Strategic Vision

In the next five years, we will:

• Be a leader in industry-driven curriculum innovation. Develop partnerships with leading data science and technology organizations to ensure our curriculum reflects emerging trends in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data technologies. Introduce new electives and certifications in high-demand areas like data science automation and scalability; data engineering and management; ethical AI for data science; and data science for social good.
• Be a program that excels in student recruitment and retention. Create pathways to make our program accessible and attractive to a diverse student population, including underrepresented groups in STEM. Invest in comprehensive support systems to ensure high retention rates, including academic advising, peer mentoring, and flexible learning options for working professionals.

To enable this vision, we will:

• Develop strategic partnerships with industry and government organizations to establish a professional advisory board. This board will provide ongoing insights and guidance on curriculum development, ensuring alignment with emerging trends and workforce needs.
• Leverage data for continuous program improvement. Implement advanced analytics to measure and report on student outcomes, such as job placement rates, internship participation, and alumni career progression. Use this data to refine our curriculum and student support services.
• Invest in faculty development. Incentivize faculty to update courses and curriculum regularly to reflect evolving industry trends and technologies. Provide resources for faculty to pursue partnerships, and professional development opportunities that align with cutting-edge advancements in data science.

In the next five years, we will:

• Be a program that excels in student recruitment, retention, and job placement. Develop innovative strategies to attract top talent, including underrepresented groups in STEM. Create robust retention programs focused on academic success, professional development, and career readiness.
• Be a leader in experiential learning opportunities. Expand hands-on learning opportunities by growing our project-based courses, capstone experiences, and internships. Provide students with real-world problem-solving skills through collaboration with industry partners.
• Develop flexible and inclusive educational offerings. Embrace various modalities to meet the needs of diverse learners, including working professionals and international students. Invest in online education and hybrid program delivery to enhance accessibility and flexibility.
• Foster a global and interdisciplinary perspective. Create pathways for students to engage in interdisciplinary courses and research collaborations that address global challenges, such as climate change, biotechnology, public health, finance, and artificial intelligence ethics.
• Enhance student career outcomes through structured programming. Leverage existing university-wide career resources and external partnerships to boost employability. Offer students opportunities to earn microcredentials and certifications that align with industry demands.

To enable this vision, we will:

• Continue to grow our capstone experience. Continue to expand our innovative, industry-connected capstone experience that provides real-world data science opportunities for our students.
• Update and expand our curriculum. Introduce new courses and certifications in cutting-edge areas of data science, such as data science automation and scalability; data engineering and management; ethical AI for data science; and data science for social good. Ensure that every student has access to industry-informed education.
• Enhance co-curricular opportunities. Create more opportunities for career exploration, including workshops, speaker series, and networking events. Expand access to independent study, internship, mentorship, and capstone opportunities for both online and residential students.
• Highlight job placement rates. Partner with employers to create a pipeline for internships and full-time roles. Implement data science-specific career services that leverage existing resources to provide tailored career coaching, interview preparation, and alumni networking. Collect and analyze annual job placement data to identify trends, improve strategies, and ensure continuous improvement in career outcomes.
• Cultivate a supportive community. Develop mentoring programs that pair new students with returning students. Enhance belonging and engagement through targeted initiatives for first-generation, underrepresented, international students, women in STEM, and working professionals.

In the next five years, we will:

• Foster a sense of belonging for all community members. Build an inclusive environment that prioritizes transparency, fair resource distribution, and collaboration to advance the department's goals in education, innovation, and student success.
• Use data to drive equitable decision-making. Analyze student demographics and outcomes to identify and address disparities, ensuring all students have access to resources and opportunities for success.
• Empower faculty, staff, and students to lead inclusively. Encourage cultural awareness, humility, and empathy through professional development, student organizations, and leadership programs.

To enable this vision, we will:

• Enhance community-building initiatives. Support and grow student organizations that promote a welcoming environment for all, including DaSSA, Women in STEM, and other student groups, while fostering a sense of belonging within the data science community.
• Develop inclusive recruitment pipelines. Strengthen initiatives for attracting and retaining students, faculty, and staff from a wide range of backgrounds.
• Strengthen community for online students. Increase opportunities for online students to engage with peers, faculty, and the broader CU community by creating both in-person and virtual networking events, fostering a sense of belonging and community, and building a pipeline of engaged alumni.