Over the 2009–10 academic year, our department underwent a program review, the first since 2000–01. After producing a document outlining its programs, we hosted two visitors in January: Henry Walker of Grinnell College (who also visited in 2000–01) and Nancy Baxter Hastings of Dickinson College, both distinguished faculty who have reviewed mathematics and computer science programs for many liberal arts colleges. They interviewed students, faculty, and administrators and composed a 64-page report listing many suggestions of future directions. We completed the computer science review by discussing their ideas and others, culminating in yet another document; we'll complete the mathematics review in the fall.

The reviewers were upbeat about the development of computer science at Hendrix: In the 9 years since the previous computer-science review, the college, department, and computer science faculty have made remarkable progress… [T]he computer science faculty are knowledgeable and energetic, work well with students, enjoy a high level of collegiality, and actively consider how to refine courses and the curriculum.

In fact, we have already started work toward further refinement: Many graduating students suggested that they should gain experience with another language than Java and C, so we've decided to broaden our core languages to incorporate Python as well. Over the spring, we taught our introductory course (CSCI 150) for the first time with Python. Students will still work with Java, starting in the data structures course (CSCI 151), and they'll learn C in Computing Systems Organization; more advanced courses will be mixed between these three languages.

The reviewers strongly suggested reworking the required senior project, in a way that can allow students to balance their workload better and that would enable the department to facilitate further growth in the number of majors. We have already begun work in this direction by introducing a full-credit capstone course on Technical Communication and Analysis, which will work with students on developing their project paper and presentation — as well as work on job application skills. This is a requirement for the first time with the Class of 2011, and Dr. Collins will teach the first instance in the coming spring. Further development of the senior project will occur, but that will depend on college-wide discussions concerning senior projects that we anticipate over the next few years.

Beyond the curriculum, we composed a plan for future development in other areas, though the completion of these plans will depend on funding: Renovating the computer laboratories to support the Robotics service course and to facilitate classes meeting in the laboratories, finding additional office space for growth in department faculty, hiring a support technician for the Linux network, and introducing programs to provide more opportunities for students to connect the Odyssey Program with their computer science studies and their professional plans. On a more minor note, over the coming year we also plan to revamp the Web site as the reviewers suggested. We look forward to the next decade of building an even stronger computer science program. 30 June 2010