The drop in computer science enrollment at Rowan has been attributed to a few different reasons, including a decrease in international students this semester. (Photo via pixabay.com)
For the first time in 20 years, Rowan University’s enrollment number of computer science majors has dropped 12.61%, according to data from the University’s Banner program.
This historic drop has resulted in a variety of issues for the computer science department. According to Dr. Vasil Hnatyshin, head of the computer science department, the schedules for classes were decided in January, and significant changes had to be made in order to account for the unexpected lack of graduate students. Some professors had to be given lower-level classes as other classes were being combined. This has affected adjunct professors in particular, as fewer opportunities have been left open for those who work part-time.
Dr. Hnatyshin has given what he believes is the primary reason for the drop: fewer international students.
Last fall, the computer science department consisted of 509 international graduate students. This year, that number dropped to 308, according to data given from Tableau, another service used by the University to log enrollment data. While the total drop is split between undergraduate and graduate students, the former only went down by 5.94% while the latter dropped a more significant 27.18%. This drop is concerning not only to the department but also to other students.
“People not being able to go for the education they want is concerning,” said James Cuffavi, a 22-year-old graduate student.
According to Gokran Alkanat, associate provost for international education, getting international students to Rowan for the fall semester has encountered some new challenges.
On June 18, the U.S. Department of State announced new policies for obtaining a visa to enter the country. According to these new rules, the department claims they would “use all available information in our visa screening and vetting” when deciding who is allowed into the country or who may “pose a threat to U.S. national security.” This includes requiring people seeking non-immigrant visas to make their social media public so that their online presence can be vetted.
“After they implemented it [social media vetting], some students were still able to schedule an appointment, but they couldn’t get an immediate result because with the new process, students have to wait another couple of weeks,” said Alkanat.
Earlier this year, all visa appointments were suspended for three weeks in order to implement the new procedures, which included the visas of eight international students at Rowan.
Alkanat explained that students who had appointments in mid to late August last year would be able to make it to Rowan on time for their classes to start, but because of these new policies, it is taking significantly more time for visas to be approved. According to him, this has led to an estimated 27% overall decline in international graduate enrollment for this year. Other universities have had even more significant drops. The University of Idaho, for example, has seen a 50% decrease in overall international enrollment.
Though the drop in international graduate student enrollment is still a concern for the department, Alkanat chooses to look on the bright side of the situation.
“The positive side of it is that undergrad went up, I think about 15%, compared to last year,” said Alkanat.
Dr. Hnatyshin believes that other factors may be affecting undergraduate enrollment into computer science majors, such as the looming enrollment cliff.
During the 2008 financial crisis, there was a significant drop in the country’s birth rate. Since people did not have secure housing, many decided against having kids or postponed it. As a result, there will be significantly fewer 18-year-olds enrolling in college once the 18-year mark of the recession officially passes.
“There is a big fear with people in computer science about getting a job,” said Liam Goucher, a 19-year-old computer science major. “I think people don’t understand the workload.”
In addition to the oversaturation of the job market, another big concern for the computer science community includes the rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI), worrying that it may take over many jobs in the computer science field. AI has already been used at some computer science companies to automate work, feeding into the growing fear that humans will be made obsolete by AI.
“I’m opposed to it being an end-all, be-all,” said Kellen Kaiser, a 19-year-old computer science major. “I believe it can be used as a tool.”
The issue of AI is one that Dr. Hnatyshin believes will be overcome. He proposes that rather than running from it, the department needs to embrace it to a reasonable extent and hopes to integrate it into the curriculum.
“We need to teach our students how to use generative AI effectively,” said Hnatyshin.
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