Why Computing? Dr. Bun Yue Chair, Division of Computing and Mathematics University of Houston-Clear Lake November 15 th, 2007 UH-Downtown Academy Scholar Visit

UHCL 11/ Bun Yue: Slide 2 Educational Attainment In 2006 Census Bureau Data on Educational Attainment: In 2006 Census Bureau Data on Educational Attainment: 86 percent of all adults 25 and older completed high school.86 percent of all adults 25 and older completed high school. 28 percent of all adults 25 and older have Bachelor or higher degree.28 percent of all adults 25 and older have Bachelor or higher degree.

UHCL 11/ Bun Yue: Slide 3 College Degrees 2006 Bachelor degree: 37,334,000 Bachelor degree: 37,334,000 Master degree: 13,184,000 Master degree: 13,184,000 Professional degree:3,061,000 Professional degree:3,061,000 Doctoral degree: 2,489,000 Doctoral degree: 2,489,000

UHCL 11/ Bun Yue: Slide 4 Average Income (2005) Less than high school: $19,915 annually.Less than high school: $19,915 annually. High school: $29,448.High school: $29,448. Bachelor degree: $54,689.Bachelor degree: $54,689. Master, PhD and professional degree: $79,946.Master, PhD and professional degree: $79,946. Education matters in term of $$$!Education matters in term of $$$!

UHCL 11/ Bun Yue: Slide 5 Median Income

UHCL 11/ Bun Yue: Slide 6 Discretionary Income I Wikipedia: Discretionary income = disposable income – cost of living. Wikipedia: Discretionary income = disposable income – cost of living. “income that can be saved or spent on goods and services wanted, not needed.” “income that can be saved or spent on goods and services wanted, not needed.”

UHCL 11/ Bun Yue: Slide 7 Discretionary Income 2 Average discretionary income for households with earnings of less than $50,000 is $2,075 – 90 percent below the national average. Average discretionary income for households with earnings of less than $50,000 is $2,075 – 90 percent below the national average.

UHCL 11/ Bun Yue: Slide 8 Declining Jobs

UHCL 11/ Bun Yue: Slide 9 Growing Jobs

UHCL 11/ Bun Yue: Slide 10 CNN Best Job #1

UHCL 11/ Bun Yue: Slide 11 CNN Best Job #2

UHCL 11/ Bun Yue: Slide 12 Job Satisfaction Education ↑ => Job Satisfaction ↑ ? Education ↑ => Job Satisfaction ↑ ?

UHCL 11/ Bun Yue: Slide 13 Job Satisfaction Not as strong correlation. Not as strong correlation. For example, one paper: “Educational attainment is found to be negatively associated with correctional officer job satisfaction.” For example, one paper: “Educational attainment is found to be negatively associated with correctional officer job satisfaction.”

UHCL 11/ Bun Yue: Slide 14 Job Satisfaction Education level and income tend to increase job satisfaction. Education level and income tend to increase job satisfaction. Highly personal. Highly personal. Jobs provide more values on aspects important to the employees => job satisfaction. Jobs provide more values on aspects important to the employees => job satisfaction. Ask yourself whether computing is suitable for you. Ask yourself whether computing is suitable for you.

UHCL 11/ Bun Yue: Slide 15 Computing Job Satisfaction Some advantages: Some advantages: Good environment.Good environment. Job diversity => more choices to fit personal preferences.Job diversity => more choices to fit personal preferences. High mobility => more choices to find fitting environment.High mobility => more choices to find fitting environment.

UHCL 11/ Bun Yue: Slide 16 STEM Education STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Used to be referred to as CSEM: Computer, Science, Engineering and Mathematics. Used to be referred to as CSEM: Computer, Science, Engineering and Mathematics.

UHCL 11/ Bun Yue: Slide 17 STEM Education Crisis [CRA] Freshman interest in CS as majors: [CRA] Freshman interest in CS as majors: 2000: 3.7%2000: 3.7% 2005: 1.1%2005: 1.1% [Taulbee Surveys] BS CS degree productions: [Taulbee Surveys] BS CS degree productions: : ↓ 17% : ↓ 17% : ↓ 13% : ↓ 13%

UHCL 11/ Bun Yue: Slide 18 CS Education Crisis New CS undergraduate majors: New CS undergraduate majors: : ↓ 21% : ↓ 21% : ↓ 10% : ↓ 10% : ↓ 23% : ↓ 23% Percentage of female CS undergraduates: Percentage of female CS undergraduates: : 14.7% : 14.7% : 17% ~ 19% : 17% ~ 19%

UHCL 11/ Bun Yue: Slide 19 Crisis in Chinese Crisis = 危機 in Chinese Crisis = 危機 in Chinese 危 = danger 危 = danger 機 = opportunity 機 = opportunity

UHCL 11/ Bun Yue: Slide 20 More opportunity than danger Demand: ↑ Demand: ↑ Supply: ↓ Supply: ↓

UHCL 11/ Bun Yue: Slide 21 From: Xxxx Sent: Thursday, November 15, :32 PM To: Yue, Kwok-Bun Subject: Available Positions at PCI Bun: Thank you for your feedback on aaaaaa. Your feedback is very important. 70% of employees in my company have a Masters degree. I can appreciate someone who is willing to put in the extra efforts to do a thesis. You just helped me make up my mind to make her an offer. Attached is a brief description of jobs we are trying to fill. I am trying to hire 4-5 people in the next couple of months. We have offices in both Houston and Norman. If you know of any bright students looking for a job, please pass along this message. Thanks. Xxxx yyyy

UHCL 11/ Bun Yue: Slide 22 Conclusions Education pays! Education pays! Computing education especially pays! Computing education especially pays! Computing jobs are good jobs. Computing jobs are good jobs. Demand for computing professionals continue to rise. Demand for computing professionals continue to rise. Supply is low. Supply is low. Good time to continue your computing education to the next level! Good time to continue your computing education to the next level!

UHCL 11/ Bun Yue: Slide 23 Questions Any Questions? Any Questions? Thanks! Thanks!