Enticed by the potential of a
six-figure salary out of college
in
a
booming
job
market,
more
students
nationally
are
interested
in
studying
computer science, including the
University. In under a decade,
the number of students who
have declared a CSE major has
more than quadrupled, from
317 students in fall 2010 to 1,320
students in fall 2019. In that
same time-frame, enrollment
in the LSA computer science
major has increased more than
16 times, from 43 students in fall
2010 to 719 students in fall 2019.
The increase of students in
the major has translated to an
increase of students enrolled
in various computer science
courses. For instance, EECS
281, a prerequisite course to
most upper-level EECS classes,
has seen substantial growth.
According to data shared with
The Daily by Steven Crang, CSE
Manager for Communications
and Marketing, 386 students
took the class in the 2010-
2011 school-year, while 1,409
students were enrolled in the
class in the 2018-2019 school-
year.
This
data
reflects
an
occupational
landscape
in
which
a
computer
science
degree is more in demand than
ever. Despite the fact that the
number of U.S. undergraduates
majoring in computer science
has more than doubled from
2013 to 2017, research suggests
the number of computer science-
related jobs still “far outpaces”
the number of students with
bachelor degrees in the subject.
According to the U.S. Bureau of
Labor
Statistics,
employment
for computer and information
research scientists is projected
to grow 16 percent from 2018 to
2028, which is “much faster than
the average for all occupations.”
In trying to keep up with
increasing demand for computer
science
education,
the
CSE
department at the University has
ramped up hiring new faculty as
well. In fact, Crang’s data shows
the CSE department has grown
by almost 40 percent in the last
five
years.
The
department,
which had 50 tenure track
professors and eight lecturers
in fall 2013, has expanded to
60 tenure track faculty and 20
lecturers in fall 2019.
Peter Chen, the CSE Chief
Program Advisor and a professor
in the EECS department, said
the
department
has
worked
hard to hire more faculty. Chen
explained
the
department
has also hired more adjunct
instructors,
sometimes
graduate students, who are not
permanent
faculty
members.
However, he said it is difficult,
if not impossible, to hire more
instructors at the rate of growth
in student enrollment, especially
as other universities and high-
paying jobs in the private sector
compete for many of the same
qualified candidates.
Chen
explained
the
department’s main initiative
has been to increase class
sizes
dramatically.
While
upper-level classes used to
have about 20 to 50 students
to
one
instructor,
classes
have now ballooned to 150 to
200 students to increase the
availability of these classes.
However, Chen, who also
teaches
upper-level
EECS
classes, noted there comes a
tradeoff with increasing the
student-to-teacher ratio.
“That’s probably not great for
students or teachers, because
it’s really hard at that scale to
give adequate attention to each
student, which you’d like to as
a teacher, and I think students
would like as well,” Chen said.
To increase class availability,
Chen explained certain classes
have
begun
experimenting
with online-only sections in
which students watch lecture
recordings instead of attending
lectures
in
a
designated
classroom.
Yet,
with
this
solution, the department should
remember that the University is
not an online-only college, Chen
said.
At
the
same
time,
Chen
explained
the
department
has tried to limit demand for
computer
science
classes.
Recently, the department limited
students to only registering for
two upper-level EECS classes
at a time, which Chen said has
extended opportunity for those
who register later in the process.
In addition, enrollment in these
classes are prioritized for majors
and minors of computer science
who need them to graduate.
Despite
these
reforms,
students who recently registered
for their next semester classes
have still experienced waitlists
that have hundreds of people. As
one post in a University student
Facebook group noted, waitlists
are sometimes a similar size to
that of the class itself.
According
to
Rackham
student Sharang Karve, a first-
year student in the College of
Engineering, the problem is
further exacerbated as students
feel compelled to register for
more classes than they intend on
taking.
“If you don’t get into a
certain class, you waitlist for
two others,” Karve said. “Now,
when you waitlist for two others,
that’s blocking another person
to register for that class… It’s a
snowball effect. They don’t really
know which ones they’re going
to get into, so the blanket answer
is to waitlist for everything and
just hope you get into one.”
The
University
course
registration
system
assigns
students a time to register
based on the number of credits
they have, so students with
the most credits register first.
However, a recent op-ed in The
Daily has argued this system
favors students from better-
resourced high schools, where
students have more access and
support in taking Advanced
Placement and International
Baccalaureate classes, and thus
arrive at the University with
more college credit.
“won’t you celebrate with
me
what i have shaped into
a kind of life?” - Lucille
Clifton
When I joined Michigan
in Color in 2018, my goal
was to find the language
to describe my identity
as
a
Black
woman
for
myself. I wanted to be
liberated from internalized
misconceptions
and
controlling images that had
left my self-determination
stifled and misaligned. It
is through Michigan in
Color that I discovered the
inherent beauty, joy and
brilliancy in my Blackness.
Thus, it has been one of
my
greatest
honors
to
have been able to serve as
Co-Managing
Editor
for
Michigan in Color. As MiC
has helped me cultivate my
narrative, voice, purpose
and self-love, I am thankful
to have been a part of a
platform that has helped
others shape theirs.
To my Podcast, Blog, and
Creative Content Editors: I
am in awe of what you have
been able to accomplish.
From the creation of the
Creative
column,
our
podcast and the expansion
of
the
blog,
I
am
so
incredibly proud of your
vision and direction. You
have been instrumental in
expanding
Michigan
in
Color beyond the written
page
and
increasing
methods of self-expression.
I hope that you all continue
to foster your imagination
and creativity and that you
never stop pushing your
ideas into reality.
To the editors of the
column: You have all been
such a delight, and your
hard work has not gone
unnoticed. You all have
been so amazing in helping
us to continue the mission
of our section. Each and
every single one of you has
expanded the capacity of
Michigan in Color to serve
students of color, and I will
be forever thankful for your
flexibility, dedication, and
commitment.
To
my
wonderful,
intelligent,
beautiful
Co-Managing Editor Carly:
Thank you for everything.
More than I can express,
you are what has kept
me solid throughout this
journey.
Your
kindness,
direction,
and
diligence
is
admirable,
and
the
section is so lucky to have
flourished
under
your
leadership. In addition to
being the best co-Managing
Editor that I could have
ever asked for, you have
become such a dear friend
to me, and I genuinely will
miss the sliver of peace that
you brought for me every
Sunday.
Lastly,
to
the
new
Managing
Editors
of
Michigan in Color Maya
and Ana: I am so incredibly
excited
about
your
leadership and visions for
the section. You two were
meant for this position, and
I am confident that MiC is
in powerful, capable hands.
Know that my faith in you
will never falter and that I
will be supporting you for
days and days to come.
The Daily has become
a second home, and I will
remember it fondly for all
of the laughs, challenges,
and innovation that has
come from its walls. It is
such an honor to have been
able to contribute to the
legacy of the Daily and its
commitment to journalistic
freedom. The students here
have all inspired me so
much, and it is through the
leadership and fellowship
that I’ve witnessed from
others that I have begun to
believe in myself.
Michigan in Color, you
have been both the ends and
the beginnings of my weeks
for the longest that I can
remember. You have been
both the solace after a busy
week and a burst of energy
for
the
coming
weeks’
trials. As MiC strives to
amplify the voices of people
of color, I look forward to
carrying this commitment
with me for decades to
come.
There’s
a
unique
vulnerability in attaching
your name to words, having
them printed 7,500 times
and distributed to every
building on campus. Even
though I’ve done this nearly
100 times in my four years
here, as I sit writing for the
Daily one last time, I can tell
you it never gets easier.
But I sure have grown up
since Emma Kinery assigned
me my first story and set
my world in motion. I’ve
come a long way since being
that shamelessly try-hard
freshman: running down to
the South Quad lobby to pick
up a paper each morning,
taking three shaky breaths
before
calling
a
source,
wanting so badly to do right
by the stories I had been
awarded the privilege to tell.
In time, I became one of
the editors who basically
lived in this building, who
finally found out what the
heck MDesk is, who was
pulled into the time warp
that is making a newspaper,
emerging at 12 a.m. with the
distinctly shrill headache
that can only be produced by
the sports section’s playlist,
and who complained about
my job, but only because that
was easier than explaining
how I could possibly enjoy
spending 20+ hours in the
newsroom every week.
But it hasn’t been without
sacrifice.
By
pouring
myself into 420 Maynard,
I
neglected
friendships,
requested (and was denied)
countless essay extensions,
strained relationships and
ceded many good night’s
sleeps. I’ve stuttered through
innumerable
interviews,
laid awake thinking about
typos, cried in every room in
this building, and somehow
attracted the attention of
Steve from Utah, who for a
time left angry comments on
each one of my articles.
But here, I found purpose
and community. The work
I’ve done at the Daily has
felt more meaningful and
productive than any other
assignment I can think of.
This place really is a means
to make great change. If you
have a story to tell, the Daily
will listen.
I have no idea what a
college
experience
looks
like without this place, but
I take comfort in knowing
the
Daily
is
evergreen.
More women of color will
take up space above the
fold. More articles will hold
the powerful accountable
and give a platform to the
overlooked. More freshmen
will trudge up the steps of
the newsroom bewildered,
ambitious,
and
unaware
they’re about to take on the
most rewarding experience
of their lives. I can’t wait to
read what they have to say.
To those that made this
place a home, Boo Boo,
Kaela, Sophie, Matt, Maya
and Riyah, you guys are
some of the most formative
friends I’ve ever had. I still
can’t believe we did that. It
was so crazy and so special.
We made a really good team.
To
my
dumplings,
you’re truly the cool older
girlfriends I always wanted
to make in college. I don’t
know who I would be if
you hadn’t taken me under
your fashionable, graceful,
uncommonly literate wings,
and I don’t ever want to find
out.
To
Na’kia,
you’re
something so special and
everyone who meets you can
feel it. I really can’t imagine
a better leader or a more
loyal friend. It’s me and you
forever.
To the MiC staff, the work
you did this year mattered. I
can’t thank you enough for
your diligence, your words
and your hugs.
To
all
of
this
year’s
managing editors, I’m not
sure in what other context a
ragtag bunch of individuals
like us would be found in the
same room, but somehow, it
really worked. Thank you for
being so fearless and fun in
taking on what was probably
the craziest learning curve
we’ve ever encountered. The
result was extraordinary.
To Finny and Maxy, as
our very own Joel once said,
“The Michigan Daily really
has some of the best white
men out there.” You guys are
the best of the best. To Joel,
there’s no one I’d rather be
canceled with. Thank you
for always knowing just how
to make me laugh. Tuesday
nights were always the best
part of my week. To Maggie,
for always being 100 percent
true to yourself –– no matter
how uncomfortable it made
people. You light up every
room you walk into. Just
don’t go wearing too many
skirts, especially in front
of
[redacted].
To
Maya,
everytime I think about
our friendship for too long
I cry, so I’ll just say thank
you for growing up with me.
I’ll be here from 5th Bush to
beyond.
420
Maynard,
there’s
nothing like you. Thank you,
again and again.
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
News
Wednesday, December 11, 2019 — 3A
WAITLIST
From Page 1A
With love, Carly
Forever and always,
Na’kia
CARLY RYAN
Managing MiC Editor
NA’KIA CHANNEY
Managing MiC Editor
Senior
Goodbyes
Michigan in Color
“Denver Public Schools, as a
district, said they didn’t believe
in retention, so they actually
had a letter that we could share
with families and say, it is the
guidance of the district that
retention is not the best option
to help support your child in
reading,”
DellaVecchia
said.
“In my three years of teaching
in Colorado, not a single family
in my classroom, and as far as
I know, not a single family and
my school, selected retention for
their child.”
The law has drawn controversy
since it was passed by former Gov.
Rick Snyder and a Republican-
controlled state legislature in
2016.
While
proponents
say
it sets a standard to ensure
students do not fall behind and
receive the support they need,
critics note research indicating
negative psychological and social
impacts of retention on children,
in addition to the added costs to
the government.
Among
the
Michigan
law’s critics are current Gov.
Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat
who has advocated repealing
it,
and
Detroit
Community
School District Superintendent
Nicholai Vitti, as well as State
Superintendent Michael Rice,
who has called it a “bad law.”
Though only 5 percent of
third graders are expected to be
retained under the policy, there
have been concerns from Vitti
and members of the Don’t Leave
Us Behind campaign regarding
the varying performance levels
across school districts. DCSD,
for example, would have had 20
percent of its third graders held
back — approximately four times
the state average. DellaVecchia
said beyond the impacts on
students, the law could require
schools to make staffing changes
based on the number of students
being retained.
LSA senior Ariella Meltzer
said she originally found the
campaign through the Roosevelt
Institute and was particularly
struck by how clearly the data
showed the policy impacting low-
income and minority populations
in the state.
“What’s
really
harmful
about the law is that it hugely
disproportionately
affects
minority
and
low-income
students in terms of retention,”
Meltzer said. “All the research
shows that it just has really bad
effects all around. And when you
combine that with the fact that
you’re putting this extra burden
on a school district or students
that already face an incredible
amount of hardships, such as
in Detroit or Flint, I literally
consider it a racist law. I think
that the intention — in terms of
getting students to reach, like,
proficiency and literacy at an
earlier age — is important and
that’s
something
we
should
be working towards, but the
execution of the law is really
lacking.”
At least 25 states have similar
legislation
in
place.
Under
Michigan’s version of the law,
there are exemptions, though
critics question if these favor
those with the resources to
obtain them. These “good faith
exemptions” include students
enrolled in special education
with an individualized education
plan, limited English with less
than three years of instruction
in an English language learner
program
and
having
been
enrolled in their current school
for less than two years with
evidence they did not have an
individual reading improvement
plan.
State Rep. Pamela Hornberger,
R-District 32, an advocate of
the law, did not respond to The
Daily’s request for comment.
Test scores have shown more
than half of Michigan third grade
students test below proficient
in reading. Those in favor of the
policy, like former state Rep.
Amanda Price, who sponsored
the bill, have said it requires
schools to focus on ensuring
students can read.
Members of the Don’t Leave
Us Behind Campaign point to
research
demonstrating
the
negative social and psychological
impacts
of
retainment.
For
instance,
students
who
are
retained are more likely to drop
out.
Though
the
campaign
is
against the bill in its entirety,
DellaVecchia said their current
goal is to get an amendment
passed changing the retention
component
to
optional.
DellaVecchia
said
they
are
pushing for this change to allow
families and teachers to make
the decision rather than the
government.
LSA
junior
Jordan
Tyo
said the coalition behind the
campaign has been growing. The
group has been meeting with
lawmakers in Lansing, as well as
trying to connect with parent-
teacher organizations and gain
wider name recognition among
parents.
While
they
have
had
difficulties
reaching
out
to
parents, the group has found
success in getting the attention
of state representatives, who
largely ignored them when the
campaign began.
“It’s
surprising
how
ill-
informed parents are, not being
any fault of their own or the
school, it’s just that this bill
kind of slid in there and, all of a
sudden, it’s going to affect, and
they still don’t completely know
about it,” Tyo said. “It’s a little
tedious trying to get in there
and trying to expand, but it’s
also kind of cool seeing just the
grassroots going from hardly
getting an answer to meeting
with these representatives and
really picking up momentum.”
In addition to lobbying policy
makers,
DellaVecchia
said
they have been meeting with
community groups across the
state to educate people on the
law.
One roadblock they face is
getting an amendment on the
table to be voted on. DellaVecchia
said the chairs of the House
Education Reform Committee
and
the
Senate
Education
Committees would have to bring
the amendment to the floor,
though they are not required to
do so. DellaVecchia said he would
not be surprised if they did not
bring the amendment forward.
If
they
cannot
get
an
amendment
through
soon,
Meltzer said families across the
state will bear the consequences
as thousands of third graders
this year are retained. With this
in mind, she said the campaign is
in a race against time.
“It is going to be really sad if
we can’t get something to change
to see the literal thousands of
kids that are going to come home
with this piece of paper that says
your kid is going to be held back,”
Meltzer said.
LITERACY
From Page 1A
Read more at
MichiganDaily.com