Innovations in Computer Science Success for Hispanic and Other Underrepresented Graduate Students

Principal Investigator/Project Director

Gregory Simco

Colleges / Centers

Office of Academic Affairs

Funder

U.S. Department of Education

Start Date

10-1-2019

Abstract

NSU will develop specific, strategic enhancements to increase NSU’s capacity to address he needs of its increasingly diverse graduate student body and community as well as to meet the demand for advanced Computer Science professionals. The proposed project addresses both Competitive Preference Priorities. Project Goal To build a flexible, supportive, and effective academic pathway as students with Bachelor’s Degrees efficiently transition into (and through) Computer Science—related graduate degrees. Outcomes include increasing enrollment and graduation rates in Master’s and PhD degree programs in Computer Science, with a specific focus on increasing success among Hispanics and other underrepresented students. Project Objectives (Outcomes to be achieved by September 30, 2024) O1 – Expand postbaccalaureate educational opportunities for Hispanic and other students by increasing the number and/or percentage of Hispanic and other students pursuing targeted Computer Science-related graduate degrees full-time. (Target: 15% increase by 9/30/24; Grant resources: Outreach Coordinator, new outreach programming materials, scholarships) Component 1.1: Enhanced outreach services to diverse and low-income populations, including increasing scholarship availability. Component 1.2: Broader outreach services. O2 – Increase the number of targeted Computer Science-related graduate degrees awarded at NSU, especially among Hispanic, Black, and women student. (Target: 15% increase by 9/30/24; Grant resources: Stipends to develop and pilot test new and enhanced instructional methodologies, faculty professional development, mentoring stipends, scholarships) Component 2.1: Faculty professional development in diverse student learning. Component 2.2: Pedagogical modifications based on diverse student learning styles. ¬¬Component 2.3: Faculty mentoring. O3 – Enhance the quality of Computer Science-related graduate programs by incorporating inter-institutional research experiences. (Target: 20 participants by 9/30/24; Grant resources: Stipends to develop and piolet test new and enhanced collaborative experiences, technology/space renovation, research supplies/instrumentation, faculty and student travel, Research Specialist, faculty professional development, stipends to piolet test new and enhanced approaches) Component 3.1: Innovations in research experiences – inter-institutional research teams with the University of Puerto Rico and Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico. Component 3.2: Technology/Telecommunications and space renovations to strengthen online faculty and student communications. Component 3.3: Faculty professional development – inter-institutional faculty connections with the University of Puerto Rico and Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico. Project Activities A1. Leveraging current relationships with the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) and Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico (PURP) to develop an innovative inter-institutional collaborative graduate student research program that matches NSU and UPR or PUPR graduate students with NSU and UPR or PUPR CS and cross disciplinary faculty research projects. A2. Providing Faculty development that enhances the knowledge, skills, and abilities of graduate faculty to strengthen instructional methodology and to serve as mentors for women, Hispanic, and Black graduate students. A3. Strengthen the effectiveness of CCE outreach and support services for women, Hispanic, and Black graduate students. A4. Developing a new program with UPR and PUPR that links CCE graduate faculty with UPR and PURP faculty to facilitate collaboration teaching and research, increasing faculty capacity at each institution. A5. Enhancing online tools and resources to facilitate faculty, staff, and student communications with industry, and counterparts at other institutions of higher education.

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