Undergraduate IS students start the year strong

The department welcomed 467 computer information systems undergraduates when classes started just a couple weeks ago — 120 are seniors. The CIS curriculum challenges these students, but they also find time for our professional organizations. The leadership of these groups work hard in late spring and summer to be sure they are ready to rock as soon as their classmates return to campus. Club activities augment what students learn in the classroom and help them with career planning.

The department welcomed 467 computer information systems undergraduates when classes started just a couple weeks ago — 240 are seniors. The numbers won’t be official until October, after the deadline to change schedules, but as of today we can say that this year’s undergraduate population includes 47 Barrett Honors students and 82 students from out of state, of which 18 are international.

The CIS curriculum challenges these students, but they also find time for our professional organizations. The leadership of these groups work hard in late spring and summer to be sure they are ready to rock as soon as their classmates return to campus. Club activities augment what students learn in the classroom and help them with career planning.

DISC is the department’s oldest student organization, led this year by T. J. Wey. "DISC is about bringing classmates and friends together in ways that support their interests, whether that means career development, community service, or food," Wey says.

According to student services specialist Emily Galindo-Elvira, DISC has already filled its weekly Thursday meeting calendar for the next two months with corporate speakers, kicking off with Protiviti on Sept 6, followed by Deloitte Consulting/Deloitte Advisory on September 13. The group is hosting its opening social on September 4 at San Felipe’s Café in Tempe Marketplace.

Women in Technology — WIT — is sponsored this year by US Airways, according to co-presidents Cristina Swaziek and Rosaura Alvarez. Open to men and women, this group was organized last year to explore opportunities for women in technology.

The WIT opening social on September 11 is going to be a professional development workshop, designed to prepare members for the Career Mixer, which is the first opportunity for CIS students to meet corporate recruiters and representatives. "Come, get involved!” says club co-president Cristina (Tina) Swaziek. “It will make your college experience just that much better."

Galindo-Elvira said the Career Mixer is organized like a career fair, with companies set up at tables where they can meet with interested CIS students. So far 25 companies have reserved space, with room for more. Companies interested in getting to know students who are looking for internships and jobs should contact Galindo-Elvira.

“We’re excited that our Career Mixer is the first event of ASU’s Career Week, which runs through Thursday, September 20,” she said.

The CIS Ambassadors are also getting organized. Inaugurated last year, the ambassadors are the department’s honor and service group. Galindo-Elvira explained that these students are hand-picked by the faculty to be “the face of the department” at events such as speaker and CEO visits. They are also paired as mentors with first-year students, helping the younger students to connect with faculty and make friends in their major.

This year’s CIS Ambassadors are Shannyn Weidman, Danielle Clark, Trupti Nair, Rose McLean, Sumit Patel, Indy Yip, Kevin Risser, Branden Lau, T.J. Wey, Rosaura Alvarez, Cristine (Tina) Swaziek, Saswati Soumya, Heather Carroll, Julie Westerbeck, Chas Tinker, Courtney Witt, Alex Clark and Rob Boring.