CRA-W Mentoring ProgramsSuccesses and Future Plans

Grace Hopper Celebration of

Women in Computing

September 2000

Overview• DMP & CREW successes & future plans (Mary Jean

Harrold, Sheila Castañeda) • Breakout sessions

– Sharing Experiences / Mentor Advice (Mary Jean Harrold, Sheila Castañeda)

– Scaling the Programs (Anne Condon)

– Diversifying the Mentor Pool (Mary Lou Soffa)

– Increasing the Applicant Pool (Ann Redelfs, Sally McKee)

• Summary and questions

DMP: Distributed Mentor Project

Goal: Improve representation of women holding high-level positions in industry and academia

Method: Provide research experience for undergraduates with female faculty members at research university

Implementation: Pair undergraduates (potential for graduate-school success) with female faculty members (active research programs) for summer of research

DMP Funding

• National Science Foundation under the Experimental and Integrated Activities program (1994-95, O’Rourke, 1996-1998, Condon, 1999-2001, Harrold, 2002-2004, Amato will submit)

• Computing Research Association Committee on the Status of Women in Computing (CRA-W)

• National Science Foundation’s Partnership for Advanced Computational Infrastructure (NPACI)

DMP 1999 – 2000• Funded 18, 19 students respectively from a

variety of colleges and universities• Matched two students per mentor where

possible (matches made by Selection Committee)

• Record of 2000 projects maintained by students (inspired by Sara Smolensky, 1999 participant)

• Described in Computing Research News, September 2000

Students Supported

1999 (18 students) Bucknell University, Northwestern University,

University of Oregon, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Dartmouth College, Brown University, University of Southern California, University of Minnesota, Morris, Harvey Mudd College, Purdue University, University of Tulsa, Mississippi State University, Williams College, Duke University, Rice University, Trinity College, Uniersity of Missouri, Brooklyn College

Mentors’ Affiliations

1999 (14 mentors)

University of Utah, University of California San Diego, Brown University, Duke University, Worchester Polytechnic Institute, Rice University, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Tulsa, University of Massachusetts, Brooklyn College, University of Central Florida

Students Supported

2000 (20 students) Columbia University, Marymount College, University of

Oregon, University of California, Polytechnic University, Rutgers University, University of Southern California, Mills College, Ashland University, Hope College, University of Oregon, Transylvania University, Bucknell University, Franciscan University, University of Pittsburgh, University of Delaware, Santa Clara University, Dartmouth University, Purdue University

Mentors’ Affiliations

2000 (15 mentors) Polytechnic University, George Mason University,

Georgia Institute of Technology, Rutgers University, Brown University, University of Georgia, University of Utah, University of Wisconsin, Duke University, University of Pittsburgh, University of Delaware, North Carolina State University, University of Washington

Students / Mentors

DMP Successes Summer 1999 participants (LEAD Center)

CRN article, CRA-W web site– 100% learned/gained more than they had

expected– 100% reported change in attitude about graduate

school after experience– 72% were committed to graduate school after

experience

Participants with graduate degrees?

DMP Future Plans

LEAD Center evaluation – Summer 2000 evaluation – Longitudinal evaluation

Scaling – Diversification of mentors, institutions– Broader funding base

CREW: Collaborative Research Experience for Women in

Undergraduate Science and Engineering

Goals– Increase the opportunity to do research– Decrease the isolation that may be experienced in doing

independent research– Encourage women scientists and engineers to pursue

similar work in graduate school

CREW Funding

• Computing Research Association Committee on the Status of Women in Computing (CRA-W)

• National Science Foundation’s Partnership for Advanced Computational Infrastructure’s Education, Outreach and Training program (NPACI)

• $25,000 per year budget

Projects Supported

1998-1999 (20 students, 9 advisors)– Brooklyn College, CUNY– Bryn Mar College– Case Western Reserve University– Grinnell College– North Carolina A&T State University– Texas Christian University– University of Wisconsin, La Crosse

Projects Supported (cont’d)

1999-2000 (10/27 funded, 22 students, 13 advisors)– Columbia University– Lawrence University– Marymount University– Middlebury College– Northwest Missouri State University– Rutgers University– Texas Wesleyan University– University of the South– Western Washington University

Projects Supported (cont’d)2000-2001 (11/14 funded, 27 students, 14 advisors)

– Brooklyn College– College of New Jersey– James Madison University– North Carolina A&T University– Northwest Missouri State University– San Diego State University– Sonoma State University– University of Alabama, Huntsville– University of Alaska, Fairbanks– University of Montana, Missoula

Students

CREW Future Plans

• Expand the program

• Secure additional funding

• Provide additional evaluation of results (pre- and post-surveys)

Sharing Experiences / Mentor Advice

Goals of Session– Share experiences and advice about being

a good mentor– Develop concrete list of useful

information for mentors and students– Publish the information for future

participants in the program (after conference)

Areas for Discussion

• What works well and what doesn’t?

• What kinds of preparations are needed (e.g., research plans, travel, housing) ?

• How can the research project be structured, stay on track, and meet the timeline?

• What can be done if the research isn’t progressing as you had expected?

Areas for Discussion

• How can interaction with research group/community be fostered?

• What kind of interaction should you expect from the supervisor or mentor?

• What can be done if your mentor is not as supportive as you expect?

• How can students participate in social activities during mentor experience?

• How can we stay in touch with students after they participate in a project?

Scaling the Programs

Motivation: – Reach more students, including Canadians

– Enhance the DMP experience for students

Proposed Approach:– Industrial sponsors

– Mentors from industry/national research labs which pay for students

– Institutions help pay student stipends (provides edge on recruiting students to grad school)

Diversifying the Mentor Pool

• Develop a group mentoring model with both men and women faculty as mentors

• Benefits:– Broader pool of mentors for program– Opportunity for men to work towards

expanding the pipeline– New mentoring structures for students

• Retain current single-mentor format

Increasing the Applicant Pool Through Connections/Activities• Partnerships: MentorNet, Institute for Women in

Technology, GirlGeeks, National Institute for Women in Trades, Technology & Science

• Funding sources: NSF, DARPA, NIH• Professional associations and their student groups• Minority serving institutions, women’s colleges,

junior colleges• Conferences• Articles / press releases / reports