Increasing Diversity in Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering

这个cems项目的目标是增加计算机科学和机械工程领域的劳动力多样性。为了实现这一目标，该项目强调来自代表性不足群体的学生的参与，如女性和少数民族学生、第一代大学生和来自阿拉巴马州经济困难地区的学生。该项目是1)招收合格的高中学生，2)确保适当的支持基础设施的存在，以提高学生和以后的工作专业人员的成功，3)为在这些领域表现出学习承诺的学生提供经济援助。计算机科学和机械工程都是具有挑战性的课程。这些领域缺乏多样性归因于A)选择这些专业的女性和少数民族学生较少，b)缺乏支持性基础设施，以及c)鉴于上述两个原因，学生缺乏承担与追求这些职业相关的经济风险的意愿。为了解决这些问题，该项目正在使用以下方法。首先，在四年的时间里，该项目为21名本科生和3名研究生提供奖学金。计算机系研究生二年级、三年级、四年级、一年级各3名，机械工程系研究生一年级、二年级、三年级、四年级各3名。提供奖学金有助于减轻这些领域学生的一些财务风险。该项目有一个正式的结构，用于评估和协助参与研究的学生的学术生涯，包括与教师和学生导师的定期会议，以及让更高水平的本科生参与选修课程学分的研究项目。最后，该计划向参与的本科生介绍学术生涯的可能性。智力优势：只有通过这些领域的教育工作者深思熟虑的努力，才能增加参与计算机科学和机械工程领域的学生的多样性。该项目建立在关于代表性不足群体的学生的招生、保留和入学的已知研究成果的基础上。将正式的评估周期作为参与者学术生涯的一部分，不仅可以提高学生的记忆力，还可以进一步了解这些学生在这些领域遇到的困难，并允许开发新的技术来提高学生的成功。更广泛的影响：参加这个项目的学生所获得的经验应该对他们的生活产生积极的影响。然而，除了这些直接受益者之外，预计还会对涉及的两个部门、工程学院和整个机构产生积极影响。在这个项目中服务的教师中，有一半以上是代表性不足的群体的成员，他们是学生的榜样，而这些学生反过来又成为较低学术水平学生的榜样。此外，毕业后，计算机科学和机械工程领域劳动力多样性的增加对整个社会产生了影响。

Project SummaryThe goal of this CSEMS project is to increase workforce diversity in computer science and mechanical engineering. To achieve this goal, the program emphasizes participation by students from underrepresented groups, such as women and minority students, first-generation college students and students from economically challenged areas of Alabama. The project is 1) recruiting qualified students at the high school level, 2) ensuring a proper support infrastructure exists to enhance success as students and later as working professionals, and 3) providing financial assistance for students who have demonstrated a commitment to their studies in these fields. Computer science and mechanical engineering are both challenging curricula. A lack of diversity in those fields is attributed to a) fewer female and minority students choosing those majors, b) a lack of a supportive infrastructure, and c) a lack of willingness on the students' part to take the financial risks associated with pursuing these careers in light of the preceding two reasons. To address these issues, the project is using the following approach. First, over a four-year time period, the project provides scholarships for 21 undergraduates and 3 graduate students. The distribution of the scholarships is 3 each for sophomore, junior, senior, and first-year graduate students in the Department of Computer Science and 3 each for freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior students in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Providing the scholarships helps alleviate some of the financial risks for students in these fields. The project has a formal structure for assessing and assisting involved students during their academic career, including regular meetings with faculty and student mentors, and involvement of higher-level undergraduate students in research programs for elective course credit. Finally, the program is introducing the participating undergraduate students to the possibility of academic careers. Intellectual Merit:Increasing the diversity of students participating in the fields of computer science and mechanical engineering will only come about through the deliberate efforts of educators in those fields. This project builds on known research results regarding the recruitment, retention and matriculation of students who are members of underrepresented groups. Incorporating formal assessment cycles as part of participants' academic careers not only provides for improved retention, but also provides further insight into the difficulties experienced by such students in those fields and allows for the development of new techniques to enhance student success. Broader Impact:The experiences gained by the students participating in this program should provide a positive influence on their lives. Beyond those direct beneficiaries, however, a positive impact is also anticipated on both departments involved, on the College of Engineering, and on the institution as a whole. More than half of the faculty serving on this project are members of underrepresented groups who serve as role models for the students, who in turn serve as role models to students at lower academic levels. Furthermore, upon graduation, increased diversity in the workforce in computer science and mechanical engineering impacts our society at large.