I'm with you!
MB



Well, the sad truth is the school just doesn't have any money for stuff like
this.  Personally I think sponsorhip hunting could be more aggressive and
the IPRO's could have money to actually pay faculty.  CS faculty do it pro
bono as well.  I don't think its a CS only thing -- I also think this is not
a smart exercise.  My sense is the faculty can jump up and down and vote
however they want, but the administration will just say "thank you for your
kind remarks" and keep IPRO's the way they are.  I am hoping our committee
will see it our way and that either Shlomo or Wei Gen can cover the meeting.
I can certainly make sure that if Wei Gen has to come that he'll be
considered a votiing member.

I wish the university committee was doing other stuff than taking shots at
IPRO's.  There is plenty of real work to be done.  Why do they want to bite
the hand that feeds them --- what other ways do they see as improving the
likelihood that good students will choose IIT.  To me they should be
thinking of solutions, not just shooting down ideas that haven't worked so
great.

I've been doing the IPRO's "pro bono" for a long time.  The truth is, it
isn't pro bono for me and a lot of faculty.  We get students to do work that
we need to get done to go after real proposals, etc.

DG




In general I do agree, I am a little frustrated that it has taken them this long and still their act running IPROs is not together. And school is not supporting them financially, they are expected to get all money from companies

We can discuss Monday and come up with more "pro" arguments
"competitive advantage over other schools" is hard to quantify
faculty will argue that they are good for CS but why should we be allowed to tell them what to do with their cirriculum. Other depts have faculty shortages and cannot have faculty doing IPROs unless they do it "pro-bono"

We will need to get a 2nd CS faculty at 4/1 meeting to help the "pro IPRO" vote if we decide to support as a dept.
Shlomo is listed as voting member

Matt





Personally I think there are problems with IPRO's but I say fix the problems -- no need to throw the baby out with the bathwater.  If they cut it from 6 hours to 3, you really lose the chance to call it a key part of the curriculum.   The administration really had no choice but to force IPRO's down the faculty's throat.   Most faculty are quite happy with the same old curriculum and have no real-world experience -- which is where IPRO's shine.  My sense is that IPRO's (when done right) could give IIT major competitive advantage over other schools.  Whether or not we'll ever get them right is a key question.  Let me know what you think.
 
DG






basically faculty are still upset from 6 years ago when IPROs were forced on the undergrad ciriculum by administration
also, 80-85% of students get As in IPROs
ABET did not like them for "design" courses for some engineering degrees
money given to depts has been cut from $4000 to $2000  (school is not supporting IPROs enough)
faculty also question the quality (some IPROs good,. some very bad)
etc
etc
 
We requested a whole report from IPRO last semester and they delivered this semester 
I will send it to you
 
Matt