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Welcome

Fall 2024 starts a new academic year for us. In 2023 we proudly became the first public university in Florida to be invited to join the in nearly four decades. USF is one of only two institutions from the State University System of Florida to hold this prestigious AAU membership. Our swift ascent to the AAU is a testament to our dedication to excellence. The Department of Computer Science and Engineering at USF, the second-largest department on campus, has substantially contributed to this achievement. With a robust student body of over 3,000, our efforts are further underscored by the Academic Analytics Scholarly Research Index (AAD 2022). By this comprehensive measure that considers grants, articles, conferences, awards, and citations, the USF CSE department proudly stands out with a strong mid-tier ranking among Computer Science departments at public and private AAU universities, showcasing its robust academic performance and significant contributions to the field.

The timing of our AAU induction is fitting, considering the rising tech sector in the Tampa Bay region. Over the past five years, we've witnessed a 30% increase in tech job growth, and projections suggest an addition of more than 3,700 jobs by 2027. Forbes has recognized Tampa as Florida's technological nexus, accounting for over a quarter of the state's tech employment. With 440 Bachelor's, 129 Master's, and 16 Ph.D. graduates in computer science, computer engineering, information technology, and cybersecurity in the academic year 2023-24, USF is poised to continue supplying top-tier tech professionals to the region's expanding tech enterprises.

Despite significant enrollment pressures, USF CSE continues to hold top ranks. We are in the top 15% (rank 42) of 273 CS units in both public and private institutions, according to Academic Analytics AAD 2022. Additionally, we find ourselves in a prestigious company of peer-ranked departments, including the NYU, Utah, CMU, UC Irvine, Maryland, and Georgia Tech. U.S. News ranked our Computer Engineering graduate program at 40th and the Computer Science program at 71st among U.S. public universities in 2025.

Our undergraduate program, the Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity, recently underwent an ABET review and now stands as our third ABET-accredited degree. With an enrollment of 670 students, this program is seeing rapid growth. In a significant stride for our department and local high schools, we secured a $1.39 million grant from the Florida Department of Education to enhance our cybersecurity capabilities. Furthermore, a new $3.7 million NSF CyberCorps Scholarship grant will amplify our commitment to cybersecurity education.

USF CSE's online initiatives are flourishing. The Pathway to Computing graduate certificate program, a precursor to our Master of Science in Computer Science, has grown from 8 to 30 students within a year. Our newly introduced online graduate AI certificate is already showing promising results.

Research, too, has been a hallmark of our achievements. Our department鈥檚 annual research expenditure for 2022-23 reached $4.5 million, maintaining last year's figure and marking a 75% increase over the past five years. Our faculty is executing $18 million in active awards for impactful research initiatives funded by esteemed bodies like the NSF, IARPA, US Army, DoD, NIH, NIST, and more.

In addition to the existing programs, we continue to forge innovative academic collaborations like a school of computing. With cross-disciplinary initiatives like the USF , the USF Center for Cryptographic Research, and the , we are pushing the boundaries of what's possible in computing education.

Our dedication to broadening participation in computing is unwavering. A grant from Melinda Gates' Pivotal Ventures, in collaboration with the , has been instrumental in implementing evidence-based strategies to attract and retain more women in computer science. The results are evident, with 28.7% women earning BS degrees in AY2022-23, up from 15% five years previous to that.

The importance of external partnerships cannot be overstated. A notable example is the $1.5 million investment by The Rapid7 Cybersecurity Foundation, which will provide hands-on learning opportunities for our budding cybersecurity professionals by establishing a Cyber Threat Intelligence Lab. This gift was recently followed by CSE Professor Simon Ou and researchers from Rapid7 securing another $1.5 million in external funding from the National Science Foundation and Office of Naval Research. Furthermore, our active Computing Partners Program, boasting members like Amgen, CAE, Johnson and Johnson, JP Morgan Chase, Nielsen, and Raymond James, ensures that our students get practical experience through internships and job opportunities.

In a rapidly evolving digital landscape fueled by AI, Cybersecurity, and Quantum Computing, the importance of a robust CSE department cannot be overstated. Investing in USF CSE is investing in the leaders, innovators, and creators of tomorrow and the transformative technology they will bring.

Sincerely,

Sudeep Sarkar
Distinguished University Professor and Chair