Path to Information Technology (IT) Practice: Increasing Credential Completions in IT within the Southern Tier of Virginia

有充分的证据表明，信息技术（IT）劳动力长期人手不足，预测表明，IT工人的短缺将在几年内达到令人震惊的水平。该项目的目标是增加来自Southside Virginia Community College的学生人数，特别是那些目前在IT专业中代表性不足的学生，他们准备进入区域IT劳动力市场。该项目将针对双招生计划中的高中学生以及成人学习者，采用文化响应模式，增加入学率和保留率。项目目标将通过部署一个计划基础设施来实现，该计划基础设施包括一个全面的招聘战略，特别关注来自传统上在IT职业中代表性不足的群体的学生，加上学术支持战略和身份建设和自我效能活动，以确保学生成功。尤其是在IT职业中传统上代表性不足的学生中。受教育程度的提高与生活水平的提高、工资的增加以及总体繁荣和福利呈正相关。该项目有可能提高对所有学生的文化响应咨询的理解和实施，特别是对那些传统上在IT行业代表性不足的学生。这项工作的结果将通知总督的G3倡议（“获得技能。找份工作。在弗吉尼亚州，该项目的重点是让获得证书的学生回到学校，为新兴的技术职业提高技能。为学生提供机会，特别是那些被边缘化的学生，将有助于通过增加获得证书的妇女和代表性不足的少数群体的人数来解决信息技术行业的差距。该项目由先进技术教育计划资助，该计划侧重于为推动国家经济的先进技术领域培养技术人员。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

It is well documented that the Information Technology (IT) workforce is chronically understaffed, and predictions show that the shortage of IT workers will reach alarming levels in a few years. The goal of this project is to increase the number of students from Southside Virginia Community College, especially those from populations currently underrepresented in the IT professions, who are ready to enter the regional IT workforce. The project will target high school students in dual enrollment programs, as well as adult learners, employing a culturally responsive model that will increase enrollments and retention. Project goals will be attained by the deployment of a program infrastructure that incorporates a comprehensive recruitment strategy, with a specific focus on students from groups traditionally underrepresented in IT careers, coupled with academic support strategies and identity-building and self-efficacy activities to ensure student success.The project team will study methods to increase recruitment and attainment of success in community college IT programs, especially among students traditionally underrepresented in IT careers. Increased educational attainment is positively correlated with higher standards of living, increased wages, and overall prosperity and welfare. This project has the potential to improve the understanding and implementation of culturally responsive advising for all students, but especially for those traditionally underrepresented in IT professions. Results from this work will inform the Governor's G3 Initiative ("Get a Skill. Get a Job. Get Ahead") in Virginia, which is focused on getting credentialed students back to school to upskill for emerging technical careers. Providing opportunities for students, specifically those who are marginalized, will help address the gap in the IT industry by increasing the number of women and underrepresented minorities obtaining credentials. This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education program that focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the nation's economy.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.