AI-Summary – News For Tomorrow
UNC-Chapel Hill is launching a new school focused on applied technology, information, and data science, merging the School of Information and Library Science (SILS) and the School of Data Science and Society (SDSS). Driven by the transformational impact of technologies like generative AI, the initiative aims to establish Carolina as a national leader. Faculty, staff, and students will be engaged through task forces and feedback opportunities. Academic programs will continue and grow. Stanley Ahalt will be the inaugural dean, while Jeffrey Bardzell will become Chief AI Officer and VP for AI after the transition. The focus is on long-term growth and opportunity for both schools.
News summary provided by Gemini AI.
Dear Carolina Community,
Information technologies, especially generative AI, are having a transformational impact. In light of this pivotal moment in our history, Carolina is launching a major initiative to create a new school that will position the University as a national leader in applied technology, information and data science research and teaching. As part of this initiative, the School of Information and Library Science andthe School of Data Science and Society will join together as the founding leaders of this new school.
We want to emphasize:
- Faculty, staff and students will be engaged throughout. A task force, advisory committee and working groups will be formed to address key areas and there will be opportunities for engagement and feedback throughout the process.
- Academic programs will continue. Both schools have robust and thriving academic programs, and we hope the new school will support academic program growth, both in terms of enrollment and impact.
- Our focus is growth and opportunity. This decision is driven by the long-term possibilities and vision of growing the powerhouse academic programs of both schools, and we are confident this is the right decision for our campus.
We have been in close conversation with Deans Jeffrey Bardzell and Stanley Ahalt for a thoughtful approach to this creation, and we are enthusiastic about the possibilities this new school brings. Stanley Ahalt will serve as inaugural dean of the new school. Both he and Jeffrey Bardzell will continue to serve as deans of SDSS and SILS, respectively, through the transition. We are grateful for their leadership and for their dedication to helping to shape the new school.
Importantly, Dean Bardzell has accepted a secondary appointment as Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer and Vice Provost for AI, a crucial and timely position that will help shape Carolina’s response and implementation of AI across the University. This new role, which will become full-time once the new school is running, is critical to ensuring Carolina can adapt and grow in the rapidly changing world of AI.
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Sincerely,
Lee H. Roberts
Chancellor
