Introduction to the symposium computer science and smaller colleges

摘要

Of the many problems facing smaller colleges, the most difficult may well be the selection of a philosophy adequate for these changing times. While financial difficulties cannot be disregarded, these are probably easier to understand than it is to provide educational opportunities which attract students. I have in the course of the past twelve years visited over 100 colleges. In many of these I was asked what the college should do about the hyperactive computing field which was customarily regarded as a threat by the mathematics faculty. The major handicap seemed to be in the interpretation of the role which computer science education might conceivably have in a liberal arts college. The interpretations of computer science amounted to regarding it as vocational training rather than as a possibly vital component of a liberal arts education. Being a graduate of a liberal arts college myself, I have some idea of the ideals which such colleges have. I shall accordingly address myself to the roles which computers and computer science might play in colleges and, conversely, what the colleges may contribute to this new area.