Harvard Plans Big Push in Computer Science

Harvard University is planning to expand its computer science faculty by 50 percent over the next decade, The Boston Globe reported. The university hopes that its new total of 36 computer science faculty slots will allow it to compete with still larger programs at Stanford University (about 50) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (55). Much of the growth is being financed with gifts from Steve Ballmer, an alumnus who was formerly CEO of Microsoft. Also this week, Balmer and his wife, Connie, announced a $50 million gift to her alma mater, the University of Oregon.