Information Systems Enrollments: Challenges and Strategies

Since the late 1990s, enrollments in Information Technology and Information Systems-related academic programs have declined sharply. This paper addresses possible causes of the enrollment decline, and some of the ''myths" regarding careers in IT/IS are dispelled. A number of efforts underway at various universities and professional organizations in the areas of redesigning core curriculum and developing secondary programs are described as well as marketing and promotion approaches. Finally, the authors call for more cooperative and coordinated efforts to address the underlying problems that have led to the current enrollment declines.