Program Focus Computer Information Systems

They’re everywhere.

They’re in your house, your car, your work place, where you shop.

“They” are computers. Okay, you may not see a desktop personal computer or a laptop everywhere you go, but computers – in their many forms, are becoming more pervasive, even if you don’t recognize them.

From the furnace in your home to the car you drive to the checkout station where you shop, computers play a big role.

Ever wonder who makes those computers work, and how? Answers are available in Ivy Tech’s Computer Information Systems (CIS) program, which provides broad-based education in computer technology, along with opportunities to specialize. The Associate of Applied Science degree program offers specialization opportunities in Networking, PC Support and Administration, Programming, and Web Management.

Since Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Richmond began offering classes in 1968, the College has been part of the huge transition in computing, from keypunch machines to minicomputers to desktop models and laptops. The pace of change continues to accelerate, and Ivy Tech is working to prepare students for careers which have yet to be defined. An important part of Ivy Tech’s Computer Information Systems program is the integration of workplace skills.

“We teach not just the technical aspects, but also prepare students to be employees,” said Curtis Blakely, Chair of the CIS program. “Computers are based on logic, and we strive to teach our students to think logically and develop other skills that are needed in the workforce. It’s a given that we want our graduates to have cutting-edge technical skills, but we also want them to graduate with the problem-solving, critical-thinking and communication skills that are so necessary today.”

The need for critical thinking and other workplace skills is echoed by Larry Turner, Senior Vice President and Chief Information & Technology Officer for First Bank Richmond. Turner is a member of the CIS program’s advisory committee.

“Ivy Tech does a good job teaching critical-thinking and other non-technical skills, and I applaud them for that,” Turner said. “Critical-thinking skills are what really make a good employee. If you have good critical-thinking skills, along with the necessary technical skills, you’ll make a project fly.”

Blakely emphasized that over the past few years, computing has seen a major shift away from large, mainframe computers to smaller, individualized information processors. Examples are the processors that enable you to carry a pocket-sized computer or scan a credit card at the gas pump.

“In business, individualized processing – such as scanning a credit card at the gas pump – has become much more important,” Blakely said. “Individual processors can be linked to a local network, which enables a business to collect information at the source. In a gas station, for example, that information can be processed at the end of the day to determine which grades of gasoline sold best.”

Individualized processing also provides new opportunities for graduates of the CIS program, Blakely said.

“The growth in individualized processing has created a tremendous need for computer support technicians,” Blakely said. “Technicians are needed to set up, program and maintain the growing number of individual processors.”

Turner said advancing technology has also empowered end users of information in the financial industry.

“Today, employees can download information from a mainframe database, use their PCs to sort the information, then produce the desired reports,” Turner said. “Just a few years ago, this involved getting a printed report from the mainframe, inputting the required information into your PC, then generating a report.”

The changes in computer technology have also resulted in a reduction of paperwork, he said.

“In our industry, paper was a big issue,” Turner said. “The need to reduce paperwork spawned the creation of scanning equipment and software so the industry could reduce the amount of paperwork.”

He said that a few years ago, employees often would have to look through drawers of paper files to find the answer to a customer’s question.

“Now,” Turner said, “we scan all our files, and our employees can pull up electronic files on personal computers. If a customer calls and has a question about a specific transaction, our customer service people use their PCs and find the answer quickly.”

Turner said Ivy Tech plays an important economic development role in helping employees upgrade their technical skills.

“Ivy Tech enhances your employability, wherever you are,” Turner said, noting that 14 First Bank employees are enrolled in Ivy Tech CIS courses this fall. “And, if you’re not already in the workforce, earning an Ivy Tech degree gives you an advantage in entering the workforce.”

Changes in the work place require constant fine-tuning of the CIS program. One example is the addition this year of a Cisco option within the Associate Degree program’s Networking specialty, which already featured options in Microsoft and Novell.

“CIS is ever-adapting,” Blakely said. “As the work place becomes more hands-on in terms of computing, our program also is becoming more hands-on. Our students don’t just see how things work; they also get to touch it. The addition of a third networking option will provide more opportunities for our students,” Blakely said.