Darren McCarthy, Clarke Student
I feel that coming to Clarke University from NICC has been the best career decision I have made. The Computer Information System (CIS) program at Clarke University has provided me with a lot more than just computer skills. Don’t get me wrong, I have learned a lot from the CIS program and have gained real life skills and knowledge, but the personal relationships that I have built with the professors at Clarke are treasured assets I will also take away with me after I am finished at Clarke. One professor offered me hope even in my times of struggles with my education. For me, things have not come easily as I have entered into higher education 20 years after being out of school. That hope and support has helped me strive at doing my best.
Josh Welp, Clarke Student
I didn't go back to school until I was 30 years old, but the CIS program at Clarke has certainly made this a very enjoyable experience for me. Just 3 short years ago, I was an ironworker. Since starting work on my CIS degree, I have worked at IBM, and now work for McKesson Provider Technologies. I have never in my life had the job satisfaction that I now have.
The CIS program has prepared me to be much more comfortable in a professional environment. While I certainly don’t have all the answers, I am much better equipped to ask the right questions. When problems arise, the researching skills I have acquired definitely come in handy. I am able to communicate much more effectively with colleagues and superiors alike. With the skills I am acquiring in the CIS program, people are seeing me as more of a resource, and that is a great feeling!
Kevin Kratz, Clarke Student
I have been working at manual labor jobs my whole life. After thinking long and hard about mine and my family's future, I decided it was time to make a change so I could work more with my brain and less with my back. As it turns out, I'm not getting any younger. I chose the path of computers because they have always interested me. I investigated the options at Clarke for computer education and I found a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems (CIS). The fact that CIS was a Timesaver option seemed to be a sign to me to go for it. As I hoped, it has been stimulating and interesting to me. I have enjoyed all of the educators I have had the pleasure to be taught by so far. We learn about different aspects of the technology world and we are able to keep current with what is going on in the real world of technology. One of the big adjustments for me was learning to work with other people on a project or task. You learn to trust your teammates and for me, this was new because I was used to being responsible for what I did and I didn't have others helping me or working with me for the most part. You will develop skills to solve problems and eliminate problems which slow your progress. Recently, I took a class which I really enjoyed. The class was an introduction to the IBM Mainframe and we got to use hands on to see how everything works.
If anyone is contemplating making the same decision I made 3 years ago, I say don't worry, you won't regret the choice to experience Clarke Computer Science Department.
Brenda Strub, Clarke Student
The plant that I worked at for sixteen years dispersed and since they sent some of the jobs overseas, it gave me an opportunity to get schooling so that I will not have to worry about not having an education, which is a big requirement these days. Who would have known that through the loss of a job I could be getting a quality education? I was happy that I chose to come to Clarke. I love all my professors and although some of the classes are difficult, after I succeed I look back with a feeling of accomplishment.
The CIS classes that I have taken will be very useful in whatever computer based career I choose, it is almost unlimited. There is database, which would be useful in almost any job. Operating systems, which every computer person needs to learn; to understand anything about the computer you need to know the base from which it is built. There are many more that will allow me to choose my career and also succeed at it.
The classes I have taken at Clarke also include those that are not required at a two-year college. These classes, which include speech, writing, and many others, have helped me to come out of my shell and to communicate well with people that have authority, and not sound like an uneducated person that worked in a dead end job for sixteen years.