A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF ENROLLMENT TRENDS AND GRADUATION GPAs FOR MEN AND WOMEN IN CIS PROGRAMS

Despite expanding opportunities, women are increasingly demonstrating a lack of interest in computer-related majors at the undergraduate level at virtually every American university. This research study focuses on enrollment characteristics of females entering computer studies (IT /IS) over a period of 12 years at a mid-sized university. The salient factors being tested by gender are the incoming SAT (Math, Verbal and Total) scores and the final outgoing GPA scores at the conclusion of the student academic experience. Thus aptitude is correlated with performance for a direct statistical comparison by gender. Pattern differences, also by gender, are examined at the enrollment stage. Additionally, salient factors such as demographic and professional characteristics, work-life balance, contextual influences, positive experiences, family and teacher influences, stereotypical connotations, prior usage, and negative life-style aspects are woven into the fabric of the research endeavor.