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ISEDJ 4(34)

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ISEDJ 4(36)

Volume 4, Number 35

July 18, 2006

13 pages 677 K bytes

Declining CIS Enrollment: An Examination of Pre-College Factors William L. Lomerson Northwestern State University Natchitoches, LA 71497 USA Lissa F. Pollacia Northwestern State University of Louisiana Natchitoches, LA 71497 USA

Abstract: Anecdotal and direct enrollment evidence indicates there is a declining interest in Computer Information Systems (CIS) as a major. We believe one of the significant contributors to this decline is the lack of availability of accurate information about this area to high school students when they are making choices about future careers and appropriate colleges. We tested this proposition by surveying freshmen in our introductory computers course to determine their differential knowledge of the various computer career fields. In addition, we collected data concerning the information that a student used to select a college, select a major, their initial college major and the source of that information. The results of this survey provide initial guidance on some remediation activities that CIS programs may undertake to increase the number of students pursuing a CIS major.

Keywords: computer career, career counseling, declining computer majors, enrollment decline

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