Black Research Support Network: Studying Change By, With, and For Black Undergraduate Computer Science Faculty & Students at Three Institutions

这个项目将解决黑人本科生在计算机科学研究领域经常面临的种族不平等的几个方面，如获得资本(社会和经济)、与他们的经验相关的研究主题、隐藏的课程以及对归属感的威胁。它将通过为就读于两所历史上以黑人为主的学院和大学(HBCU；霍华德大学和约翰逊·C·史密斯大学)和一所以白人为主的机构(PWI；北卡罗来纳大学夏洛特分校)的黑人本科生建立研究支持网络，解决系统性障碍，结合多种基于证据的方法，为解决种族不平等的制度变革提供相互支持。研究支持网络将包括：1)黑人研究生和黑人教师的指导，2)与文化和社会相关的研究主题和经验，3)黑人研究人员亲和力团体，以及4)黑人研究人员演讲者系列。该项目将研究这种整体方法对参与该项目的黑人本科生在该领域的归属感、计算机科学研究技能以及追求研究生职业生涯的意愿的影响。通过评估，该项目将探索HBCU和PWI之间的合作对机构政策、计划和做法的影响；对教职员工的影响；以及黑人学生的研究生院申请、录取和经济奖励/支持。这项拟议的工作将推进解决计算机科学本科课程中系统性障碍和种族不平等的知识库，同时评估这些努力对参与机构和黑人学生进入研究生院的潜在影响。这项研究试图回答两个主要研究问题：1：旨在解决黑人学生追求计算机科学研究生教育的系统性障碍的黑人研究支持网络的影响是什么？2：黑人研究支持网络如何促进黑人本科生的种族平等？使用多案例研究设计，该项目将检查黑人研究支持网络对每个合作大学(两个HBCU和一个PWI)的黑人本科生计算学生和教师的影响。与文化相关的理论和根基哲学将驱动研究方法和分析。将在项目的整个生命周期内收集混合的定性和定量数据，并采用平行混合设计分别对每个机构进行分析。外部评估员将收集和报告与课程模式、本科生参与情况和研究生出勤率相关的数据。此外，评价还将探讨HBCU和PWI之间的协作对系统性体制变革的影响。该项目将通过期刊出版物和会议报告以及网络研讨会、研讨会、网站和社交媒体分享其调查结果。该项目由STEM教育中的种族平等计划(EHR Race Equity)资助。该计划支持研究和实践项目，调查种族平等因素如何影响科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)教育和劳动力的改善。获奖项目寻求集中受STEM企业内部系统性不平等影响最大的个人、社区和机构的声音、知识和经验。该计划符合NSF的核心价值，即支持来自全国不同人口群体、地区和组织类型的杰出研究人员和创新思想家。EHR种族平等的资金从整个EHR的项目中汇集起来，以表彰其项目与董事会四个部门的集体研发推动力的一致性。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project will address several aspects of the racial inequities often faced by Black undergraduate students in the field of computer science research, such as access to capital (social and economic), research topics relevant to their experience, hidden curriculum, and threats to belonging. It will tackle systemic barriers through a research support network for Black undergraduates attending two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs; Howard University and Johnson C. Smith University) and one Predominantly White Institution (PWI; University of North Carolina Charlotte), combining multiple evidence-based approaches to provide mutual support towards institutional change that addresses racial inequity. The research support network will include: 1) mentoring by both Black graduate students and Black faculty, 2) culturally and socially relevant research topics and experiences, 3) Black researcher affinity groups, and 4) a Black researcher speaker series. The project will study the impacts of this holistic approach on participating Black undergraduate students’ sense of belonging within the field, computer science research skills, and intention to pursue a graduate career. Through its evaluation, the project will explore the impacts of the collaboration between HBCUs and a PWI on institutional policies, programs, and practices; impacts on faculty; and Black students’ graduate school applications, acceptances, and financial awards/support. This proposed work will advance the knowledge base for addressing systemic barriers and racial inequities in computer science undergraduate programs while simultaneously evaluating the potential impact these efforts can have on participating institutions and on Black students’ matriculation into graduate school.The study seeks to answer two main research questions: 1: What are the effects of a Black research support network that is designed to address systemic barriers to Black students pursuing graduate education in computer science? 2: In what ways does a Black research support network promote racial equity for Black undergraduate computer science students? Using a multiple case study research design, the project will examine the impact of a Black research support network on Black undergraduate computing students and faculty at each of the partner universities (two HBCUs and a PWI). Culturally relevant theories and grounding philosophies will drive the research methods and analyses. Mixed qualitative and quantitative data will be collected throughout the life of the project and analyzed separately per institution utilizing a parallel mixed design. An external evaluator will collect and report data related to the program model, undergraduate participation, and graduate student attendance. Further, the evaluation will explore the impacts of the collaboration between HBCUs and a PWI on systemic institutional changes. The project will share its findings through journal publications and conference presentations as well as webinars, workshops, a website, and social media.This project is funded through the Racial Equity in STEM Education program (EHR Racial Equity). The program supports research and practice projects that investigate how considerations of racial equity factor into the improvement of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and workforce. Awarded projects seek to center the voices, knowledge, and experiences of the individuals, communities, and institutions most impacted by systemic inequities within the STEM enterprise. This program aligns with NSF’s core value of supporting outstanding researchers and innovative thinkers from across the Nation's diversity of demographic groups, regions, and types of organizations. Funds for EHR Racial Equity are pooled from programs across EHR in recognition of the alignment of its projects with the collective research and development thrusts of the four divisions of the directorate. Institutions may include those with significant percentages of low-income undergraduate students.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.