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Welcome

Dr. Weisong Shi; Computer & Information Sciences.

Welcome from Weisong Shi, Department Chair for Computer & Information Sciences.

Welcome to the Department of Computer and Information Sciences!

It is my great pleasure to welcome both new and returning students to the Department of Computer and Information Sciences at the University of Delaware for Fall 2025. This semester marks an exciting period of growth and achievement for our department.

We are proud to welcome 110 new undergraduate students, a record 128 master’s students — a 25% increase over last year — and 23 new Ph.D. students, bringing our doctoral enrollment to an all-time high of 134. Interest in our programs continues to grow, with more than 400 Ph.D. applicants this year — a 33% increase — and an admission rate below 10%. The majority of our Ph.D. students receive financial support through teaching and research assistantships.

Our faculty are leading researchers advancing innovation in areas such as AI for Health, Robotics and Autonomous Systems, and core computing foundations like High-Performance Computing and Software Engineering. Notably, 58% of our tenured and tenure-track faculty are NSF CAREER Awardees. According to CSRankings.org, our department is nationally recognized in Logic and Verification (20th), Robotics (22nd), and High-Performance Computing (22nd).

Our community continues to thrive beyond the classroom and lab. Earlier this year, the third HenHacks hackathon welcomed 475 participants from 50 institutions across the country, organized by CPUS with department support, and drew more than 50 alumni volunteers.

We are excited to announce the launch of CAMP (Computing Alumni Mentoring Pathways), a new initiative spearheaded by our council member Zachary Senzer (CIS ’17). CAMP is designed to connect our current students with alumni mentors, offering valuable support in their job search and career development.

This fall marks the launch of two exciting new academic programs:

We are also at the forefront of major AI initiatives at UD. Building on the success of the AI4Health Industry Day in January 2025, we are launching the AI4Health Initiative, led by Professor Xi Peng. We are introducing the Physical Intelligence Initiative (PI²), which will host its first workshop on November 6–7, 2025. In addition, Professor Sunita Chandrasekaran has been appointed the inaugural Director of the First State AI Institute, announced by the University in July 2025.

This is an extraordinary moment to be part of the CIS community. I encourage you to engage fully — in your studies, research, and the many activities and opportunities our department offers. The future is bright, and I look forward to the impact you will make.

Welcome to an exciting new academic year — and don’t forget to stop by the new Starbucks on the first floor of Smith Hall!

Warm regards,

Weisong Shi
Alumni Distinguished Professor and Chair
Department of Computer and Information Sciences
University of Delaware

Why a Career in CIS?

From its inception just a half century ago, computing has become the defining technology of our age. Computers are integral to modern culture and are the primary engine behind much of the world’s economic growth. Moreover, the field continues to evolve at an astonishing pace, making computer science increasingly important with each passing day.

With a background in computer and information science, you can help the world. For example you can help to:

  • Improve human health
  • Advance computer technology
  • Coordinate disaster responses
  • Impact national security
  • Advance weather forecasting
  • Improve communications

Our Department Mission

Mission Statement

The mission is to provide a culturally diverse and intellectually stimulating environment for

  • Educating future leaders in academia, industry, government, and entrepreneurial pursuits through rigorous programs covering the theory and application of computer science. Developing in our students the ability to solve problems and to contribute through teamwork.
  • Creating new knowledge and innovative technologies through research in the core areas of computer science and in collaborations with other disciplines.
  • Exploiting the opportunities and solving the problems created by computing and networking technology.
  • Serving the communities to which we belong, locally, nationally, and internationally, with a deep commitment to ethics in the practice of our profession.

Staff Mission

We have committed ourselves to be highly productive and provide superior operating results to all Faculty and Students we serve as customers. We commit ourselves to working together as a team by being clear about tasks, structure, and accountability.

We value mutual respect and diversity, promote a welcoming atmosphere, instill ethical behavior and engage in activities that improve the performance of everyone we serve.

  • We will sensitively and effectively assist students who have different life experiences, class and cultural backgrounds, identities, orientations, abilities and values and make appropriate referrals to specialized campus resources to ensure optimal integration into university culture.
  • We will work together as a team and with campus-wide academic and administrative units with the aim of facilitating student success and reasonable individual accommodation within campus standards.
  • A top priority is to meet the increasing demands of a rapidly changing environment and provide services in a proactive, responsive, cost effective and service-oriented manner that parallels with and supports the University’s strategic plan.
  • We will continually strive to improve customer satisfaction, all while establishing a high level of accountability by delivering quality services that satisfy customer requirements.

We will foster a learning environment where employees are encouraged to develop their skills to meet the demand of the future, while still promoting teamwork, learning, high performance and mutual respect for differences.