Proposal for Community-Building Meetings for the National Science Foundation's Broadening Participation in Computing Initiative

CISE特别项目- FY06Id: CNS 0622450PI: Edee Wiziecki （NCSA）标题：国家科学基金会扩大参与计算倡议的社区建设会议NCSA获得了CISE特别项目奖，召开了CISE扩大参与计算（BPC）倡议的PI会议和信息外展会议。BPC旨在建立广泛的机构和组织联盟，以设计和实施全面的计划，解决计算学科中代表性不足的问题。PI会议是第一批资助项目的启动活动。通过接入网格举行的信息会议和外联活动是非正式会议，旨在让广泛的参与者参与其中。这些会议为参与者提供了有关BPC计划的信息，使他们能够见面传播成功的计划并建立联盟联系。这个项目的智力价值在于将有思想的人聚集在一起所产生的协同效应，这些人在扩大计算机领域的参与方面具有广泛的专业知识。会议由具有丰富经验的国家领导人组织，他们根据当前的研究和最佳实践扩大参与。由此产生的联盟以及相关的评估和传播可以为解决计算领域代表性不足的潜在国家模式提供有价值的见解和研究。更广泛的影响在于对计算机教育的潜在影响，以及对美国各地广大学生的影响。近年来，尽管对计算机专业毕业生的就业需求持续攀升，但计算机专业的学生数量却有所下降。值得注意的是，考虑主修计算机专业的女性和少数族裔学生的数量急剧下降，进一步限制了可用人才的数量。动员有关领导人组成联盟，确定并实施创新战略，以吸引和留住计算机学科的广泛学生，这不仅对加强国家经济，而且对保持机会平等具有巨大影响。

CISE Special Projects - FY06Id: CNS 0622450PI: Edee Wiziecki (NCSA)Title: Community Building Meetings for the National Science Foundation's Broadening Participation in Computing InitiativeNCSA has received a CISE Special Projects award to convene a PI meeting and informational outreach meetings on the CISE Broadening Participation in Computing (BPC) initiative. BPC aims to build broad Alliances of institutions and organizations to design and carry out comprehensive programs that address under-representation in the computing disciplines. The PI meeting is the kickoff event for the first group of funded projects. The informational meetings and outreach through the Access Grid are informal meetings designed to include broad range of participation. These meetings provide participants with information about the BPC program and enable them to meet for dissemination of successful programs and to establish alliance connections. The intellectual merit of this project lies in the synergies that will follow from bringing together thoughtful individuals with wide-ranging expertise in the area of broadening participation in computing. The meetings are organized by national leaders with significant experience in programs to broaden participation based on current research and best practices. The resulting alliances and associated evaluation and dissemination could provide valuable insights and research about programs that are potential national models for addressing under-representation in computing. The broader impact lies in the potential impact on computing education and outreach to a broad range of students across the United States. The number of students majoring in computing disciplines has declined in recent years even though employment demands for graduates in these disciplines continues to climb. Significantly, the number of women and minority students who consider the possibility of majoring in computing has fallen even more dramatically, further restricting the pool of available talent. Mobilizing concerned leaders to form alliances that can identify and implement innovative strategies to attract and retain a broad range of students in computing disciplines could have enormous impact not only in terms of strengthening the nation's economy but also in preserving equality of opportunity.