Events

The CMD-IT/ACM Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing (also known as “the TAPIA conference”) is the premier venue to acknowledge, promote, and celebrate diversity in computing. The goal of TAPIA Conferences is to bring together undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, researchers, and professionals in computing from all backgrounds and ethnicities to celebrate the diversity that exists in computing; connect with others to create communities that extend beyond the conference; make contact with leaders in industry and academia; and be inspired by great presentations and conversations. The 2023 TAPIA Conference will be held in Dallas, Texas, at the Gaylord Texan Resort.

Follow @cmdit, #TAPIAConference, and @NCWIT on Twitter / Linkedin / Instagram / Facebook for updates, highlights, and more.

Where can you find NCWIT?

Workshops

Effective Programs for Increasing Diversity in Computing: Learning and Engaging
Thursday, September 14 at 11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. CDT // Texas 4

This workshop provides an opportunity for representatives from the NSF-funded Broadening Participation in Computing Alliances and other organizations to share their effective programs about increasing diversity in computing. The workshop will begin with representatives sharing one effective program from each of the following NSF BPC Alliances and other organizations: AccessComputing, CAHSI, CMD-IT, CRA-W, ECEP, iAAMCS, NCWIT, and STARS. The attendees will have an opportunity to break up into eight groups, with each group having an opportunity to learned the details about the effective program such that information can be taken back to the institution for implementation or partnerships can be established. Participants will have an opportunity to learn about two effective programs.


ADVANC(E)ing an Inclusive Academic Computing Workforce with Evidence-Based Tools
Thursday, September 14 at 4:30 – 5:45 p.m. CDT // Texas 4

This workshop is designed for computer science administrators and faculty. NCWIT works with academic computing programs to facilitate their implementation of strategic, systemic diversity-based change efforts based on their own institutional contexts, and is currently partnering with the NSF INCLUDES Aspire Alliance and WEPAN on addressing this need for faculty and staff as part of the NSF ADVANCE program. In this workshop, the facilitators–NCWIT, Aspire, and WEPAN staff–will present the NCWIT Academic Workplace Systemic Change Model, which comprehensively illustrates the systemic components of a computing department where change efforts can be focused. Furthermore, facilitators will utilize evidence-based resources to lead attendees through hands-on activities to determine which areas of the systemic change model should be areas of focus, as well as how to go about strategic, systemic planning of change efforts. Throughout the workshop, facilitators will: share evidence-based models and tools to aid departments in their DEI change efforts; personally assist attendees as they utilize some of the tools during the workshop; and create opportunities for sharing among the attendees. By implementing DEI change efforts in a strategic, systemic manner, administrators and faculty will be able to recruit, hire, and retain intersectionally diverse women in their programs more effectively.

Meetup

NCWITAiC x Reboot Representation Social
Thursday, September 14 from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. CDT // Gaylord Texan Convention Center

NCWIT, the Aspirations in Computing (AiC) Community, and Reboot Representation will co-host a two-hour meetup event at Tapia this year with special guests from Girls Who Code and Jane Street! This event is also open to NCWIT Higher Ed Alliance members, NCWIT Workforce Alliance Members, and NCWIT sponsors. Bring yourself, a colleague, and even a student! Register online to attend and kick back with friends, both new and old.

For more information about TAPIA 2023, visit the conference webpage.

The 54th Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education was organized by the Association for Computing Machinery‘s (ACM) Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE) and is the organization’s flagship annual conference. The SIGCSE Technical Symposium addresses problems which are common among educators working to develop, implement and/or evaluate computing programs, curricula, and courses. The hybrid symposium provided a forum for sharing new ideas for syllabi, laboratories, and other elements of teaching and pedagogy, at all levels of instruction. The symposium provided a diverse selection of technical sessions and opportunities for learning and interaction.

This year’s hybrid conference will be held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, between March 15-18. All times listed below will reflect the local time zone, Eastern Time. More venue and event information can be found here, and SIGCSE registration information can be found online here.

Follow @NCWIT and #NCWITontheroad for updates, highlights, and more.

Where is NCWIT?

Booth #503

Want to learn more about the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) and get resources to take home? Representatives from NCWIT and our collaborative partners can be found during exhibit hours at the times and dates listed below:

• Thursday, March 16: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Friday, March 17: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Saturday, March 18: 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Groups represented: AccessComputing, AccessCSforAll, Break Through Tech, Computing Research Association – Committee on Widening Participation, CSforALL, Centering Women of Color in STEM, The Early Research Scholars Program, Institute for African American Mentoring in Computing Sciences, NCWIT, STARS Computing Corps.

Hybrid Presentations

Advice for Building Recruiting Pipelines from High School to College: BridgeUp STEM Program

Thursday, March 16th – 10:45 a.m. – 12 p.m / Metro Toronto Convention Centre | 716

Join a panel discussion with NCWIT and Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) about the challenges, necessary logistics, and practical advice around creating high school-to-college computing recruitment pipelines for women and gender non-conforming students. The conversation will be framed by the joint experience of NCWIT and the College of Computing at Georgia Tech in developing BridgeUP STEM – an on-going, two-year program consisting of coursework, tiered mentorship, research internships, and community events. Panelists will share insights and important take-aways, including what did and did not work well for project planning, recruiting participants, structuring activities, and negotiating flexible formats to accommodate students’ needs as well as unexpected challenges. Attendees will also get guidance on how to replicate similar programs at their own institutions and attract a greater diversity of students to computing.

NCWIT panelists include:

• Dr. Sherri Sanders, Director of Higher Education Initiatives and BridgeUP STEM;
• Dr. Chris Hovey, BridgeUP STEM Evaluator and Higher Education Research Associate; and
• Matt Muchna, BridgeUP STEM Project Manager

Georgia Tech will be represented by:

• Ashmitha Julius Aravind, BridgeUP STEM undergraduate Helen Fellow
• Dr. Betsy DiSalvo, BridgeUP STEM Faculty Mentor, Associate Professor, and Interim Chair School of Interactive Computing
• Cedric Stallworth, Associate Dean for Inclusive Excellence
• Michael Johnson, BridgeUP STEM coding instructor and PhD candidate, College of Computing

To register for this presentation, click here.

Engaging with Identity, Inclusion, and Intersectionality: Videos that Spark Conversations

Thursday, March 16: 1:45 p.m. – 3 p.m. | Metro Toronto Convention Centre | 718B

This SIGCSE TS 2023 Special Session is designed to help attendees gain understanding and confidence in using inclusive language to refer to and support a broader diversity of people in computer science. Inclusive terminology is fluid because it reflects evolving understandings of people and identities. This session provides tools to not only learn current best practices, but also to navigate the changing landscape of respectful, human-centered language that aligns with the goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Framed by an NCWIT resource — Videos that Spark Conversations — and led by a panel of expert practitioners in the CS Ed community, attendees will watch and discuss three short videos on topics including norms for discussing identities, disability, and ethnicity. In this session, participants will:

1. Learn inclusive terminology and the reasons why specific terms are used for three types of identities through expert-guided small group discussions; and
2. Learn how to use the Videos that Spark Conversations resource to enable participants to share what they have learned.

Panelists include:

• Christopher Lynnly Hovey, National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) and University of Colorado – Boulder
• Brianna Blaser, University of Washington
• Vidushi Ojha, University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign
• Manuel A. Pérez-Quiñones, University of North Carolina – Charlotte

To get more event information and register for this session, click here.

Challenges and Successes in Writing BPC Plans for NSF Proposals: Peers Discuss Approaches
Thursday, March 16: 3:45 – 5 p.m. | Metro Toronto Convention Centre | 718A

In 2021, National Science Foundation (NSF) Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) directorate implemented a Broadening Participation in Computing (BPC) plan requirement for all medium and larger research proposals in Core, CPS, and SaTC. This panel is comprised of faculty and administrators from US computing departments who participated in writing Departmental or Project BPC plans and represents a range of institutions — as well as a range of departmental awareness of BPC prior to writing their plans. Regardless of where they or their departments are in the spectrum of knowing about and implementing BPC activities, and regardless of the current demographic makeup of the students in their major, they all encountered challenges as they wrote their plans. They all also experienced successes, not the least of which is that they succeeded in getting a plan written in accordance with the current guidelines. With the support of a moderator, three panelists will share their experiences developing BPC plans with the audience, offering lessons learned and tips for overcoming common challenges. Audience members will also receive helpful links and handouts to facilitate the writing of their own departmental or project plans.

Presenters include:

• Wendy Dubow, National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT)
• Dorian Arnold, Emory University
• Brittany Fasy, Montana State University
• Mariantonieta Gutierrez Soto, Penn State University

To get more event information and register for this session, click here.

In-Person Presentations

Birds of a Feather – A Town Meeting: SIGCSE Committee on Expanding the Women-in-Computing Community

Thursday, March 16: 6:30 p.m. – 7:20 p.m. | Metro Toronto Convention Centre | 718A

This gathering is part of the proceedings for SIGCSE 2023. The forum provides an important annual meeting for a large group of people who work to increase the representation of women in computing in their separate organizations and who do not customarily have an opportunity to share ideas face-to-face. Abstract: In January 2004, the second SIGCSE Committee — “Expanding the Women-in-Computing Community” — was created. The SIGCSE Board approved the charter because the underrepresentation of women in computing is an international problem and an embarrassment for our profession. A BOF provides SIGCSE program advertising that will create a large audience for a discussion of both underrepresentation issues that attendees’ institutions have and also solutions that successful gender issues projects provide. The discussion leaders connect to three of the most important organizations that relate to underrepresentation:

• Tracy Camp, the Computing Research Association’s Committee on Widening Participation in Computing Research (CRA-WP)
• Ruth Lennon, the Association for Computing Machinery’s Council on Women in Computing (ACM-W)
• Lecia Barker, the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT)

Paper: How do Teaching Practices and Use of Software Features Relate to Computer Science Student Belonging in Synchronous Remote Learning Environments?

Friday, March 17: 1:45 – 2:10 p.m. | Metro Toronto Convention Centre | 714

This paper is presented as one of the SIGCSE TS 2023 Papers focused on Online and Remote Learning. Abstract: When faculty behaviors foster students’ sense of belonging in class, students report better learning experiences and are more likely to remain in the major. Sense of belonging is the feeling of being a valued and legitimate member of a community. Student belonging is relevant to the classroom, the program of study, and the institution at large. Understanding teacher immediacy behaviors that cultivate belonging in postsecondary synchronous remote classrooms is important for retaining students in computing, where remote coursework is increasingly used to address increases in enrollment. This paper reports on an exploratory, survey-based study on the relationship between instructor immediacy behaviors and use of conferencing software features (e.g., chat, breakout rooms) with student sense of belonging in synchronous remote learning environments. Responses from 125 computing students from approximately 53 courses across the US show that students feel a moderate sense of belonging in their courses, with no differences found across demographic groups. Belonging was found to have a strong relationship with students’ overall opinions of their courses and their likelihood of completing the major. Students’ camera preferences and instructor camera requirements had no effect on belonging. A regression analysis showed that no tool use variables predicted student sense of belonging. However, two teacher immediacy behaviors, increase in frequency of setting aside class time to talk about upcoming course content and use of humor, were significantly associated with an increase in sense of belonging. Learn more here.

Presenters include:

• Lecia Barker, National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) and University of Colorado – Boulder (CU – Boulder)
• Noah Q. Cowit, NCWIT and CU – Boulder

Paper: How Do I Get People to Use My Ideas? Lessons from Successful Innovators in CS Education

Friday, March 17: 1:45 p.m. – 2:35 p.m. | Metro Toronto Convention Centre | 801B

This paper is presented as one of the SIGCSE TS 2023 Papers focused on Sharing Ideas and Resources in CS Education. Abstract: Improving Computer Science (CS) education requires increasing the meaningful usage of research-supported pedagogy and curriculum. Studies on propagation have largely looked at dissemination and adoption from the perspective of adopters: what motivates them to discover, experiment with, and continue using innovative teaching. This study adds to a growing body of research on approaches to encourage adoption by examining the perspectives and advice of successful propagators—education researchers who have had their innovations widely adopted. Drawing on interviews with fourteen CS education researchers, this paper identifies both points of convergence and unique insights across several broad areas: barriers to adoption, the structure of academia, relevant principles of design and techniques for deployment, and strategies for propagation. Notable findings include: the structure of academia has aspects that both impede and facilitate successful propagation; traditional academic funding sources do not adequately support ongoing propagation; and some successful strategies for getting the word out involve oblique approaches for reaching potential users. This exploration of common successful approaches can serve as a guide for developers and educational advocates when working to attract new users and broaden impact. Learn more here.

Presenters include:

• Christopher Lynnly Hovey, National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) and University of Colorado – Boulder
• David Bunde, Knox College
• Zack Butler, Rochester Institute of Technology
• Cynthia Taylor, Oberlin College

Poster: How do Computing Students Perceive Social Presence in Synchronous Remote v. In-Person Courses

Saturday, March 18: 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. | Metro Toronto Convention Centre | Exhibit Hall G

As computing departments increasingly use synchronous remote learning (SRL) to offer courses, this poster reports on initial survey results to better understand undergraduate computing students’ experiences with SRL as compared to in-person educational environments, particularly the extent to which SRL fulfilled their needs for developing social bonds with faculty and other students. Regardless of demographic categories, students feel that social presence factors in classes are important and find in-person environments better at accommodating them. Learn more here.

Presenters include:

• Lecia Barker, National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) and University of Colorado – Boulder (CU – Boulder)
• Christopher Lynnly Hovey, NCWIT and CU – Boulder
• Noah Q. Cowit, NCWIT and CU – Boulder

Reception with NCWIT

Bingo, Networking, and Wine

Friday, March 17: 6 – 7 p.m. | Metro Toronto Convention Centre | 700 Level Foyer

Join NCWIT representatives for a social wrap up as SIGSCE 2023 comes to a close.

CoNECD is the only annual conference dedicated to all the diverse groups that comprise our engineering and computing workforce. The vision of the CoNECD (pronounced, “connected”) Conference is to provide a forum for exploring current research and practices to enhance diversity and inclusion of all underrepresented populations in the engineering and computing professions including gender identity and expression, race and ethnicity, disability, veterans, LGBTQ+, 1st generation and socio-economic status.

This year’s conference was held in New Orleans, Louisiana, between February 26-28.

Follow @NCWIT and #NCWITontheroad for updates, highlights, and more.

Where is NCWIT?

Presentation

Community Colleges & Gender Equity in Computing | Challenges, Needs, and Tools

Monday, February 27th, 3:30 PM CT // Julia Room of the New Orleans Marriott Warehouse Arts District Hotel

Attendees of the Collaborative Network for Engineering and Computing Diversity (CoNECD — pronounced “connected”) 2023 Conference in New Orleans joined NCWIT at a session focused on the issues community college programs encounter, as well as their needs, while working to improve gender equity in computing. Student background, administrative processes, funding resource levels, as well as faculty and administrator buy-in all have implications for how community colleges accomplish gender equity work. Presenter Jamie Huber Ward, Associate Director of Extension Services and a social scientist with NCWIT at the University of Colorado Boulder, shared how the NCWIT Extension Services Learning Circles are supporting community colleges through self-assessment tools and student surveys. She was joined by co-presenters Nancy Binowski, Professor and Chair of the Department of Information Technologies at the County College of Morris, and Erin Carll, Associate Director of the Center for Evaluation and Research for STEM Equity at the University of Washington, for an in-depth look at a paper authored by a collaborative team of researchers from NCWIT, University of Washington Center for Evaluation and Research for STEM Equity (UW CERSE), University of Virginia, County College of Morris, Research Triangle Educational Consultants, and Laurel Ridge Community College.

In the paper, NCWIT resource materials — including the self-assessment tool and student entry survey — were described as helpful to the campus change leader teams because they provided information that informed their actions. The Learning Circles community was also helpful because it provided participants with the opportunity to learn directly from their peers.

Presenters:

• Nancy Binowski
• Erin Carll
• Jamie Huber Ward

Authors:

• Gretchen Achenbach, National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) and University of Virginia
• Nancy Binowski, County College of Morris
• Catherine E. Brawner, Research Triangle Educational Consultants
• Erin Carll, University of Washington Center for Evaluation and Research for STEM Equity (UW CERSE)
• Jamie Huber Ward, NCWIT and University of Colorado Boulder (UC Boulder)
• Elizabeth Litzler, NCWIT and UW CERSE
• Sherri Sanders, NCWIT and UC Boulder
• Melissa Stange, Laurel Ridge Community College
• Zhen Wu, NCWIT and UC Boulder

Created in 1994 and inspired by the legacy of Admiral Grace Murray Hopper, the AnitaB.org flagship event Grace Hopper Celebration brings the research and career interests of women in computing to the forefront. The Celebration results in collaborative proposals, networking, and mentoring for attendees. GHC presenters are leaders in their respective fields who recognize the importance of diversity in tech. The Celebration also offers professional development through a variety of activities. Today, GHC is the world’s largest virtual and in-person gathering of women technologists, where women from around the world convene to learn, network, and celebrate their achievements. GHC 2022, Next is Now, will be held virtually and in-person at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

Follow @NCWIT, @AnitaB_org, #NCWITontheroad and #NCWITatGHC on Twitter for updates, highlights, and more.

Where can you find NCWIT?

PNC x NCWIT Social Event with Aspirations in Computing
Wednesday, September 21 at 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. EDT // Dave & Busters

Skip the line in the Exhibit Hall and meet us at Dave & Buster’s for some informal networking over games and food! PNC Financial Services and NCWIT invite you to a night of networking and engagement opportunities during the Grace Hopper Celebration! Attendees will have the ability to ask questions, share a resume, and discuss experiences — all while enjoying delicious food and cocktails (included with your registration).Your registration will also provide you with exclusive access to connect with top PNC representatives in technology and learn more about roles and opportunities available at the bank — including current opportunities accepting applications:

• Technology Development Program
• Technology Summer Internship
• Product Innovation Development Program
• Product Innovation Summer Internship
• Quantitative Analytics Development Program
• Quantitative Analytics Summer Internship
• Digital Summer Internship

Attendees are encouraged to consider applying to help set them apart. At PNC, our people are our greatest differentiator and competitive advantage in the markets we serve. We are looking for talented, hard-working, and passionate individuals who want to advance their career in the IT industry. By joining one of PNC’s Internships or Development Programs, you can explore your potential through hands-on experience in a professional environment. This is an excellent opportunity to begin exploring your career goals, in addition to growing your skills in key areas.

Breathe, Stretch, and Connect with Bank of America
Thursday, September 22 at 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. EDT // Room W232C

You’re invited to join Bank of America to “Breathe, Stretch and Connect” onsite at the Grace Hopper Celebration. As we prepare for a busy day at the expo, meet us in room W232C to participate in a guided session focused on breathing, stretching and connecting. Immediately following the session, join your fellow participants and Bank of America employees for tea, snacks and networking.

Come as you are, no prior experience or special attire necessary.

Wells Fargo x NCWIT Luncheon with Aspirations in Computing
Thursday, September 22 at 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. EDT // Bahama Breeze

Wells Fargo is excited to continue our partnership with NCWIT by hosting a luncheon during this year’s Grace Hopper Celebration Next Is Now. As a leader of both NEXT and NOW, we are inviting you to spend an afternoon with senior Wells Fargo leaders to hear about the personal challenges they’ve faced in their technical careers, how they’ve overcome those challenges, and how they are using their leadership and influence to help elevate others. Participants will have small group access, fellowship and conversation with some of Wells Fargo’s best. You have the background, technical skills and aptitude. Now, continue to build your arsenal of tools and tactics to navigate life at the next level.

This luncheon is for AiC Community members who are 1-3 years out of college with no visa sponsorship requirements.

Star Wars Launch Bay with HPE University Recruiting x NCWIT
Thursday, September 22 at 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. // Hollywood Studios (at Disney)

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) is delighted to extend an invitation for NCWIT members to join HPE’s University Recruiting team for a recruiting event at Star Wars Launch Bay in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The reception provides a valuable opportunity for NCWIT members to meet with the HPE team and learn about our University Recruiting program. Heavy hors d’oeuvres and soft drinks will be provided during the reception. Please RSVP and see event agenda for additional details.

Students who attend this VIP experience will have the opportunity to:

• Engage with HPE women technologists during panel discussions and networking reception
• Meet with HPE recruiters to learn about University Program areas
• Live out your own Star Wars story by flying the Millennium Falcon

HPE is proud to be an official technology provider for the Disney Parks and Resorts organization.

Meetup

NCWIT Academic Alliance + Aspirations in Computing (AiC) Community Social
Friday, September 23 at 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. // Tapa Toro

Join us for an AiC Community Social with the NCWIT Academic Alliance to celebrate the close of GHC 22! Once you’ve worked hard, networked, pitched your resume, and picked up all the swag, it’s time to kick back and relax with friends — new and old — in the AiC community. Bring yourself, a colleague, or a student!

GHC Shuttle Information: To get to Tapa Toro, you can take the GHC Shuttle and get off at Castle Hotel. Tapa Toro is 0.2 miles from the Castle Hotel. Shuttles on Friday run until midnight, so it’s easy to get to the social and back to the convention center for the GHC closing night party.

For more information about GHC 2022, visit the conference webpage.

The CMD-IT/ACM Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing (also known as “the TAPIA conference”) is the premier venue to acknowledge, promote, and celebrate diversity in computing. The goal of TAPIA Conferences is to bring together undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, researchers, and professionals in computing from all backgrounds and ethnicities to celebrate the diversity that exists in computing; connect with others to create communities that extend beyond the conference; make contact with leaders in industry and academia; and be inspired by great presentations and conversations. The 2022 TAPIA Conference will be held in Washington, D.C., at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Follow @NCWIT, @cmdit, and #Tapia2022 on Twitter for updates, highlights, and more.

Where can you find NCWIT?

Booth No. #1021

Visit the NCWIT booth, located in the farthest left-hand corner from the exhibit hall A entrance, and meet members of the NCWIT team to learn about resources and opportunities for students, educators, and those in the workforce. Booth hours coincide with the exhibit hall hours of 10:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. (all times listed in Eastern Daylight Time).

Presentations
Effective Programs for Increasing Diversity in Computing
Thursday, September 8 at 11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. EDT // ConvCtr 143 ABC

This workshop provides an opportunity for representatives from the NSF-funded Broadening Participation in Computing (BPC) Alliances and other organizations to share their effective programs about increasing diversity in computing. The workshop will begin with representatives sharing one effective program from each of the following NSF BPC Alliances and other organizations: AccessComputing; CAHSI; CMD-IT; CRA-W; ECEP; iAAMCS; NCWIT; and STARS. Attendees will have an opportunity to break up into eight groups, with each group having an opportunity to learned the details about the effective program such that information can be taken back to the institution for implementation or partnerships can be found. During the workshop, the participants will have an opportunity to learn about two effective programs.

NCWIT Senior Research Scientist Dr. Wendy DuBow will present.

Panels

Who’s In and Who’s Out: The Complexities of the Latinx Community
Thursday, September 8 at 1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. EDT // ConvCtr 146 A

The Latinx community tends to be included in interventions and research under the label “people of color.” Even when they are extracted from the “people of color” category, they are treated as a monolithic category of “Hispanic” or “Latinx.” In the concept of “spectrum-based racial logics,” Latinx are considered not quite Black and not quite White, but “Brown,” suggesting a middle-of-the-spectrum position. Whatever the ever-evolving, and often confusing, terms are, they fail to capture the complexity of language, ethnicity and race that exists in the Latinx community. There are advantages to being rolled up into a single category: Too few from a single group can mean that certain groups won’t get counted in research unless they are included as part of a larger category. This rolling up can lead to collaborations and partnerships between different communities when their priorities align. However, for Latinx communities, like other communities historically marginalized in computing, there are many important differences that get overlooked. Latinx peoples differ by language, nation of origin, culture, religion, race, and skin color, to name just a few major differences. Broadening participation in computing (BPC) efforts will be strengthened ultimately by understanding the differences within the Latinx community and how these differences can impact what structures need to be changed and what interventions should be provided. Even interpersonal relations between Latinx and other faculty or students can be enhanced by heightened appreciation of the very real differences between individuals who are designated as Latinx or Hispanic.

NCWIT Senior Research Scientist Dr. Wendy DuBow will moderate this panel.

Meetup

Aspirations in Computing (AiC), Last Mile Education Fund, and NCWIT
Thursday, September 8 at 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. // Baby Wale

Join our Tapia social event in partnership with the Last Mile Education Fund! Meet us at Baby Wale for food and socializing. Bring a friend, make new friends, and connect with members and representatives of these three amazing organizations!

For more information about TAPIA 2022, visit the conference webpage.

CSTA is a dynamic and vibrant organization of professionals interested in supporting computer science education in grades K-12.The annual CSTA conference brings together a world class professional development and educator community to build skills, meet other teachers, and get inspired. NCWIT presenters will share research and resources from the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing program to help increase girls’ participation in computing classes.

Follow @NCWIT and #CSTA2022 on Twitter for updates, live tweets from panels, and more!

Where can you find NCWIT? 
All times are listed in Central Time.

Session

Engaging Counselors, Teachers, and Administrators to Broaden Participation in Computing // Friday, July 15, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. // Location: W183a

In this presentation, attendees will learn how to develop effective partnerships with counselors, administrators, and fellow teachers to assist in recruitment for CS classes. While it’s easy to think that the students for whom a CS class is designed will naturally find the class and enroll in it, this isn’t always the case. There are many reasons why potentially interested students, particularly girls and students of color, might not enroll in a CS class. CS instructors can actively recruit students on their own, of course. But developing an effective partnership with a school counselor and administrator can help increase interest and participation well beyond an individual teacher’s reach. Counselors are integral parts of the registration process, while administrators understand certification and scheduling. Both can be a CS teacher’s greatest champions! Simply offering a course will not create equity or promote the goal of CS for All. A plan and focused effort is required, and partnerships between teachers and counselors are an essential part of that plan.

presented by representatives from NCWIT Counselors for Computing (C4C)

Mini-Session

Three Essential Values for Building Inclusive Computer Science Experiences for All Students // Saturday, July 16, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. // Location: W181b

NCWIT will share three core values for designing engaging and inclusive computer science experiences for broadening the participation of girls, women, and other underrepresented populations. Infusing program design with these values (peer mentorship, inclusivity, and hands-on engagement) leads to the greatest impact for participants and their communities. This presentation will walk participants through these three core values, drawing examples from the new AspireIT Toolkit. We will discuss how to utilize the samples, guides, and NCWIT research provided via the Toolkit, as well as drawing on participants’ sharing, to create engaging computing experiences.  

presented by NCWIT AspireIT Program Manager Tanner Bergamo

Birds of a Feather (BOF)

Beyond the Binary: Why Gender Equity in the Classroom Requires Queer Inclusion // Sunday, July 17, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. // Location: W181c

This birds of a feather session will bring together CS educators, counselors, and administrators to discuss the importance of queer inclusion in conversations about gender equity in technology. The National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT)’s Aspirations in Computing (AiC) community is open to women, genderqueer, and nonbinary students interested in technology. Through our network of support, we aim to significantly increase meaningful representation of all historically marginalized genders in computer science. Learn from NCWIT staff and fellow participants about the methods, terminology, and best practices for queer inclusion and how you can meet the needs of women, genderqueer, and nonbinary students in your school or classroom.

presented by NCWIT AiC Regional Affiliate Manager John Kelly and NCWIT AiC Recognitions Program Specialist Lauren Tomkinson

Meet-Up

NCWIT Educator Meet-Up // Friday, July 15, 5:30 p.m. // Location: Pizano’s Pizza & Pasta

To show our gratitude for all of the work you do to support women, genderqueer, and nonbinary students in tech and computing, NCWIT is hosting a meet-up for all educators and teachers who are involved with NCWIT or who want to get involved for the first time. Whether you have endorsed a high school application, won an educator award, been a partner for an AspireIT program, or simply educate students in computing and technology, we want to buy you dinner and celebrate another great year. Please RSVP here, and join us.

hosted by the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing program

Booth

Booth Number 528

Stop by our booth to meet our team, learn more about current NCWIT programs and initiatives, and pick up the latest resources to support your change-leading efforts.

For more information about the CSTA 2022 Conference, visit the conference webpage.

The Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education is organized by the ACM Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE) and is the organization’s flagship conference. It has been held annually in February or March in North America since 1970. The SIGCSE organization provides a forum for educators to discuss issues related to the development, implementation, and/or evaluation of computing programs, curricula, and courses, as well as syllabi, laboratories, and other elements of teaching and pedagogy. 

Follow @NCWIT and @SIGSCE_TS on Twitter for updates, live tweets from panels, and more!

Where can you find NCWIT?

(Session descriptions will be added as they are released.)

Panel

Belonging in Computing: The Contribution of Gender-based Community Building // Thursday, March 3, 1:45 to 3:00 p.m. EST // Location: Room 552 A/B (RICC, Hybrid Room)

presented by NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Director Edie Cheng, NCWIT Director of Evaluation for Aspirations in Computing Lyn Swackhamer, and colleagues

Poster Session

Poster Session #4 (Virtual) // Friday, March 4, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. // Location: Poster Virtual Room (Online)

Representatives of the NCWIT Counselors for Computing (C4C) program will present a poster on Increasing Computing Participation through School Counselors.

presented by NCWIT C4C Community Manager Maureen Stewart and NCWIT C4C Internal Evaluator Wendy Chi

Paper Session – IDEA: Culture and Structures

Departmental Culture and Pedagogical Choices: Student-Centered Teaching in Introductory Computing Classes // Friday, March 4, 3:45 to 5:00 p.m. EST // Location: Narragansett Ballroom A (Omni)

presented by NCWIT Research Scientist Christopher Hovey and colleagues

Paper Session – Service Learning

Why Should Computer and Information Science Programs Require Service Learning? // Saturday, March 5, 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST // Location: Narragansett Ballroom C (Omni)

presented by NCWIT Research Scientists Christopher Hovey and Lecia Barker and colleagues

Reception

NCWIT Virtual Reception // Friday, March 4, 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. EST // Location: Online

On behalf of the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) Academic Alliance, we invite all those interested in broadening participation in computing to join our virtual reception. Typically held in-person at SIGCSE, this year we are hosting a virtual reception for those attending SIGCSE virtually and in-person, as well as anyone else interested in networking and sharing dialogue around important topics. Please RSVP here.

For more information about the SIGCSE 2022 Technical Symposium, visit the conference webpage.

The Virtual Grace Hopper Celebration (vGHC) is the world’s largest gathering of women technologists. Co-presented by AnitaB.org with the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM), this annual conference brings people together from around the world to highlight the contributions of women in computing. GHC presenters are leaders in their respective fields, representing industry, academia, and government. The celebration also offers professional development through a variety of activities. The theme for 2021 is #DareToTransform. Learn, network, and be inspired as we work together to achieve intersectional gender and pay parity in tech.

Follow @NCWIT, #NCWITatGHC, and @AnitaB_org on Twitter for updates, live tweets from panels, and more!

Where can you find NCWIT?

Booth

Explore the NCWIT booth in the virtual Sponsor Hall to learn more about resources and programs to support you in achieving your tech goals. You’ll also learn how NCWIT is working to make the tech field more inclusive and equitable for people of all backgrounds and genders. In addition, you can participate in live conversations where you can reflect and comment on the sessions you’ve attended. Live conversations are scheduled to take place immediately following selected speaker sessions.

• Tuesday, Sept. 28 from 11:00 to 11:30 a.m. PT, following the Keynote Session with Kara Swisher and Vanessa Pappas 
• Tuesday, Sept. 28 from 12:30 to 1:00 p.m. PT, following the Keynote Session with Margaret Gould Stewart 
• Wednesday, Sept. 29 from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m. PT, following the Keynote Session with Layshia Clarendon 
• Wednesday, Sept. 29 from 12:30 to 1:00 p.m. PT, following the Keynote Session with Timnit Gebru
• Thursday, Sept. 30 from 12:30 to 1:00 p.m. PT, following the Keynote Session with Diane Jurgens 

Opportunities for College and Graduate Students

Collegiate Award

The NCWIT Collegiate Award honors the outstanding computing accomplishments of undergraduate and graduate students who self-identify as women, genderqueer, or non-binary. Conferred annually, the award recognizes technical contributions to projects that demonstrate a high level of innovation and potential impact. The Collegiate Award is open to all AiC Community members who are currently enrolled in a post-secondary institution (community college, college, or university) with a major or minor in a computing or engineering discipline, who have contributed substantially to a technical project involving computing or IT. Learn about eligibility, prizes, the application process, and more here.

Aspirations in Computing Community

The NCWIT Aspirations in Computing (AiC) Community is a national peer network supporting women, genderqueer, and nonbinary technologists from high school through college and career. In addition to a thriving online forum, members gain exclusive access to hackathons, internships, scholarships, jobs, awards, and more. Currently-enrolled undergraduate and graduate students who are majoring or minoring in a computing or engineering discipline are welcome to apply. Find more details here.

For more information about vGHC 2021, visit the conference webpage.

The CMD-IT/ACM Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing (also known as “the Tapia conference”) is the premier venue to acknowledge, promote, and celebrate diversity in computing. The goal of the Tapia Conferences is to bring together undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, researchers, and professionals in computing from all backgrounds and ethnicities to celebrate the diversity that exists in computing; connect with others to create communities that extend beyond the conference; make contact with leaders in industry and academia; and be inspired by great presentations and conversations. The 2021 Tapia conference will be held online. 

Follow @NCWIT, @cmdit, and #Tapia2021 on Twitter for updates, highlights, and more.

Where can you find NCWIT?

Panels

Leveraging Relationships for Success in Graduate School: Identifying Barriers and Strategies to Navigate Faculty, Staff, and Peer Relationships in Computing Graduate Programs // Wednesday, September 15, 2021, from 1:30 to 2:15 p.m. CT // Online

This panel brings together doctoral student, faculty, staff, and researcher perspectives from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the University of Washington Seattle, and the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) Extension Services for Graduate Programs (ES-Grad) to address a critical element of success in graduate school: managing relationships. Panelists will discuss common barriers and pitfalls in relationships with faculty, staff, and students in computing departments, as well as actionable strategies for initiating and maintaining a strong network that supports student success and degree completion. The focus will be on doctoral student relationships, though faculty advisors, prospective students, and staff will also benefit from learning about how they can approach relationships with students.

NCWIT Research Scientist Christopher Hovey will speak on this panel.

Increasing Diversity in Computing: Sharing of Good Practices // Friday, September 17, 2021, from 1:30 to 2:15 p.m. CT // Online

This panel provides an opportunity for representatives from the NSF-funded Broadening Participation in Computing Alliances and other organizations to share their good practices about increasing diversity in computing. The panel will begin with an introduction to the following NSF BPC Alliances and other organizations: AccessComputing, CAHSI, CMD-IT, CRA-W, ECEP, iAAMCS, NCWIT, and STARS. The panelists will share information about their organization and how their programs have broadened participation in computing. Significant time for discussion will be provided. 

NCWIT Director of Evaluation and Senior Research Scientist Wendy DuBow will speak on this panel.

Birds of a Feather

Hispanics in Computing Community // Wednesday, September 15, 2021 from 3:45 to 4:30 p.m. CT // Online

The Hispanics in Computing community was founded a few months before the Tapia 2009 Conference. Since then, the group has been meeting at this annual conference. The impact of this gathering in our community has been tremendous. Several members of the community that attended our BoF as young graduate students are now in tenure track positions or employed in research organizations. As the undergraduate population attending Tapia grows, it is important that we serve as mentors for the new students starting their careers in computing. The goal for this year’s gathering is to explore how to do virtual mentoring to help increase ties within the community. 

TECHNOLOchicas Director Yvonne De La Pena will present at this session.

Booth

Visit the NCWIT booth at the Tapia Career Fair to meet members of the NCWIT team and learn about resources and opportunities for students, educators, and those in the workforce. Booth hours are as follows (all times listed in Central Daylight Time):

• Wednesday, September 15 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., 3:30 to 6:00 p.m., and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• Thursday, September 16 from 12:30 to 6:00 p.m. and 6:30 to 7:00 p.m.
• Friday, September 17 from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.

For more information about Tapia 2021, visit the conference webpage.