In Spring 2007 the Department of Computer Science at the University of Pennsylvania, with the support of NCWIT, began Women in Computer Science (WICS) High School Day to introduce girls to computer science and to get them excited about the field. In 2009, 85 high school girls from 25 different schools attended WICS High School day to meet with Penn faculty and students, tour labs, attend a CS class, and learn more about the opportunities presented to those who study Computer Science in college.
In order to expand our outreach programs, again with the support of NCWIT, we offered the first Teacher and Guidance Counselor Day to Encourage Women in Computer Science. Thirty area high school guidance counselors and teachers spent the day on campus in the fall of 2009. In addition to the activities used for high school girls, we talked to them about how guidance counselors and teachers can help encourage girls to study computer science, what skills/knowledge will best prepare students for success in computer science, and what a college curriculum in computer science entails. A high note of the day for this group was a lunchtime panel of students, who spoke about what it is like to be a (female) college student in computer science and what was helpful to them from their high school preparations.
When asked to evaluate the day, one participant said, “the energy and the positive attitude of hope that the faculty, students, alums and participants expressed was invaluable for me.” All of the participants indicated that such a program should be offered again in the future and we are currently beginning to plan the Fall 2010 event.
This event was planned with the NCWIT promising practice on targeted recruiting in mind. We identified an audience, personalized the content of our message, and paid attention to people who influence our audience’s decision-making.
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Act and advocate for more inclusive computing learning experiences. Encourage and inspire students to explore computing pathways that match their interests and abilities.
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Build consensus for action amongst colleagues, leaders, and advisors to create momentum for measurable, sustainable change within computing departments and institutions.
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Recognize students’ computing aspirations, honor faculty for their outstanding mentorship, secure strategic buy-in for lasting change, and more.
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Employ strategic approaches that avoid the typical pitfalls of traditional diversity, equity, and inclusion interventions.
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Aspirations in Computing
Aspirations in Computing (AiC) provides encouragement, enables persistence, opens doors, and changes lives for women in technology from K-12 through career.
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BridgeUP STEM
BridgeUP STEM provides opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds to learn the skills of computer science and research methodology within a research university setting.
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Color of Our Future
The Color of Our Future focuses on broadening the meaningful participation of underrepresented women and girls of color (Black, Latinx, and Native American).
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Conversations for Change
Conversations for Change is an online thought leadership series that presents research-based recommendations and prompts peer-to-peer discussions to further inclusivity in computing.
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Counselors for Computing
Counselors for Computing (C4C) offers professional development to school counselors, positioning them to effectively guide ALL students in exploring computing pathways.
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Higher Ed Programs
Higher Ed programs recognize students’ computing aspirations, honor faculty for their outstanding mentorship, secure strategic buy-in for lasting change, and more.
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NCWIT Recognitions
NCWIT Recognitions foster great potential that otherwise may have gone unrecognized, and foster great ideas that might never have come to fruition.
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Regional Initiatives
NCWIT’s Regional Initiatives bundle research-backed programs and practices to increase the local participation of women and girls in tech fields and careers. To understand local computing ecosystems, and cater content and programming to needs on the ground, NCWIT partners with community stakeholders to build awareness, inspire participation, and connect women to like-minded peers, role models, and opportunities.
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Sit with Me
Sit With Me uses its iconic red chair to create in-person and virtual spaces where everyone can reflect on the value of diversity and inclusion.
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Tech Inclusion Journey
The Tech Inclusion Journey (TIJ) is a unique, scalable software platform that empowers change leaders to implement systemic, sustainable approaches to the creation of inclusive cultures.
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