Using Socially Relevant Computing to Attract and Retain Computer Science Majors

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Northwest Missouri State University provides twenty-five S-STEM scholarships to talented yet financially disadvantaged students pursuing baccalaureate degrees in computer science or the computer science track of the interactive digital media major. Scholars receive extensive mentoring, including culturally specific mentoring by faculty, peers and industry professionals as well as career-planning assistance. Special activities include research and internship opportunities, field trips, attendance at national conferences, ACM membership and tutoring. Students from underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply for these scholarships.Socially relevant aspects of computing have been integrated into the computing curricula at Northwest Missouri State University. This project will measure the effectiveness of using this approach to improve student retention. The effects of culturally specific mentoring will also be measured.As part of the project, Northwest Missouri State University faculty members work with area K-12 teachers to integrate computing into the K-12 curriculum. These ties introduce computing to a diverse pool of potential scholars and improve exposure to computing concepts in area K-12 schools. In addition, the resources developed through this project are available to other colleges and universities so that results obtained at Northwest can be replicated at other institutions.