Andy and Dian Lopez have been part of UMM's computer science discipline since its creation in 1984.   As they prepare for retirement from their teaching careers, we asked Andy and Dian to reflect on how far this area of study has come since its inception.

Back in the academic year of 1978/79, the Lopez's (members of the math discipline at that time) took a sabbatical. They both enrolled in graduate courses in computer science at the University of Arizona. Andy completed an M.S. in Computer Science that year. Dian completed a PhD in computer science at Texas A&M University a few years later.

Up to that point, UMM's computing courses were limited to programming and numerical methods.   Andy and Dian's own educational explorations generated enthusiasm to develop new course topics for students interested in the emerging field of computer science.

Dian recalls that her first graphics students worked on DEC Rainbows and Apple IIs.   Three of those students went on to give presentations at that year's Pi Mu Epsilon conference.   She also remembers teaching FORTRAN to over 100 students in the Science Auditorium (and correcting all their programs!). The classes included faculty from all divisions around campus eager to learn about this new discipline.

Andy's research from 1974-77 included the role of computer science programs in small liberal arts colleges and provided data and credibility for establishing a new discipline in UMM's Division of Science and Math.

Funds were secured through a Department of Education Title III grant to develop the new computer science major.   The last hurdle involved bringing the proposal to the Campus Assembly for consideration.

It was a nerve-wracking assembly meeting for the eight seniors who hoped to graduate that year with computer science degrees.   Some faculty opposed the idea, claiming that computer science belonged at a technical school, not a liberal arts college.

"We let others answer these concerns for us at the assembly meeting," Dian recalls. "The response carried more weight that way."

Colleagues who stood up for the proposal pointed out that the emphasis in mathematics at that time was on core courses like Real and Complex Analysis and Abstract Algebra. Neither of these areas of study would be particularly important to a student aspiring for a career in computer science.

"Faculty from chemistry and physics also pointed to the benefits that computers were bringing to their fields," says Andy. "Finally, after all the discussion, we sat on the edge of our chairs in the Science Auditorium and saw our program approved by a comfortable margin."

With success came new challenges. Qualified faculty had to be recruited who would be willing to join an emerging program and accept the salary that UMM was willing to pay.

In 1984, Dian was teaching computer science courses full time and Andy split his appointment between teaching and being Director of Computing Services.   The new computer science curriculum included core courses in the areas of Analysis of Algorithms, Computability, Principles of Programming, Computer Architecture and Systems.   Students would now have an opportunity to study more current areas of computer science than they would have had under a mathematics umbrella.

Recruiting new computer science faculty proved difficult but not impossible.   Fortunately, from 1985 to the present, talented computer scientists have accepted the rewarding challenge to shape the Csci program at UMM.

The Making of a Dungeon

Most UMM CSci grads have "fond" memories of many, many hours spent in the "Dungeon;" the former computer lab located in the bowels of the Science Auditorium basement. Back when the new major was approved, the university agreed to a provision in the grant from Title III that space would be provided for a computer science lab.   The Biology discipline reluctantly relinquished some storage space below the auditorium.   Plant Services built tables and the grant covered the cost of new DEC computers.   A computer science lab was born.

"We were excited to have space and computers," Andy remembers.   "Within a few years, the windowless basement space was dubbed 'the Dungeon' by the students and it kept that name throughout its use."

Even today, the lab's humorous title carried forward to the new computer science lab in the west wing of the Science Building.   The current lab is on the second floor and even has windows, but the title of "Dungeon" lives on with affection.  

Here's a look at the old "Dungeon" before it was replaced by our new improved Computer Science Lab. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh...remember the comforts of cement floors and multiple light switches?

Looking to the Future

Degree requirements have had to adapt regularly to the fast-paced evolution of the computer science field. The biggest change came in Fall 1999, when the entire campus converted from quarters to semesters.

"We found ourselves fitting the material from thirty courses into twenty courses," says Andy.   On the plus side of change, the new science building has enabled the computer science faculty to give students more hands-on exercises in classes.

Andy and Dian Lopez have seen a great many changes transpire in their academic careers as computer science faculty at UMM.   What do they see as the main challenges facing the program they helped create?

First, they believe that new students must be convinced that there actually is a future in computing. They see a constant need in the business world for competent computer scientists, yet many students assume there is no point going into the field because there are no jobs.

"There are more jobs in the U.S. than there are computer scientists to fill them," Andy counters.   "We may find ourselves in the future handling a large number of students when they realize this."

The ongoing challenge for computer scientists is to find better ways to solve problems a faster pace.  

"Hardware is hitting its ceiling--hampered by the speed of light.   The future may lie in quantum computers, atomic computers, or computers based on molecules of a gas like gallium arsenide," says Dian.  

"Software has been working on increasing speed by using parallel and distributed processing.   Computer Science is a relatively new field and there are many discoveries yet to be made."

UMM will always remember Andy and Dian Lopez as the team who worked with diligence and patience back in the early 1980s to make sure we would be ready to teach those students who will help solve the computing challenges of the future.   

THEN....

AND NOW!

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