Building the Corps: an HBCU+PWI Partnership  to Broaden Participation in Data Science (Experience)

Kathleen Colbry; Dirk Colbry; Marta Dark; Vincent Melfi; Tiffany Oliver

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Conference: 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Publication Date: August 23, 2022
Start Date: June 26, 2022
End Date: June 29, 2022
Conference Session: Minorities in Engineering Division Technical Session 7
Page Count: 15
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--40634
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/40634
Download Count: 345

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Paper Authors

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Kathleen Colbry Michigan State University

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Katy Luchini Colbry is the Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Services at the College of Engineering at Michigan State University, where she completed degrees in political theory and computer science. A recipient of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, she earned Ph.D. and M.S.E. degrees in computer science and engineering from the University of Michigan. She has published dozens of peer-reviewed works related to her interests in engineering education and graduate student success, and has been recognized as a Master Facilitator by the National Research Mentor Network. She is also co-PI for two NSF-funded projects that enhance graduate student success: one is a professional development program offering training in communication, teamwork, leadership, and mentoring skills for interdisciplinary work; the other is a joint effort with Spelman College (a historically black institution serving women) to expand opportunities and increase diversity in STEM by developing a five-year BS+MS program. Dr. Luchini-Colbry also volunteers as the Director of the Engineering Futures Program of Tau Beta Pi, the Engineering Honor Society, which provides interactive professional development seminars for thousands of engineering students and professionals each year.

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Abstract

This experience paper describes initial efforts to build the data science workforce by developing a partnership between an historically black college or university (HBCU) and a predominantly white institution (PWI). The HBCU is Spelman College, an institution nationally recognized for excellence in supporting minority students; it offers robust undergraduate programs in biology, physics, and math – but currently has no formal data science program. The PWI is Michigan State University (MSU), a large, research-intensive institution with experience developing data science programs for undergraduates, graduate students, and working professionals seeking to upskill. Faculty from both institutions have been collaborating for about two years to understand the unique strengths and needs of their home campuses and how they can combine efforts to broaden participation and diversify the data science workforce.

The National Academies and the National Science Foundation have recognized the need to build the data science workforce to meet growing demand to leverage “big data” across the economy. While there is certainly a need for experts with a deep knowledge of data science principles and computational skills, many emerging opportunities are seeking individuals with expertise in other disciplines (like natural and life sciences) as well as experience working with data. In order to provide this type of discipline+data training, we must address barriers like instructors who lack the appropriate background or training to teach data science; students who lack the appropriate background or prerequisite courses to support lessons in data science; and a lack of space in the major curriculum requirements.

To help address this need, private and public funding has been obtained for a five-year collaboration that will (1) create opportunities for natural science majors from Spelman College to study data science; (2) equip faculty from both institutions to integrate data science into their teaching and research, with a particular focus on using data to address social justice issues; (3) support mentoring, professional skills training, career development, and community-building activities to foster student success. The project encourages both students and faculty to engage in experiential learning; to build skills for leveraging big data in teaching, research, and industry activities; and to experience the cultures, communities, and opportunities of each campus.

A key component of this effort is a new, five-year BS+MS program that will allow students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in natural science from Spelman to also earn a master’s degree in data science from MSU. Flexible, modular coursework has been designed to help students build foundational skills and fill knowledge gaps as they move between natural science and data science studies. Spelman students will be able to take individual courses in data science, to complete a new data science minor, or to pursue the BS+MS. This project also includes training and support to help faculty integrate data science into their classrooms and labs, and to build skills for inclusive mentoring. Ongoing research collaborations, shared seminars, and faculty/student exchange opportunities are designed to foster true community between the two institutions, strengthen the existing partnerships, and build lasting foundations for long-term success. Project evaluation efforts are rooted in the concept of “self-authorship,” which is the ability to define one’s own beliefs and create one’s own identity. We will examine how changes to their environment (e.g., moving from natural science to data science, moving from an HBCU to a PWI) impact students’ understanding of themselves and their professional identities.

Citation
Format

Colbry, K., & Colbry, D., & Dark, M., & Melfi, V., & Oliver, T. (2022, August), Building the Corps: an HBCU+PWI Partnership to Broaden Participation in Data Science (Experience) Paper presented at 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Minneapolis, MN. 10.18260/1-2--40634

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - This experience paper describes initial efforts to build the data science workforce by developing a partnership between an historically black college or university (HBCU) and a predominantly white institution (PWI). The HBCU is Spelman College, an institution nationally recognized for excellence in supporting minority students; it offers robust undergraduate programs in biology, physics, and math – but currently has no formal data science program. The PWI is Michigan State University (MSU), a large, research-intensive institution with experience developing data science programs for undergraduates, graduate students, and working professionals seeking to upskill. Faculty from both institutions have been collaborating for about two years to understand the unique strengths and needs of their home campuses and how they can combine efforts to broaden participation and diversify the data science workforce.

The National Academies and the National Science Foundation have recognized the need to build the data science workforce to meet growing demand to leverage “big data” across the economy. While there is certainly a need for experts with a deep knowledge of data science principles and computational skills, many emerging opportunities are seeking individuals with expertise in other disciplines (like natural and life sciences) as well as experience working with data. In order to provide this type of discipline+data training, we must address barriers like instructors who lack the appropriate background or training to teach data science; students who lack the appropriate background or prerequisite courses to support lessons in data science; and a lack of space in the major curriculum requirements.

To help address this need, private and public funding has been obtained for a five-year collaboration that will (1) create opportunities for natural science majors from Spelman College to study data science; (2) equip faculty from both institutions to integrate data science into their teaching and research, with a particular focus on using data to address social justice issues; (3) support mentoring, professional skills training, career development, and community-building activities to foster student success. The project encourages both students and faculty to engage in experiential learning; to build skills for leveraging big data in teaching, research, and industry activities; and to experience the cultures, communities, and opportunities of each campus. 

A key component of this effort is a new, five-year BS+MS program that will allow students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in natural science from Spelman to also earn a master’s degree in data science from MSU. Flexible, modular coursework has been designed to help students build foundational skills and fill knowledge gaps as they move between natural science and data science studies. Spelman students will be able to take individual courses in data science, to complete a new data science minor, or to pursue the BS+MS. This project also includes training and support to help faculty integrate data science into their classrooms and labs, and to build skills for inclusive mentoring. Ongoing research collaborations, shared seminars, and faculty/student exchange opportunities are designed to foster true community between the two institutions, strengthen the existing partnerships, and build lasting foundations for long-term success. Project evaluation efforts are rooted in the concept of “self-authorship,” which is the ability to define one’s own beliefs and create one’s own identity. We will examine how changes to their environment (e.g., moving from natural science to data science, moving from an HBCU to a PWI) impact students’ understanding of themselves and their professional identities.
AU  - Kathleen Colbry
AU  - Dirk Colbry
AU  - Marta Dark
AU  - Vincent Melfi
AU  - Tiffany Oliver
CY  - Minneapolis, MN
DA  - 2022/08/23
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Building the Corps: an HBCU+PWI Partnership  to Broaden Participation in Data Science (Experience)
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/40634
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--40634
ER  -