ISECON 2006 Encouraging Women and Minorities to Attain Degrees in Computing and Related Fields ISECON 2006 – Dallas, TX Nov. 2-5, 2006

ISECON 2006 Barbara Mento Computer Studies Dept. Head College of Notre Dame of Maryland Sylvia Sorkin Thea Prettyman Mathematics Dept. Community College of Baltimore County

College of Notre Dame of Maryland n n Private, liberal arts college for women n n Fall 2005 enrollment: 1,686 undergraduates (638 in Women’s College) n n Women’s College: weekday undergraduate program n n Full-time n n 100% women n n 96% supported by financial aid n n 50% first in families to attend college n n 33% from under-represented groups

Community College of Baltimore County n n Public, two-year college system with 3 campuses n n Fall 2004 credit enrollment: 19,972 students of which 7,095 were full-time and 2,556 were first-time full-time n n 64% Female n n 25% Pell recipients n n 30% African-American n n 1,300 Associate degrees awarded per year

? What does CSEM mean? Computer Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Mathematics

Why CSEM Scholarships? n n Promote full-time enrollment and degree achievement. n n Provide educational opportunities to academically talented, low-income students. n n Encourage under-represented groups including women to enter these careers.

What groups are under-represented? n n In 1999, in U.S. women comprised 27% of the computer science and mathematics workforce, and just 10% of the engineering workforce. n n Under-represented minorities include African- Americans, Hispanics, and other non-Asian ethnic groups including Native Americans. n n These under-represented minorities comprised 24% of U.S. population but just 12% of IT workforce and 11% of engineering graduates.

CSEM Scholarships n n Address worker shortages in these fields. Funded by H1-B visa fees for foreign workers. n n Awardees must complete FAFSA, have unmet financial need, and be full-time students. Maximum award is $3,125 per year. n n Scholarship awardees must be: U.S. Citizens Permanent Resident Aliens Refugee Aliens n n Institution determines other criteria for award and renewal.

From Fall 2001 – Fall 2003 n n Under a consortial arrangement, CND & CCBC shared 2-year CSEM project DUE n n Awarded 5 scholarships per year at CND and 35 per year at CCBC n n Collaboration included joint site visits by awardees to NASA Goddard Space Center, and Johns Hopkins Medical Imaging Lab

In the State of Maryland n 12,000 Full-Time Freshmen enter the 16 MD community colleges each year n 2,000 at CCBC each year n “Success” is defined as: Transfer to a 4 year institution Transfer to a 4 year institutionOR Graduation with associate’s degree or certificate Graduation with associate’s degree or certificate

Transferred Graduated but did not transfer Still at community college Dropped out MD state cohort of all full-time public community college freshman 3 years after 1999 entry 20% 17% 57% 6% Transfer, Graduation, Retention 26% Success Rate

Transferred Graduated but did not transfer Still at community college Dropped out All 73 CCBC CSEM awardees 2.5 years after first awards made 30%15% 14%41% MD state cohort of all full-time public community college freshman 3 years after 1999 entry 20% 17% 57% 6% Transfer, Graduation, Retention 44% Success Rate

Cordia Karl Scholars at CND n August 2004, 4-year NSF-CSEM project funded (DUE ) 20 scholarships per year n 4 CSEM programs: Math, Computer Science, Computer Information Systems and Engineering n 12 scholarships awarded in n Minimum criteria 3.0 GPA

CND CSEMS Partners n Advisory Board –Lucent Technology –Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab –Army Corps of Engineers –Orbital Science Corporation –Social Security Administration

CND CSEM Activities n Tour of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center included –the high bay area and clean room where satellites are assembled and tested prior to launch – operational facilities of the Hubble Space Telescope

CND CSEM Activities n Tour of Lucent Technology –Networking rooms for region –Meetings with female managers n Tour of Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab

n Alumnae Panel discussing graduate school –NASA engineer –Lockheed Martin software engineer –Arbitron statistician n Research papers on pioneering women in math, computer science and engineering CND CSEM Activities

Majors for 12 CND CSEM Scholars Fall 05 - Spring CND CSEM Scholars

12 CND CSEM Awardees

CSEM Scholarship Program Outcomes n Four students (3 MATH, 1 CMSC) graduated, one will continue in graduate school. n CND was awarded an HP grant for a mobile lab of 30 laptops specifically for an engineering lab, partly because of this NSF- CSEM Scholarship program.

CCBC CSEM Funding Received n August 2004, 4-year NSF-CSEM project funded (DUE ) 30 scholarships per year n 6 CSEM programs: –Computer Information Systems –Computer Science –E-Business –Engineering –Internet & Multimedia Technology –Math

About CCBC CSEM Scholarships n Requires readiness for MATH 082 Intro. Algebra n Scholarships can “follow” awardees to 4-yr institutions for CSEM-field bachelor’s degrees after earning 30 credits at CCBC n Student Attitude Questionnaire (from CWIT at UMBC) tracks attitudes toward CSEM fields n Formalized use of Mentoring Logs

CCBC Scholarship Awardees n n Minimum criteria 2.5 GPA n n Receive academic and mentoring support from faculty and staff in CSEM fields. n n Have a required summer experience for orientation, academic support, and career information.

CSEM Awards Fall 04 – Fall 06 n 22 awards in Fall 2004 (9 F and 13 M) n 22 awards in Spring 2005 (9 F and 13 M) n 29 awards in Fall 2005 (10 F and 19 M) n 28 awards in Spring 2006 (10 F and 18 M) n 33 awards in Fall 2006 (9 F and 24 M)

Majors for 61 CCBC CSEM Scholars Fall 04 - Fall CCBC CSEM Scholars

61 CCBC CSEM Awardees

19 of 61 CSEM Awardees Transferred As of Fall 2006, n n 11 to UMBC n n 2 to UB 6 to these institutions n n Johns Hopkins n n Polytechnic University, Brooklyn n n UMCP n n UMUC n n Villa Julie n n York College

CCBC CSEM Awardees F04 – S06 by Racial/Ethnic Group Enrollment and Awards F 04 - S06

Representation of Females n n 40% of CSEMS awardees female (20/50) n n 38% of CSEMS awards made to females (38/101) n n 22% of transfer CSEMS awardees female (2/9) CCBC CSEM Scholarships Fall 2004 – Spring 2006

Percent Females in CSEM Majors Fall 00 – Fall 05 % Females in CCBC CSEM Majors

Awardee Responses to Selected Attitude Statements CCBC Attitude Surveys

Factors Influencing Awardees’ CSEM Career Choice CCBC Attitude Surveys

Acknowledgement This project was supported in part by the National Science Foundation under CSEM awards DUE and Opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF.