MIS major receives donation
Maureen Smithe
Assistant News Editor
When junior Corey Jenks arrived at Notre Dame his freshman year, he expected to pursue a major in the School of Engineering. But he realized he was more interested in computers and business than chemical engineering.
Jenk's realization led him to the School of Business' Management Information Systems (MIS) major.
"I know that ND students coming from MIS get good jobs with good pay," Jenks said. "I came to MIS because of the numerous job opportunities in the information systems area."
Many students are following the same path as Jenks. In fact, since 1996 the number of MIS majors has doubled; currently 160 undergrads and nearly 25 graduate students are enrolled, according to management professor Khalil Matta.
"This is a field in which there has been an incredible surge, and the market competition for MIS faculty has been intense," said Carolyn Woo, dean of COBA. "MIS has come into significant demand because it represents the basic infrastructure which enables e-commerce."
Electronic commerce — or e-commerce — integrates business systems to allow people to buy and sell products and services over the Internet. MIS majors study the hardware, software, accounting, finance, operations, marketing and human resource management that allow a marketplace to exist in cyberspace.
Junior Benjamin Stiller, an MIS major since his sophomore year, recognizes the importance of the field.
"You're not seeing as rapid a growth in computer science. MIS is trying to make computer-oriented managers who also have the technical skills needed for today's business," Stiller said. "MIS is turning computer geeks into business leaders."
With such increasing growth and interest in the field, the University has turned its focus to improvement and expansion.
"While the college has been able to bring our MIS faculty from four to six, further additions are necessary to meet the students' needs and interest, as well as to achieve excellence in our offerings," Woo said. "Given the advances in technology and the significance of e-commerce, we need to step up our teaching and research in the MIS area.
"This will require new curriculum development, major research initiatives, and increasing the number of sections so as to broaden access to such courses by all Notre Dame students," she continued. "Our hope is that we will be at the leading edge in helping students envision new opportunities and bring these about in this highly energized environment."
Now, thanks to a gift of more than $2 million by University alumnus Joseph Giovanini and his wife Jane, the MIS program will expand to satisfy the continued increase in interested students.
"In the past few years, we have made strides in hiring new faculty and increasing our MIS offerings," Matta said. "With the generous gift of Mr. and Mrs. Giovanini, we will be able to hire a distinguished faculty member in the field of MIS, one that will take the leadership in expanding our offerings in the emerging field of e-commerce, give us visibility in the academic and professional communities, and one that will lead our research efforts in this important area."
Matta and Woo recognize the importance of an endowed professorship.
"The University has already established the Joseph and Jane Giovanini Chair in MIS, which will be used to attract a renowned MIS professor to join the Notre Dame faculty. The search for such a person is currently under way," Matta said.
The popularity of MIS is evident in other funding resources. Students such as Jenks and Stiller currently utilize an MIS lab in COBA, made possible by a donation from Anderson Consulting.
Jenks hopes that the Giovanini's endowed professorship will allow previous resources to be directed towards other needs within the major.
"I say that money will go to good use. We have a limited number of classes and they are just starting to expand that," he said.
In addition, Stiller hopes the donation will raise MIS awareness.
"A lot of people don't know what the major is yet. Whenever I tell someone I am an MIS major, they always ask me to explain it," he said. "We're no longer monkeys on typewriters — we deal with people and business."
All News Stories for Tuesday, January 25, 2000
