Trips into the Field
The semiannual TWiCS-SMaCS trips
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Trips into the FieldThe semiannual TWiCS-SMaCS trips |
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Each semester, the Support for Undergraduate Scholars in Mathematics and Computer Science (SMaCS) program and the Truman Women in Computer Science (TWiCS) organization jointly sponsor a working trip to a regional metro area to see mathematics and computer science degrees "in action." They arrange for a group of twelve to fourteen students to visit two businesses or government agencies that value the skills and habits of mind acquired through the study of computer science or mathematics. During these visits, the hosts tell us about their organization, opportunities for careers and internships, and what they look for in applicants for both. Students get a chance to see the wide range of career opportunities available to mathematics and computer science majors with a serious liberal arts education.
Past hosts include the Boeing company, Nestle Purina PetCare, the Saint Louis field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Enterprise, Cerner, and Sprint. Though we are eager to return to each of these host sites, we are continnually in search of other organizations who value Truman mathematics and computer science graduates to host future visits and who can show the breadth of career opportunities available to our graduates.
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Past visits have brought us to these sites in the following way:
| Fall 2002 (Saint Louis): | The Boeing Company, Nestlé Purina PetCare | ||
| Spring 2002 (Saint Louis): | The Boeing Company, Enterprise | ||
| Fall 2002 (Saint Louis): | The Boeing Company, FBI field office | ||
| Spring 2003 (Kansas City): | Sprint Corp., Cerner | ||
| Spring 2003 (Saint Louis): | The Boeing Company, Towers-Perrin | ||
The students and faculty have enjoyed all of our visits with past hosts, and through these visits we have acquired information that may shape the way students select their future classes and the way faculty teach theirs.
| Students who are selected to go on these field trips leave campus on a Sunday (near noon) in two campus vans or a mini-bus and travel to the hosts' city (e.g., Kansas City or Saint Louis). We all check in at a hotel and relax a bit before a working dinner. We eat dinner together in a local restaurant's meeting room where we begin preparation's for the next days' work. Usually we finish the meeting and return to the hotel in time for some swimming and relaxation. Early next morning, we check out of the hotel and leave for the first host site. After lunch we leave the first site for the second. We leave for home late in the afternoon and stop at a restaurant for a group dinner and debreifing. If all goes well, we return to Kirksville by 9 or 10pm. |  |
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Past hosts have crafted programs that engage students by schooling them in the history of their organization, how they value the liberal arts and mathematics and computer science skills, and what they look for when they get an application for an internship or employment.
Hosts have planned programs that included question-and-answer sessions, tours, presentations by current employees and Truman alumni, mini-shadowing experiences (a 30-45 minute time during which a one or two students are paired with one employee who show them what he or she does), and meals with current employees. Programs vary from host to host, according to the resources they have available at the time.
Student members of TWiCS and students who applied and were accepted to the SMaCS program are given top priority for these trips, though other mathematics or computer science majors are welcome if space allows. The costs of these trips are subsidized by several underwriters (see below), but each student is responsible to pay a minimal fee (generally less than $40). This fee covers all group meals and the hotel stay. Please talk with Jon Beck or Jason Miller for more information.
These trips are made possible by the generous support from three organizations: Truman State University's Division of Mathematics and Computer Science, the Boeing Company through their support of TWiCS and the Boeing Scholars Program, and the National Science Foundation through their support for SMaCS (NSF DUE #0123094).
Just as we are continually in search of organizations to host these vists, we are also seeking additional sponsors for these trips. For more information about how to sponsor a trip or part of a trip, please contact Jon Beck or Jason Miller.