What is the Computing Profession?
Imagine a hot job market that offers great pay, the ability to influence the future and supports innovation in everything from healthcare to transportation and from entertainment to the environment.  That is the computing profession!

Underlying Issues

• Most people have no idea what computing professionals actually do.
• Public is not aware of how technology impacts their daily lives in a positive way.
• Negatives stereotypes enforce image of isolation and disconnection from society.
• High school teachers and parents skeptical about the job market, so they guide youth away.
• CS graduates reluctant to go on to advanced degrees thinking all grand challenges have been solved.
• Public is concerned about identity theft, predators and harmful viruses.
• CS major is particularly unattractive for women and minorities. (NCWIT Statistics)

Facts and Figures

Opportunities are abundant:

• According to the National Bureau of Labors Statistics, computing careers are the fastest growing occupations with nearly 1 million new jobs added, an average of 31% growth rate by 2014.
• Grand challenges are yet to be solved including the extent to which computers can improve our quality of life. (Denning)
• Over 1 billion people are on the Internet daily, to communicate and coordinate their daily lives.

Still, there is a lack of interest:

• Newly elected CS majors down 70% from 2000-2006. (HERI study)
• Double digit declines in enrollments for graduate degrees in CS. (Taulbee Report)
• Gartner states that by 2010, 10 – 15% of IT professionals will drop out of the IT occupation.
• In a recent study of college freshman, over 80% said they had no idea what Computer Science majors actually do. (p27 carter.pdf)