Truman Partnerships Create Career Pipeline for Data Science

Truman is working with education partners in an effort to be at the forefront of an emerging career field and put students on a path to employment in one of the fastest growing sectors in the country.

The Data Science Pathway Initiative is designed to inspire students to consider a career in data science. The program is funded through MoExcels, an initiative of Governor Mike Parson, and managed by the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development. Truman is using the Data Science Pathway Initiative to promote the University’s various degree and certificate options in the field and to encourage exploration of data science for students of all ages. In addition to traditional undergraduate and graduate programs, the University has avenues for working adults and individuals who already have a degree to supplement their education and increase their earning potential.

A key ally in connecting individuals with careers in data science is Moberly Area Community College. Truman President Sue Thomas and MACC President Jeff Lashley signed a memorandum of understanding April 25 celebrating the schools’ formal partnership in the Data Science Pathway Initiative. Truman and MACC faculty have worked for several months to align their curricula to help MACC students prepare for eventual bachelor’s level study in data science and to jointly promote the career path to their students. MACC benefits by having a wider array of opportunities to present to students while enrolling students who wish to take advantage of their A+ scholarships. Truman benefits by introducing the career path to more prospective students, including the many students in MACC’s dual credit courses in high schools throughout the region.

“Data is an integral component of every industry, and understanding how to work with data will continue to be a more and more valuable skill in the years to come,” said Kevin Minch, associate provost. “By making it easier for more Missourians to get into the field, we are setting them up for personal success, as well as meeting the needs of the future job market.”

Data science professionals are responsible for taking large volumes of information and interpreting them to be used in actionable ways by businesses and organizations. Through a multitiered approach, Truman and partner schools are training participants in data collection and analysis, as well as on techniques to effectively communicate its insights and use data to solve important problems.

During the April 25 signing ceremony, Truman also hosted a ribbon cutting and open house for its new Data Science Teaching Lab in Violette Hall.

“This new Data Science Teaching Lab and our expanded cloud computing resources will give our students a real edge,” said Scott Alberts, professor and chair of Truman’s Statistics Department. “Building on Truman’s excellent backbone of quality teaching and student support, and working with MACC and our other partners, we can prepare students across our data science pipeline, giving them endless experiences and opportunities working with real-world big data. We have current students working in genomics, text recognition, geographic information systems, astronomy, insurance, marketing and pharmaceuticals who will all benefit from these expanded capabilities.”

As Truman has created and invested in its data science programs in recent years, the University is also taking a long-term approach to secure future students. The Data Science Pathways Initiative includes K-12 outreach efforts to inspire students to consider the field as early as the third grade. A team of high school and Truman faculty worked together to develop a series of lesson plans and activities for teachers to incorporate data science concepts into their classes. These have since been presented at a series of workshops in St. Louis, Kansas City and Kirksville. Classroom posters, career brochures and other learning materials have been developed and distributed widely throughout the state.

“This project gets students as early as elementary school thinking about the concept of data and related careers so that when they are in high school and college they can pursue relevant coursework,” said Jeanne Harding, director of Truman’s Institute for Academic Outreach. “Data scientists are strategic problem solvers. Anyone with an inquisitive nature and critical thinking skills can be successful in the field, and there are a number of ways they can get started.”

For more information about all of the data science options available through Truman and its partner organizations, visit data.truman.edu or contact gradinfo@truman.edu.