BPC-AE: Computing Research Pathways at Scale (CRA-WP)

Computing Research Association, Washington DC

Investigators

Abstract

The Computing Research Association’s Committee on Widening Participation in Computing Research (CRA-WP) will extend its CRA-WP BPC Alliance. This Alliance aims to maintain our nation’s position as a global frontrunner in technical innovation, research, and discovery by addressing the critical need for expanding the computing workforce. This project is designed to tap into the vast talent pool , thereby expanding the nation’s talent base and fostering innovation through a multitude of perspectives. By scaling existing successful mentoring programs, CRA-WP intends to increase interest and participation in computing research among undergraduate, graduate students, and early and mid-career researchers and professors. The project’s significance lies in its potential to enhance the quality and comprehensiveness of computing research, ultimately promoting the progress of science and engineering. The project will focus on three main goals. First, we will scale the new (and already successful) UR2PhD program nationwide along with a re-envisioned Distributed Research Experiences for Undergraduates (DREU) program, focusing on students early in their computing careers (years 1 and 2), including students at community college students. Second, we will scale the reach and impact of Grad Cohorts program by providing online minicourses that Departments can offer to their students. Third, we will provide several programs that focus on training the trainers, thus expanding the reach of our efforts beyond prior efforts and fostering improvements within departments. The project’s scope involves nationwide implementation, targeting over 1,600 students and professionals. By employing rigorous evaluation methods, including formative assessment and pre-test/post-test frameworks, the project seeks to validate and refine best practices in mentoring, ultimately contributing to the advancement of computing research. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.