[KLUG Members] Dropping CIS enrollments

[Rusty Yonkers]

> Question to those of you "out there" who see what is happening in
> the job market: 
> --Are students not taking these courses because they've learned
> that there aren't jobs in the field? 

There is deffinately a serious lack of jobs in the market currently.
This is true in all of West Michigan (and I think Michigan in
general).  I am not sure of other states.  The only jobs that I am
seeing listed currently are some programming jobs, mainly in .Net,
and some web jobs, most of which want dreamweaver and/or flash plus
database connectivity.  Often they are Windows-centric.  Any
networking jobs are wanting at least a minimum of a MCSE and often
additional certifications.  A bachelors is a big help too in looking
for jobs.  I have 15+ years of experience in the networking field and
I had to take a job that is paying way less than average at this
point in time, mainly, I think, because I do not have the MCSE even
though I have the experience.  

> --Do students need a bachelor's in CIS rather than an associate's,

Yes, anymore.  I think we are suffering from a serious problem of
degree inflation.  So many people are getting 4 year degrees now
(although I think often getting the degree is easier) that it the 2
year is more like what a high school diploma was 10 years ago and a 4
year is like the 2 year 10 years ago.

> --Is it Kalamazoo?

No

> --What should students be taking these days if not CIS/computer
> science?

I tell my kids to find what they like to do and pursue that for their
career.  If they are thinking of computers though it will be hard to
crack into the system.  I have a few former students from when I
taught that have started their own business because of lack of jobs
out there.  They are doing pretty good in their own businesses.  

Olympia, where I taught, cancelled both the computer networking
program and the electronics program because they could not keep their
placement numbers high enough for the government and accredidation. 
They were only able to place about 50 percent of the students in
jobs.



=====
Russell C. Yonkers Jr. 
CNE, MCP, A+, CCNA, Linux+, Server+, Network+ certified
-----------------------------------------
Currently using SuSE 9, Mac OS X, Windows 2000, and WinXP 
And yes I run a network at home with Linux and Windows servers
See my personal website http://www.geocities.com/therustycook
Or my consulting site at http://www.atomicsupergeek.com


		
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