A Great Foundation For an Excellent Future
The Volgenau School of Information Technology and Engineering (IT&E) looks back on 20 years of success:
1980
Area business leaders convince the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) and state legislators that engineering programs are needed in Northern Virginia.
1981
SCHEV approves the establishment of five degree programs in engineering and computer science at Mason.
1985
The university’s Board of Visitors approves the School of Information Technology and Engineering (originally known by the acronym SITE), which incorporates the departments of Computer and Information Sciences, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Systems Engineering. Andrew P. Sage comes to Mason from the University of Virginia to serve as the first dean.
1986
The Center for Computational Statistics, IT&E’s first research center, is founded and directed by Ed Wegman, the Bernard J. Dunn Professor of Statistics.
1987
IT&E moves into the new Science and Technology I Building.
1988
The Center of Excellence in Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence (C3I) is established with Professor Harry Van Trees as its first director.
1991
IT&E moves into the new Science and Technology II Building.
1996
Dean Sage retires and is named Founding Dean Emeritus and University Professor.
1998
Lloyd J. Griffiths is named dean of IT&E. Professor James D. Palmer is awarded a patent, the first of nine to be issued to date to IT&E faculty members.
2001
Professor Richard Bolstein establishes the Statistical Consulting Center, the school’s first service center.
2002
The BS in information technology for undergraduates is established.
2005
IT&E receives a $10 million gift from Ernst and Sara Volgenau and becomes The Volgenau School of Information Technology and Engineering.
