UW Trustees Vote to Make School of Computing an Independent Unit

After “incubating” for more than three years in the University of Wyoming’s College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, UW’s new but well-established School of Computing will become a stand-alone academic unit before the start of the 2025-26 academic year.

UW’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously today (Wednesday) -- with one member absent -- to reorganize the School of Computing as an independent academic unit, similar to the School of Energy Resources and Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources. This action is in accordance with UW Regulation 2-13.

“This reorganization aligns with the vision established for the School of Computing to become an independent academic unit, advancing its mission to serve the entire university by offering interdisciplinary computing education and research,” says Interim Provost Scott Turpen, who supported the move. “This transition will enable the School of Computing to function with greater autonomy, improve its capacity to attract faculty and students, and maintain its current achievements in research and academic programming.”

Since launching in 2022, the School of Computing has recruited 11 new faculty members jointly with six departments across five UW academic colleges. Additionally, it added seven faculty members from a merger with the Wyoming Geospatial Information Science Center (WyGISC) in summer 2023.

As a result of efforts to align WyGISC academic programs with School of Computing new offerings, the school had a total enrollment of 108 students in academic programs in fall 2024 and 343 students enrolled in School of Computing classes.

The School of Computing serves a university-wide mission, collaborating with multiple colleges. To accelerate the establishment of the school as a hub for computing at UW, it initiated a broad range of engagement programs, strategically designed and managed to build bridges. To date, these programs and other engagement activities have resulted in 174 student impacts and over 160 faculty engagements with 98 unique faculty members in 34 UW departments. The school also has worked to advance computing-related infrastructure available to UW researchers and educators, including broadening the use of the National Center for Atmospheric Research-Wyoming Supercomputing Center.

The school has been led since March 2022 by Director Gabrielle Allen, a professor of mathematics and statistics and an adjunct professor of physics and astronomy with extensive experience as an administrator and scholar in computing and its applications in modern life. Allen has announced her plans to step down from the position at the conclusion of her contract this summer, and there will soon be a national search for a dean to lead the next phase of the school’s development.

The reorganization of the School of Computing followed the standard process for academic reorganizations, including a recommendation and rationale from the dean of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences; review by and input from the college’s faculty; and review by the Faculty Senate.

Among the next steps for the school to become independent will be the establishment of a reorganization committee, composed of faculty, staff and students, for development of a reorganization plan. Turpen will initiate the search for a dean. The school will be located in the Information Technology Building and Crane Hall, which is undergoing renovation.

“The reorganization of the School of Computing as an independent academic unit represents a strategic advancement for UW, positioning the university at the forefront of interdisciplinary computing education and research,” Turpen says. “The transition is expected to enhance computing initiatives across the university while maintaining strong collaborations with the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences and other UW entities.”