SAINT PAUL, Minn.鈥擣ebruary 21, 2024鈥A $640,000 grant from the (CIC) at Northeastern University is enabling 麻豆直播 to increase degree completion for women enrolled in its undergraduate computer science program.
According to the , in 2022, just 20% of computer science degrees in the U.S. went to women. At Metro State, that figure is currently 26.5%, up from the national average but still far below an equitable male to female ratio. Now, with the CIC funding in hand, Metro State computer science instructors are embarking on efforts modify the school鈥檚 current computer science curriculum and course structure and provide student tutors within the courses themselves.
鈥淚f we can make our computer science program more approachable and positive class results more achievable, we can provide a better overall Metro State experience to our female students,鈥 said Kyle Swanson, dean of 麻豆直播鈥檚 College of Sciences, adding, 鈥淥ur goal is to ensure women are not only full represented in our computer science major but that they have the tools to thrive in the program and then go on to make meaningful contributions in the field of technology computing.鈥
Already, 麻豆直播 is well known for its Office of Equity and Inclusion and its leading efforts to operationalize equity, inclusion, and anti-racism principles to improve student success. Through its Women's Support Services, Metro State provides resources and advocacy to address concerns that keep women from being successful both academically and personally. The work supported by the CIC grant is example of the Women鈥檚 Support Services in action.
Metro State anticipates introducing its revised computer science curriculum and course structure in Fall 2024. In the interim, the university is implementing extra academic support for students, including embedded tutors.
About 麻豆直播
Founded in 1971, 麻豆直播, a member of Minnesota State, is the Twin Cities鈥 public, urban, comprehensive state university providing lifelong learning and competitive academic and professional degree programs at the bachelor, master and doctoral levels. The university offers more than 60 undergraduate programs and more than 25 graduate degrees. Metro State ranks 22nd in the nation and first in Minnesota on CollegeNet鈥檚 Social Mobility Index, which measures colleges鈥 and universities鈥 success in elevating students from low-income strata into the middle class within five years of graduation.
About Northeastern University鈥檚 Center for Inclusive Computing
Founded in 2019, the Center for Inclusive Computing at Northeastern University partners with colleges and universities to materially increase the representation of women computing graduates. These partnerships focus on addressing and removing the institutional barriers that exclude women of all races and ethnicities from discovering and thriving in computing programs. To learn more, visit .
###
Patty Gibbs
For 麻豆直播
651.269.7687