PRESIDENT'S LETTER.

The article presents author's views on the scope and direction of computer science (CS) and computer engineering (CE) in the U.S. In the past couple of years, Ph.D. production in CS⁄CE is at an all-time high. Ph.D. graduates are encountering increasing difficulty in securing employment, whether they seek academic or industrial positions. For perhaps the first time in its history, the field has faced hiring freezes in all sectors and significant layoffs in the private sector. It is reasonable to ask whether Ph.D. production, at the current high and escalating rate is any longer appropriate. Some argue that the tight job market for CS⁄CE is only temporary. They say the economy is largely to blame, and there are lots of academic jobs available at institutions that do not offer the Ph.D. degrees. They point to the need for people with Ph.D. degrees to revise their expectations for employment to go beyond the traditional bastions of CS⁄CE research. They also argue that attrition through retirement will soon begin to open up positions. Once the economy turns around, they predict, industry will be hiring many more Ph.D. degree-holders.