Story by Nick Kendall
Contributing writer
The Center for Telecommunications Systems Management (TSM), will undergo rebranding as the Center for Computer Information and Technology(CIT).
The center, located in the Jesse D. Jones College Of Science, Engineering And Technology will help students find their niche in computer and engineering fields. Computer science and information technology department chair Victor Raj knows that this center will provide the students with the information they need.
“We try to help people see what they’re good at; what they liked doing for themselves, we’re not going to tell them, this is what you’re good at, or that’s not what you’re good at,” Raj said. “We expose the students to a lot of different things. And then we hope to see them learn more about those things.”
As technology changes rapidly, the interest in the technology grows.
While he was not sure if the TSM center could drive the interest of first time visitors to the University, engineering department chair Danny Claiborne knows that the CIT center could drive interest by letting everyone have a try at every program.
“Currently, the programs within the Center for computer information technology, the ones that are affiliated with that center structure, have a pretty high interest and they also have a pretty high marketability in the region,” Claiborne said. “But I think just the visibility of that center and marketing it as an all encompassing umbrella of computer related programs, I think it will drive more interest.”
Both Raj and Claiborne believe many programs will benefit and new programs could be created because of this center.
“I think there are potential programs that will grow from this, as these programs collaborate together, the synergy of the curriculum, the synergy of the faculty, the synergy of students and the industry needing these graduates, I really believe that there will be programs that surface from this,” Claiborne said.
Raj acknowledges that the center has a lot of administrative roles to fill.
“The roles are currently split across multiple departments and the responsibilities are held by multiple chairs,” Raj said. “But when something like this comes together, that responsibility is centered in one place and they can do a better job promoting all our majors.”
The center is expected to be available to students by the fall semester and should be in full operation with a full curriculum four months after that.
