
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Mukherjee said much work remains, but this fall the focus will be on securing a physical space and hiring faculty.
““We are on the brink of a new era,” he said. “Artificial intelligence is poised to become the industrial revolution of this generation. With this new college, USF will be at the forefront of this global revolution that will shape our lives and potentially change the trajectory of history. »
Sarkar said several other universities implement similar programs through different degrees, research programs or certifications, but having a designated college at USF will reach a broader group of students.
“There are innovative ways in which you can kind of enrich the curriculum on campus and creating this college will allow us to explore some of those,” he said.
USF currently offers a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity through the College of Engineering.
Although the major is offered through a department within the College of Engineering, creating a separate college for the field will allow USF to expand its offerings through more specific departments.
“Being able to build large teams of IT professionals is critical and will help us grow,” Sarkar said.
He said USF has one of the largest cybersecurity degree programs in the country, creating a need for a college to reach those students and help them gain skills in computer science and cybersecurity.
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Sarkar also said the college would enable USF to obtain additional research funds and grants to “enhance the competitiveness” of research teams.
The college will build stronger relationships with industry through increased visibility. It will also continue USF’s “critical” partnership with the Florida Center for Cybersecurity, better known as Cyber Florida. The state-funded organization is housed on USF’s Tampa campus and supports cybersecurity education through programs and certifications, according to the FAQ page.
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With more than a year left before the college is operational, Sarkar said most of the challenges he anticipates are “mundane” ones, such as setting up a structure and filling of documents.
But he expects a bigger challenge to be a “good one”: recruiting faculty. With a new college, he said, USF will welcome more students in AI, cybersecurity and computer science study tracks, creating increased demand for faculty.
“So we’re going to hire,” he said. “But will we be able to hire that many people? So many good professional teachers in a short period of time? This is one of the great challenges we will face. »
