Higher ed computer science enrollment gets new tech boost

The prevalence of computer technology in everything from car dashboards to virtual assistants is fueling a boom in computer science enrollment at Kean University and throughout higher education.

Kean’s computer science and information technology program enrollment has more than tripled since 2008, driven in large part by students interested in cybersecurity, machine learning, artificial intelligence, software design and other technological innovations.

Another factor behind the increase is the labor market, with high-paying, in-demand jobs with top companies available for Kean’s computer science and technology graduates.

“Computing and technology are driving many, if not all, of the technologies and services in today’s world,” said Kean professor Patricia Morreale, chairperson of the Department of Computer Science and Technology at The Dorothy and George Hennings College of Science, Mathematics and Technology. “Students all use computers, and many want to learn more about them.”

The roll call of Kean alumni includes computer science graduates working at Apple, Amazon, JP Morgan, Ford, General Motors, Lockheed Martin, the U.S. Department of Defense and more.

Morreale said she expects Kean’s enrollment to grow another 10-20 percent for fall 2023. Between semesters, her department usually adds about 50 students; this year, it gained 100 students, many of them women, an underrepresented group in the industry.

“Students are changing majors, they’re earning a second degree or they come to Kean and want to be a computer science major,” Morreale said.

All told, Kean’s graduate and undergraduate computer science and information technology programs totalled 721 students in 2022, an increase of 175 from 2008.

Nationally, the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded in computer and information sciences and support services also increased, to 97,047 in 2019-2020 from 47,702 in 2005-2006, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

“Many of our students want to create tomorrow’s technology,” said George Chang, dean of CSMT, adding that Kean students are earning as much as $150,000 in their first jobs after graduation. “It’s not just computers — it’s anything that can connect to the internet, such as cell phones, refrigerators, toys. It’s the ‘internet of things.’”

Computer science enrollment nationally has fluctuated dramatically since the peak in the mid-1980s when personal computers were popularized. Interest dropped in the 1990s, then returned with the dot-com boom in the late 1990s. Enrollment fell again in the early 2000s when the dot-com bubble burst.

Kean has built up its program since computer science became its own department in 2007, adding options such as cybersecurity; hiring additional faculty; and receiving numerous grants, including those supporting diversity in computer science.

State initiatives requiring computer science education in K-12 schools, such as one New Jersey adopted in 2018-2019, are also generating interest among students and should fuel further growth in enrollment.

“I expect enrollment will boom in the next five years,” Chang said.

Isabel Morais, a 2019 Kean computer science graduate, is one of Kean’s many successful alumni. A software engineer at Ford Motor Company, she works in the area of vehicle software updates.

Morais, who just moved back to Union from Michigan as part of Ford’s remote work plan, said computer science “is a field that keeps growing.”

“Kean is a good school to study computer science. At Kean, I was able to learn solid fundamentals and be part of different research opportunities that helped me grow my technical skills and soft skills,” she said.

Spring cleaning and recycling tips

The Union County Board of County Commissioners invites all residents to bring their spring cleaning recyclables to countywide drop-off events. These countywide events provide a free, convenient way to clear out personal documents for secure shredding and recycling, unwanted metal items for resource recovery and household chemicals, smoke detectors and many other potentially dangerous products for safe disposal.

“We encourage everyone in Union County to participate in our countywide recycling events and in their municipal programs, too. There are many opportunities to pitch in and help increase the recycling rate in our community, especially during spring cleaning season when the waste can pile up,” said Union County Commissioner Chairperson Sergio Granados.

Residents can participate in additional recycling programs for plastic film, electronics, block-type Styrofoam, fluorescent light bulbs and used motor oil. These programs are available at municipal drop-off sites with support from the Commissioner Board.

Union County’s Bureau of Recycling and Planning also advises using the “3 R’s” during spring cleaning this year, to avoid creating unnecessary and burdensome waste next year.

1. Reduce: Avoid purchasing new items that are similar to the ones that have been sitting unused in your garage or other storage area.

2. Re-use: Items in good condition can be cleaned up and sold at a garage sale or donated to charity. In some areas, local freecycling programs and online “buynothing” clubs are available for residents to give away unwanted items within their community

3. Recycle: Check with your local recycling coordinator or download the free Recycle Coach app to stay up-to-date on all recycling opportunities in Union County, including local curbside pickup schedules as well as drop-off programs. Recycle Coach also provides a handy “What Goes Where?” feature that makes it easy to sort items for recycling.

Union County residents who have a yard or community garden can also help divert useful resources from the waste stream — and save money — by recycling their kitchen scraps into compost.

Compost is a natural soil enhancer that helps reduce the need for artificial fertilizers. Visit ucnj.org/recycling to learn more about composting.

Experts from the Union County Bureau of Recycling and Planning are available to present recycling information to schools, community groups and other organizations. To schedule a program contact Heather Miara, heather.miara@ucnj.org.

For more information and updates on all Union County recycling programs and locations, visit the Bureau of Recycling and Planning website at ucnj.org/recycle.