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UA plans high‑performance computing center; several campus centers slated for closure
Summary
The committee approved a proposal to establish a multidisciplinary High‑Performance Computing and Data Center at UA and approved the closure or removal of several centers and institutes across UA and UAB, citing diminished activity and funding shifts.
The Academic Affairs & Student Affairs Committee approved a UA proposal to establish a multidisciplinary High‑Performance Computing (HPC) and Data Center and also approved closures or removals of several campus centers and institutes that no longer met board rule criteria or had diminished activity.
Dr. Tunjanita Johnson presented the HPC initiative at UA, describing it as designed “to house a state of the art com supercomputing system” and to bring together faculty across water, national security, advanced manufacturing, AI, quantum science, cybersecurity and computational research. The proposed HPC will be housed under UA’s Office of Research and Economic Development with significant involvement from UA’s Office of Information Technology.
The committee also approved requests to close several UA centers that system reviewers determined had diminished scope of activities over the last three years; Dr. Johnson said reviews found “no impact on students, gifts, or endowments as a result of these proposed closures.” The list included the Center for Complex Hydro Systems Research, the Center for Sedimentary Basin Studies, the Integrative Center for Athletic and Sport Technology, and the University of Alabama Center for Economic Development.
UAB officials separately notified the committee of requests to close the UAB Research Center of Excellence in Clinical (text in materials) and the Alabama Regional Center for Infection Prevention and Control, Training and Technical Assistance, citing the loss of historical funding mechanisms. UAB said no donor funds were used to establish or operate those centers; remaining activities will continue in other areas if closure is approved.
Committee members moved and seconded the items; the chair called the vote and announced approval. The approvals permit campuses to proceed with organizational steps — including formal establishment of the HPC center and inventory removals for closed centers — subject to implementation by campus offices.
