About TTIC
Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago (TTIC or the Institute) is a philanthropically endowed academic computer science institute, dedicated to basic research and graduate education in computer science. Its mission is to achieve international impact through world-class research and education in fundamental computer science and information technology. The Institute is distinctive to the American educational scene in its unique combination of graduate education and endowed research.
TTIC was founded by the Toyota Technological Institute in Japan, which is a small private engineering school with an endowment provided by the Toyota Motor Corporation. TTI in Japan established TTIC as an independent computer science institute with the intention of creating a world-class institution. There is close collaboration between TTIC and TTI Japan.
The Institute is supported by the earnings on a fund of $105 million. The entire endowment fund is under the control of the TTIC Board of Trustees.
TTIC officially opened for operation in September 2003 and three students entered its Ph.D. program in September 2004. Thirteen students will be enrolled for the 2009-10 fall quarter. In addition, one exchange student from TTI Japan will be enrolled. The plan is reach a total of thirty to thirty-six students over a period of time.
It has degree granting authority in the State of Illinois and has been awarded accrediation from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
TTIC offers a graduate program leading to a doctorate in computer science, and is currently focusing primarily on theoretical computer science (algorithms and complexity), machine learning (and related AI applications), programming languages (and related areas such as formal verification and security) and scientific computing (including numerical analysis, numerical optimization, and signal processing).
The Institute is growing itself to have thirty positions consisting of twelve regular faculty (tenured and tenure-track) and eighteen limited-term (three year) research faculty. There are currently twenty faculty at TTIC.
Both regular and research faculty receive endowment-provided research funding sufficient for equipment and normal academic travel. Research faculty are not expected to raise external funding. However, regular faculty are expected to eventually raise their summer salary and to support their students with external funding.
Research faculty are in non-tenure track positions with no teaching requirements. This is similar to a postdoctoral fellowship, but comes with endowment-provided independent research funding. Regular faculty are expected to teach only one quarter per year.
TTIC is located in Hyde Park on the University of Chicago campus and has a close affiliation with the University of Chicago Computer Science Department. An agreement between the University of Chicago and TTIC allows cross-listing of computer science course offerings between the two institutions, providing students from each institution the opportunity to register in the other's courses. Faculty and students enjoy full privileges of the University library system, athletic facilities and other services.