How does Informatics affect UNLVs commitment to diversity?
There is no question that minorities and women are under-represented in IT. There are many reasons for that. Calculus-based programs tend to be off-putting to some, while static and inflexible degree requirements are discouraging to others. As a result, many potentially successful students seek to avoid the field of information technology altogether. The multi-disciplinary approach of Informatics has much broader appeal than more narrow IT disciplines, for the curricula are sensitive to the needs of the marketplace. This principle of relevance-first will be a guiding theme for all Informatics programs of study. We are sensitive to the problem of artificial academic barriers as a discouragement to under-represented constituencies and are committed to eliminate those that are not absolutely necessary for the successful matriculation in Informatics and gainful employment upon graduation.
