Enhancing Participation of Underrepresented Student Populations and Women in Engineering and Computer Science – An Experience Report

Shihong Huang; Nancy Romance; Tamsyn Nicole Carey

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Conference: 2022 CoNECD (Collaborative Network for Engineering & Computing Diversity)
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Publication Date: February 20, 2022
Start Date: February 20, 2022
End Date: July 20, 2022
Conference Session: Technical Session 5 - Paper 3: Enhancing Participation of Underrepresented Student Populations and Women in Engineering and Computer Science – An Experience Report
Tagged Topics: Diversity and CoNECD Paper Sessions
Page Count: 23
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--39117
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/39117
Download Count: 258

Paper Authors

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Shihong Huang Florida Atlantic University

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Shihong Huang is a Professor and the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, Equity and Inclusion in the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Florida Atlantic University. Her research interest is in the area of software engineering, particularly in human-in-the-loop for self-adaptive systems, human-system co-adaptation, reverse engineering, and brain-computer interaction (BCI).

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Nancy Romance Florida Atlantic University orcid.org/0000-0002-8449-0187

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Dr. Romance is Professor of Science Education in the College of Education at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and a graduate faculty member in both the College of Engineering and Computer Science and the College of Science at FAU.Her research interests address meaningful learning in complex STEM domains, applying a learning sciences lens in addressing issues ranging from building elementary teachers knowledge and skill in teaching science to coordinating learning communities addressing mathematics curriculum as a persistent barrier impacting student success and retention in undergraduate STEM programs. She is currently OI on a NSF DR K-12, Co-PI on a USDOE Title III Hispanic Serving Institution, internal evaluator on FAU's NSF Advance early phase grant, and a member of the Advisory Board on the NSF STEM+C in Broward Schools and the NSF MSP at the University of Toledo.

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Tamsyn Nicole Carey Florida Atlantic University-College of Engineering and Computer Science

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Abstract

Enhancing Participation of Underrepresented Student Populations and Women in Engineering and Computer Science – An Experience Report Shihong Huang Nancy Romance Tamsyn Carey College of Engineering and Computer Science Florida Atlantic University {Shihong, romance, tcarey2}@fau.edu

Florida Atlantic University (FAU) is one of the universities in the Florida State University System. In 2016, FAU received federal designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) as its enrollment of full-time Hispanic undergraduate students reached 25%. At the same time, FAU and the College of Engineering and Computer Science were awarded a Title III STEM Articulation grant ($4.4 million) from the US Department of Education. This grant, which serves as a STEM pipeline, is in collaboration with two local state colleges. Notably, only 12% of Hispanic students who graduate from high school score “at or above” the proficient level in mathematics, and only 25% scored “at or above” the proficient level in reading, thus contributing to their being unprepared for entry into State community colleges and universities. This ongoing problem presents serious educational barriers to the students’ success at the post-secondary level. So FAU, having the HSI designation, provides unique educational opportunities to support the academic preparation of Hispanic students for post-secondary education. In doing so, FAU is addressing an economic and moral imperative to develop a pipeline for students’ entry into a diverse technological workforce and to enhance students’ potential to succeed in their careers. This positions FAU to be a leader in the effort to reverse the national decline of minority STEM professionals.

The College of Engineering and Computer Science embraces and expands the principle of diversity, equity and inclusion, which is the foundation for ensuring that faculty, staff, and students have the opportunity to succeed and thrive in the College. To these ends, the College of Engineering and Computer Science has established a Strategic Plan for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (DEI). The DEI plan establishes the guidelines and measurement benchmarks against which we in the College will evaluate our efforts over the next five years and will define the best route for our journey towards a more inclusive community. In recognizing the College’s commitment to significant, measurable progress in increasing diversity, inclusion and degree attainment, FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science was awarded by the ASEE Diversity Recognition Program a Bronze Level designation (the highest level) in January 2021. Among an array of activities and initiatives that the College has initiated in creating a genuinely inclusive culture and environment, this paper will describe two representative programs that have been successful in enhancing underrepresented populations and women in engineering and computer science, share our experience thus far, and identify future opportunities and challenges. 1. Enhancing Underrepresented Student Populations in Engineering and Computer Science Recent statistics showing the graduation rate of undergraduate students provide evidence of the College’s commitment to, and their active recruitment and support of, diverse, underrepresented students. Among those receiving their BS degree in engineering, 16% were African American (an increase of 13% over the previous year), and 27% were Hispanic (an increase of 38% over the previous year). Nationally, FAU ranks 11th in the number of engineering degrees awarded to African American students. FAU, a USDOE Title III HSI-designated institution, is also the most diverse public institution among Florida’s 12 state universities and has approximately 54% Hispanic and African American students and over 60% female students. With an aggressive growth plan over the past decade, FAU has consistently ranked in the top 100 minority undergraduate degree producers out of more than 4,600 degree-granting post-secondary institutions in the United States. FAU’s student population is mostly middle and lower-income: the average income of FAU students’ families is $75,400 (ranking 208th among 377 public colleges and 7th among Florida’s public universities). Close to 10% of FAU students come from families in the bottom 20% of the economy (156th among 377 public colleges). Overall, the university provides services to mostly middle/low-income students, many of whom must work to pay their bills. Thus, we recognize that the University and the College are well-positioned to be major contributors to the increase in the diversity of the nation’s STEM workforce – a critical requirement for America is to continue in its role as the world leader in addressing the technological challenges and transformations that lie ahead.

In 2016, the College of Engineering and Computer Science was awarded a Title III Hispanic Serving Institution STEM Articulation grant ($4.4 million) from the US Department of Education. This ongoing project which serves as a STEM pipeline is in collaboration with two local state/community colleges. Together, the three institutions are promoting the recruitment of Hispanic and low-income students who matriculate from the state colleges where they complete their AA degree and then enter FAU to complete a BS degree in computer science and related fields. This project assists students at every level as they transition to FAU so as to ensure a more diversified and successful technological workforce.

2. Enhancing Women in Engineering and Computer Science The Women in Engineering and Computer Science (WIE/CS) is a program for all female students, sponsored by Motorola Solutions and Lockheed Martin. It provides students with the essential support, encouragement, and tools needed for a successful academic and professional career. The WIE/CS program incorporates a comprehensive mentoring community, professional development, scholarship opportunities, academic support, STEM outreach, and social activities. The program offers weekly activities focused on professional development, mentoring by professional female scientists/engineers and by senior student peers, scholarship opportunities, academic support, and social activities. The number of members of the program has grown by more than 130% since its inception in 2017. As of Spring 2021, 510 female students were enrolled in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, which is approximately 20.3% of the College's entire student population. This is an increase of 5% over the last five years. Student demographics distributions are 14% African American; 14% Asian and Pacific Islander, 32% Caucasian, 27% Hispanic, 10% Multi-Ethnicity, 1% Native American, 2% unidentified.

Citation
Format

Huang, S., & Romance, N., & Carey, T. N. (2022, February), Enhancing Participation of Underrepresented Student Populations and Women in Engineering and Computer Science – An Experience Report Paper presented at 2022 CoNECD (Collaborative Network for Engineering & Computing Diversity) , New Orleans, Louisiana. 10.18260/1-2--39117

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - Enhancing Participation of Underrepresented Student Populations and Women in Engineering and Computer Science – An Experience Report
Shihong Huang	Nancy Romance	Tamsyn Carey
College of Engineering and Computer Science
Florida Atlantic University
{Shihong, romance, tcarey2}@fau.edu

Florida Atlantic University (FAU) is one of the universities in the Florida State University System. In 2016, FAU received federal designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) as its enrollment of full-time Hispanic undergraduate students reached 25%. At the same time, FAU and the College of Engineering and Computer Science were awarded a Title III STEM Articulation grant ($4.4 million) from the US Department of Education. This grant, which serves as a STEM pipeline, is in collaboration with two local state colleges. 
Notably, only 12% of Hispanic students who graduate from high school score “at or above” the proficient level in mathematics, and only 25% scored “at or above” the proficient level in reading, thus contributing to their being unprepared for entry into State community colleges and universities. This ongoing problem presents serious educational barriers to the students’ success at the post-secondary level. So FAU, having the HSI designation, provides unique educational opportunities to support the academic preparation of Hispanic students for post-secondary education. In doing so, FAU is addressing an economic and moral imperative to develop a pipeline for students’ entry into a diverse technological workforce and to enhance students’ potential to succeed in their careers. This positions FAU to be a leader in the effort to reverse the national decline of minority STEM professionals.

The College of Engineering and Computer Science embraces and expands the principle of diversity, equity and inclusion, which is the foundation for ensuring that faculty, staff, and students have the opportunity to succeed and thrive in the College. To these ends, the College of Engineering and Computer Science has established a Strategic Plan for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (DEI). The DEI plan establishes the guidelines and measurement benchmarks against which we in the College will evaluate our efforts over the next five years and will define the best route for our journey towards a more inclusive community. In recognizing the College’s commitment to significant, measurable progress in increasing diversity, inclusion and degree attainment, FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science was awarded by the ASEE Diversity Recognition Program a Bronze Level designation (the highest level) in January 2021.
Among an array of activities and initiatives that the College has initiated in creating a genuinely inclusive culture and environment, this paper will describe two representative programs that have been successful in enhancing underrepresented populations and women in engineering and computer science, share our experience thus far, and identify future opportunities and challenges. 
 
1.	Enhancing Underrepresented Student Populations in Engineering and Computer Science
Recent statistics showing the graduation rate of undergraduate students provide evidence of the College’s commitment to, and their active recruitment and support of, diverse, underrepresented students. Among those receiving their BS degree in engineering, 16% were African American (an increase of 13% over the previous year), and 27% were Hispanic (an increase of 38% over the previous year). Nationally, FAU ranks 11th in the number of engineering degrees awarded to African American students. FAU, a USDOE Title III HSI-designated institution, is also the most diverse public institution among Florida’s 12 state universities and has approximately 54% Hispanic and African American students and over 60% female students. With an aggressive growth plan over the past decade, FAU has consistently ranked in the top 100 minority undergraduate degree producers out of more than 4,600 degree-granting post-secondary institutions in the United States. FAU’s student population is mostly middle and lower-income: the average income of FAU students’ families is $75,400 (ranking 208th among 377 public colleges and 7th among Florida’s public universities). Close to 10% of FAU students come from families in the bottom 20% of the economy (156th among 377 public colleges). Overall, the university provides services to mostly middle/low-income students, many of whom must work to pay their bills. Thus, we recognize that the University and the College are well-positioned to be major contributors to the increase in the diversity of the nation’s STEM workforce – a critical requirement for America is to continue in its role as the world leader in addressing the technological challenges and transformations that lie ahead.

In 2016, the College of Engineering and Computer Science was awarded a Title III Hispanic Serving Institution STEM Articulation grant ($4.4 million) from the US Department of Education. This ongoing project which serves as a STEM pipeline is in collaboration with two local state/community colleges. Together, the three institutions are promoting the recruitment of Hispanic and low-income students who matriculate from the state colleges where they complete their AA degree and then enter FAU to complete a BS degree in computer science and related fields. This project assists students at every level as they transition to FAU so as to ensure a more diversified and successful technological workforce.

2.	Enhancing Women in Engineering and Computer Science
The Women in Engineering and Computer Science (WIE/CS) is a program for all female students, sponsored by Motorola Solutions and Lockheed Martin. It provides students with the essential support, encouragement, and tools needed for a successful academic and professional career. The WIE/CS program incorporates a comprehensive mentoring community, professional development, scholarship opportunities, academic support, STEM outreach, and social activities. The program offers weekly activities focused on professional development, mentoring by professional female scientists/engineers and by senior student peers, scholarship opportunities, academic support, and social activities. The number of members of the program has grown by more than 130% since its inception in 2017. As of Spring 2021, 510 female students were enrolled in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, which is approximately 20.3% of the College&#39;s entire student population. This is an increase of 5% over the last five years. Student demographics distributions are 14% African American; 14% Asian and Pacific Islander, 32% Caucasian, 27% Hispanic, 10% Multi-Ethnicity, 1% Native American, 2% unidentified. 

AU  - Shihong Huang
AU  - Nancy Romance
AU  - Tamsyn Nicole Carey
CY  - New Orleans, Louisiana
DA  - 2022/02/20
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Enhancing Participation of Underrepresented Student Populations and Women in Engineering and Computer Science – An Experience Report
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/39117
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--39117
ER  -