Dear editor,As a former student of Florida Atlantic University, I have recently become fed up with my employment status. I wonder if my expereience to date is typical and, if it is, how many FAU students are aware of the very dismal employment future the FAU degree gurantees.
If the faculty of FAU does not have a valid vision of the future, I hope that you will use your newspaper to fulfill your obligation to your readers (the students of FAU) to make them aware that the degree they are working and paying for may by worthless in today’s economy.
To explain what I mean, the following is a copy of an E-Mail I am sending to two members of FAU.
Dear Mr. Bozarth and Mr. Brogan
I am writing this letter to raise several questions concerning the Management Information Systems degree currently being offered at Florida Atlantic University. I hope that you will give this letter the consideration it deserves, and I look forward to a speedy response.
First, let me state my situation. I graduated from Florida Atlantic University, in the summer of 2001, with my Bachelor’s of Science degree in Management Information Systems. I am a physically healthy young man, with no serious physical or mental handicaps. When I began FAU I had considerable computer experience. When I graduated from your institute, I knew 5 computer languages (LISP, SQL, C, C++, and QBASIC), typed over 80 words per minute, and felt confident that I would soon secure fitting employment in the work place.
Since then, I have gained membership in Mensa, worked several part time jobs, and have worked to learn FoxPro and C#. Since my graduation, I have only had one full time employment position, which only lasted two months before I was informed I was excess to need. That job was that of a telephone caller, a position I did not envision when I chose my major. The only employment I currently have is that of a part time bag boy working for Publix.
Sir, while I am aware that you are not responsible for the actions of the U.S. economy since 2001 I wonder if my situation is typical of those who graduate from FAU with an Information Systems major and, if so, what actions you and FAU are planning to correct the situation.
To put it plainly, I am still paying for a college degree which has, to date, proved practically worthless for getting me employment in my chosen field. While at FAU, I was not informed that this situation might arise and, according to the information I received, I was under the impression that IT was a growing field with a high demand for entry level employees. Since graduation, I have been unable to receive any significant help from FAU regarding future employment and feel that I have been betrayed or, at least, cheated of the value of the college degree that I am still paying for.
To put things in perspective: I know a man who gets disability from Social Security because he suffers from minor mental retardation. He gets more per month from Social Security then I make, and he does not have to maintain a car to get to work, pay income tax, or spend several hours a day working outside or moving heavy objects.
Currently, the bachelor’s of science degree I received from your university would be more useful to me if it could convince Social Security that I was permanently mentally disabled! I hope that you will take steps to answer my questions, and look forward to your response.
Former FAU student,Gordon G. Parks(561)[email protected]
