The University of Texas’s School of Information could merge into a new school housed within the College of Natural Sciences, according to an email sent by university administrators to students in November.
The new school would combine the Computer Science, Statistics and Data Sciences and Information fields of study with an aim to “provide one consolidated center of excellence.” But the proposal raises questions about the future of the School of Information, which has existed under different names since 1948.
The UT System Board of Regents and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board must sign off on the consolidation before it goes into effect.
College of Natural Sciences Dean David Vanden Bout and Interim Dean of School of Information Soo Young Rieh announced the potential change in an email to both college communities before Thanksgiving, writing that the new school will combine related fields of study to “optimize” the impact researchers and students can have.
“Central to this vision are enhanced resources, newly formalized collaborations and fresh attention to the role our collective disciplines play in the University’s next era of innovation,” the school leaders wrote.
The deans said “many details remain under development” but the leaders are committed to keeping all current academic credentials for current and prospective students intact and to preserving “departmental autonomy.”
The University of Texas declined to comment beyond the details of the email.
The School of Information focuses on a “human-centered” approach to technology and information. The small school is ranked sixth nationally by U.S. News & World Report with about 750 total students and offers six major concentrations to specialize in within its undergraduate informatics degree, school librarian certificate, master’s and doctoral programs.
The College of Natural Sciences is one of the largest science colleges in the nation, boasting the largest undergraduate research program at a single university with 12 departments, 13,000 students and 15 undergraduate majors.
Both academic units have collaborated as the university expanded its investment in studying the rapidly growing field of artificial intelligence. UT boasts dozens of AI-related research initiatives throughout colleges and departments, including research into its ethical implications.
In their email, the academic leaders told students and staff they would keep them informed in the coming months of the potential change.