The Proceedings of the Information Systems Education Conference 2007: §3314 Home Papers/Indices prev (§3313) Next (§3315)

Sat, Nov 3, 11:30 - 11:55, Ellwood 1 Paper (refereed)

Recommended Citation: Joseph, P A. A Bridge to the Future: Recruitment and Retention of Female Information Systems Majors in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. In The Proceedings of the Information Systems Education Conference 2007, v 24 (Pittsburgh): §3314. ISSN: 1542-7382.

A Bridge to the Future: Recruitment and Retention of Female Information Systems Majors in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education

Refereed

12 pages

Patricia A. Joseph    [a1] [a2]
Computer Science Department
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania    [u1] [u2]
Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, USA    [c1] [c2]

Almost all undergraduate programs of information systems have experienced dwindling enrollments in the past few years, but the dearth of female students majoring in information systems related fields at U.S. colleges and universities is striking. The literature explains how some universities recruit and retain women in the information sciences; however, until now there has been no published literature that discusses recruitment and retention practices of information systems related departments in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, which is comprised of 14 state-owned, mostly undergraduate institutions. A study was conducted in academic year 2006-2007 to determine these recruitment and retention practices as they relate to gender. This paper documents the results of this study and is a starting point for discerning enrollment trends among undergraduate women majoring in information systems at Pennsylvania-owned universities. The paper provides an opportunity to share ideas that can increase the number of women enrolling in information systems related programs. The study demonstrates how much work needs to be done to attain equality in the recruitment and retention of students based on gender. The results are significant because, although PA-SSHE faculty bemoan dwindling enrollments by women, very little is being done to change the status quo. The paper highlights the schools that are being pro-active in the hope that they can offer suggestions for sister institutions to emulate. The scientific results that may be expected from new information gained by this protocol are those which benefit gender-free education in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Keywords: enrollment trends, ethics, gender issues, recruitment, retention

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