Finding a Home *** ULL Computer Department Gets New Facility

By RICHARD BURGESS

LAFAYETTE – The University of Louisiana at Lafayette computer science department finally has a home, nearly 40 years after the creation of what is now one of the university’s flagship programs.

The three-story, $10 million facility officially opened Thursday with a ceremony attended by Gov. Kathleen Blanco.

“It stands as a testament to the origins of Louisiana’s premier computer science program,” she said.

The department began moving into the building earlier this semester, hauling equipment from the fourth floor of the ULL Conference Center, which has served as the department’s cramped home since 1985.

“We found our home, finally,” said Magdy Bayoumi, head of the computer science department and director of the Center for Advanced Computer Studies.

It’s been a long time coming.

The university acquired its first computer in 1954, an analog “electronic brain,” and offered the first computer science course in 1959.

The first digital computer was installed in 1960 – an IBM 1620 with 20 kilobytes of memory, less than many cell phones.

The computer science department was created in 1968, and the first doctorate in computer science was awarded in 1971.

“The university embraced technology before technology was cool,” said Lafayette City-Parish President Joey Durel, who attended the opening ceremony Thursday.

Durel, whose administration has pushed a plan to build a public fiber-optic network, said the computer research at the university is integral to a vision to develop Lafayette into a technology hub.

“Our goal is to make (Lafayette) the technology leader of the South, and who knows after that,” Durel said.

ULL President Ray Authement said the university’s computer science program is among the top 30 in the nation and a big draw for the university.

“In the state, it think it has no peer,” he said.

According to figures from the university, there are more than 400 undergraduate students in computer science, which offers concentrations in video game design, information technology, scientific computing, computer engineering and cognitive science.

Bayoumi said the 61,000-square-foot building – which includes state-of-the-art labs and classrooms, conference facilities, and an auditorium – will help recruit more students.

With additional students, he said, will come more technology companies.

“Having an educated work force, that will attract industry here,” Bayoumi said.

The building, near Girard Park on the site of McNaspy Stadium, was funded mainly with student fees and university funds.

Blanco said it was remarkable that the university paid for the new facility “without having to beg the Legislature.”

(c) 2007 Advocate; Baton Rouge, La.. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.