Web site places IT students in internships
Information technology one of State's growing industries, despite economy
Janie Boschma
Issue date: 10/27/08 Section: News
There's at least one industry that's thriving even in what experts have labeled an "economic crisis."
Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton announced Friday in a press conference the release of a Web site to match students with Information Technology internships in one of Wisconsin's fastest growing industries. The Information Technology Association of Wisconsin developed and funded the site, president Bill Mortimer said, because the industry simply cannot find enough students to meet its needs.
Many entry-level IT positions provide salaries of $60,000 a year, and Mortimer said 50,000 of those well-paying jobs are quickly becoming available in Wisconsin as the baby-boomer generation reaches retirement.
So far, the Web site, www.itawi.org, lists seven companies and about 80 available positions.
Computer Science professor Michael Wick said both UW-Eau Claire's computer science and business departments offer programs under the IT "umbrella," though the computer science program focuses more on technological problem-solving and the business department's Information Systems major emphasizes management.
Senior Information Systems major Chris Sewell said he thought it was a good idea to bring employment opportunities to one place with the site, even though he doesn't expect to look hard for a job.
"Every business with a computer network is going to have a demand for someone from an IS field," Sewell said.
Information Systems professor Anthony Keys said the only difference between IS and IT are "a matter of naming." Wick said both are equally employable in the IT field.
Keys said Eau Claire has the largest IS program in the state and its graduates have no trouble finding jobs. Wick said employers could handle three times the graduates the computer science department can offer.
Keys said IT employers are especially eager to hire because it takes six to eight years of training for a new employee to replace a baby-boomer in any given business.
Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton announced Friday in a press conference the release of a Web site to match students with Information Technology internships in one of Wisconsin's fastest growing industries. The Information Technology Association of Wisconsin developed and funded the site, president Bill Mortimer said, because the industry simply cannot find enough students to meet its needs.
Many entry-level IT positions provide salaries of $60,000 a year, and Mortimer said 50,000 of those well-paying jobs are quickly becoming available in Wisconsin as the baby-boomer generation reaches retirement.
So far, the Web site, www.itawi.org, lists seven companies and about 80 available positions.
Computer Science professor Michael Wick said both UW-Eau Claire's computer science and business departments offer programs under the IT "umbrella," though the computer science program focuses more on technological problem-solving and the business department's Information Systems major emphasizes management.
Senior Information Systems major Chris Sewell said he thought it was a good idea to bring employment opportunities to one place with the site, even though he doesn't expect to look hard for a job.
"Every business with a computer network is going to have a demand for someone from an IS field," Sewell said.
Information Systems professor Anthony Keys said the only difference between IS and IT are "a matter of naming." Wick said both are equally employable in the IT field.
Keys said Eau Claire has the largest IS program in the state and its graduates have no trouble finding jobs. Wick said employers could handle three times the graduates the computer science department can offer.
Keys said IT employers are especially eager to hire because it takes six to eight years of training for a new employee to replace a baby-boomer in any given business.
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