2021 EDSIG Proceedings: Abstract Presentation

Information Systems Education: Taking Advantage of Resilience to Create Opportunities

Nita Brooks
Middle Tennessee State University

Melinda Korzaan
Middle Tennessee State University

Michelle Louch
Carlow University

Abstract
When a major event occurs and we experience a true catalyst for change, there will be negatives and positives - the good and the bad. Across individuals’ personal lives and across organizations, we have seen many different responses to our most recent situation – caused by not only the pandemic but by events being guided by decisions made in local, state, and federal governments as well as international organizations. Academic institutions, through their natural structure, were positioned well to feel the effects of these decisions and events at a deeper level. Colleges and universities deal not only with students that are local to a campus region but also students that come from other states and countries. Providing a motivating and efficient environment in which these students could learn and succeed required a shift for some from what they were doing to something very uncomfortable. Faculty had to be retrained, processes had to change, advisors had to find new ways to work with students, etc. While we have chosen not to do a “play-by-play” of the past year and a half, the opportunity is provided to examine key items that relate specifically to information systems and computer science disciplines: using our resilience to continue to move our disciplines forward and recognizing the need to make certain our students understand the workforce to which they will someday join. Information systems and computer science fields are known for change, working remotely, growing, being competitive, etc. These characteristics are useful in comparing how academic programs, educational institutions, and IS/CS education specifically can continue to create opportunities. The program of research being proposed will incorporate and consider results from recent reports related to the workforce in general and specifically academic entities that focus on the post-pandemic world of working remotely, what our students think about their previous options, current options, and future options related to programs, universities, etc.