The NSF BPC Alliances: A National Resource for Broadening Participation in Computing
By Brianna Blaser (AccessComputing), Wendy M. DuBow (NCWIT), Renée Jordan (iAAMCS), Sarah Dunton (ECEP), Burcin Campbell (CERP), Alexis Cobo (CSforAll), Laurel Watkins de Jong (STARS Computing Corps), Sarah Hug (CAHSI), Jamie Payton (STARS Computing Corps), Susan Rodger (CRA-WP), and Valerie Taylor (LEAP Alliance)
In 2004, computer science (CS) education at the K-12 level in the U.S. was underdeveloped, fragmented, and focused on basic computer literacy skills rather than computational thinking or programming. Access to CS education was also highly unequal, with gender, racial, and socioeconomic barriers contributing to limited access opportunities for students from historically underrepresented communities. The lack of emphasis on CS education infrastructure at the state and federal level, balanced by a growing number of advocates in the K-16 space meant that there was room for innovation and fresh thinking on how to build interest in the subject of computing.
Barriers to CS education at the K-12 level led to disparate participation at the post-secondary levels with lower numbers of women and others from historically marginalized racial/ethnic groups in computing than expected given population sizes. In 2004, data on students with disabilities in CS programs specifically were scarce, and individuals with disabilities were underrepresented in higher education overall.
Conceived as a multi-pronged way to focus on solutions to “the underrepresentation and disparities among women, persons with disabilities, Black and African Americans, Hispanics and Latinos/Latinas, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders,” the U.S. National Science Foundation’s (NSF’s) first solicitation for Broadening Participation in Computing (BPC) Alliances was issued in 2005. The NSF BPC Alliances work nationally through a wide variety of activities including outreach, advocacy, support programs, convenings, research and other interventions to cultivate a diverse and inclusive computing workforce and research community. While there are many projects funded by NSF, as well as private foundations, colleges, universities and school districts that also contribute to the diversification of computing from K-12 through industry, this article focuses on the currently funded BPC Alliances. NSF BPC Alliances differ from other NSF-funded projects in that they are large coalitions with a national focus, that “design and carry out comprehensive programs addressing underrepresentation in the computing disciplines…. Collectively, Alliances serve as a national resource for achieving the transformation of computing education.”
Because the Alliances serve as a national resource, their approaches and accomplishments are shared below to raise awareness of their resources and encourage new collaborations.
Introducing the BPC Alliances
The nine NSF BPC Alliances that received $48 million in NSF funding beginning in 2025 have broad reach across the country, addressing multiple aspects of the lack of diversity in CS, working across CS education pathways from K-12 to careers, and collaborating with a variety of advocates.
- The NSF AccessComputing leads a comprehensive, multidisciplinary network of educators and employers with the goal of increasing the participation and success of people with disabilities in computing education and employment.
- Computing Alliance of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (CAHSI) addresses the low representation of Hispanics in computing in higher education and the workforce through strategic actions that accelerate inclusive change in a collective impact approach.
- CRA-WP (Committee on Widening Participation) has a mission to support not only women but also Black, Hispanic, Native American, and disabled individuals in computing research.
- CSforALL aims to make high-quality CS an integral part of the educational experience of all K-12 students and teachers and to support student pathways to college and career success through serving institutions who provide direct student services.
- The NSF Expanding Computing Education Pathways Alliance (NSF ECEP) broadens participation state by state by seeking to increase the number and diversity of students in computing pathways by supporting state-level computing education reforms.
- The NSF Institute for African American Mentoring in Computing Sciences (NSF IAAMCS) serves as a national resource and emphasizes mentoring and community building to increase the participation of African-Americans in computing.
- The NSF Diversifying Leadership in the Professoriate (LEAP) Alliance focuses on diversifying future leadership in the computing professoriate at research universities through four cohorts of universities, each with common strengths and a common agenda.
- NCWIT is a network of change leaders focused on widening inclusion in technology from K-12 through career via outreach and support programs and social science research.
- The NSF STARS Computing Corps aims to increase computing persistence and promote career advancement for students, and faculty, with a focus on addressing systemic and social barriers faced by those from underrepresented groups.
Broadening Participation in Computing through a Variety of Strategies
Addressing underrepresentation and ensuring equitable access for historically marginalized groups in computing remains an urgent priority. The NSF BPC Alliances promote this mission, working across sectors via direct interventions, community building, data utilization and research, and systems change. The collective effort of these NSF BPC Alliances facilitates the development of research-based resources, data-informed strategic plans in K-20, and interventions such as new curriculum and mentoring frameworks. The outcomes below result from NSF’s investment in the BPC Alliances.
Direct Interventions
With a central focus on breaking down barriers to student access, participation, and retention, and creating sustainable pathways for underrepresented groups, the NSF BPC Alliances have played a transformative role in reshaping CS education and research. Specifically,
- The STARS program has successfully boosted persistence in computing degree programs, with 87% of post-secondary students who initially planned to leave computing changing their minds after engaging in faculty mentorship and professional networking.
- LEAP has been instrumental in diversifying the computing professoriate by offering tailored programs for doctoral students from underrepresented communities. From 2015 to 2023, 17% of LEAP fellows entered academia, surpassing the general PhD graduate average of 12%. By providing effective programs that increase exposure to academic careers, LEAP has cultivated a diverse generation of academic leaders.
- CAHSI’s research programs have significantly enhanced the research, communication, and technical skills of students from marginalized backgrounds. In the past two years, CAHSI’s Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program has engaged 233 students, 85% of whom came from underrepresented groups. Research mentors receive training and near-peer mentoring regarding how best to recruit and support historically minoritized undergraduate students in research.
- CRA-WP’s Graduate Cohort Programs have guided over 5,800 women and underrepresented students through the challenges of graduate school and early career transitions. CRA-WP’s Career Mentoring Workshops, attended by over 900 participants from underrepresented groups, have been particularly impactful in offering career strategies for leadership, work-life balance, and professional development.
- AccessComputing has engaged over 6,500 disabled individuals in mentoring and career development, providing 914 internships that empower students with disabilities to pursue careers in computing fields.
- The NSF Institute for African American Mentoring in Computing Sciences (NSF IAAMCS) has reached 95 institutions across 33 states, offering culturally responsive mentorship and guiding 64 PhD students through its Future Faculty & Research Scientist Mentoring Program.
Collectively, these alliances demonstrate the immense power of targeted BPC interventions, ensuring that students from underrepresented groups both participate in and lead the future of the field.
Community Building
The NSF BPC Alliances foster a sense of community and create networks that empower individuals from historically underrepresented groups in computing.
- Through collaboration with NSF IAAMCS, the National Society of Blacks in Computing Conference grew from 89 to 154 participants between 2016 and 2019, providing essential support for Black students and faculty. In addition, NSF IAAMCS has a large virtual reach, amassing over 21,000 views on TikTok and almost 800 members on LinkedIn, transforming these platforms into vibrant hubs for knowledge exchange and networking.
- CSforALL‘s annual Summit brings together leaders from across the country. The 2023 Summit highlighted grassroots leadership and showcased the importance of elevating the voices of Black, Latine, Asian, and Native American communities. By creating a collective identity around equity in computer science, CSforALL is facilitating collaboration and mutual learning among participants to ensure that the field becomes more inclusive and accessible.
- NCWIT convenes more than 1,600 organizational members across the K-12, post-secondary, and industry sectors through its annual Summit and other virtual events throughout the year. The Summit has brought together nearly 11,000 change-makers since 2005. Participation across social media platforms includes more than 78,000 followers.
- STARS established the Conference on Research in Equity and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology (RESPECT) in 2015, which has become an important scholarly venue and academic community for peer-reviewed research on broadening participation in computing. In 2023, to elevate and broaden the impact of RESPECT, the conference established a partnership with the ACM Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE) to become one of the flagship conferences under the ACM SIGCSE umbrella. Now in its 10th year, RESPECT has resulted in the publication of 350+ peer-reviewed articles in 8 proceedings indexed in IEEE Digital Library and 4 journal issues in the IEEE Computing in Science & Engineering.
Collectively, these alliances are not just addressing participation gaps; they are building a collaborative and supportive network that propels systemic change, ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion remain central to computing education and innovation.
Data Utilization & Research
Leveraging data and conducting research allow the NSF BPC Alliances to expand impact across the US.
- NCWIT’s team of social scientists not only draw from existing social science literature, but also do primary research on mechanisms for making lasting change. NCWIT’s Tracking Tool and Tech Inclusion Journey enable Higher Ed member organizations to gather data on enrollment, attrition, and retention to make data-driven decisions.
- NSF ECEP’s Common Metrics Project empowers states to collect and disaggregate K-12 computer science (CS) data, ensuring that policies are informed by evidence and address disparities in access and participation. Since 2015, ECEP has made significant strides by helping state teams create tools like data dashboards and hosting state-wide summits. These initiatives catalyze change across 29 states and the territory of Puerto Rico, affecting over 33 million K-12 students.
- AccessComputing advocates for the collection of disability data by other BPC efforts and computing educators, publishing best practices. Because of AccessComputing’s advocacy, multiple reports have included disability data in recent years and others have used AccessComputing’s guidance to begin collecting disability data.
- The STARS BPC Research program provides a training series, resource toolkit, and experiential learning opportunities that builds capacity and scaffolds engagement in data collection, participatory evaluation, and research in broadening participation in computing. Participants in the program, known as STARS BPC Research Scholars, work with faculty mentors to apply their knowledge to conduct a guided STARS BPC evaluation and research project.
Systems Change
At the forefront of driving systemic change in the computing field, the NSF BPC Alliances influence policies, practices, and infrastructures to create a more inclusive and equitable landscape.
- NSF ECEP’s advocacy and policy efforts are impacting over 33 million students across Alliance member states, which is approximately 68% of the total K-12 student population nationwide. ECEP has also become a national hub for addressing systemic changes at a state level via state strategic plans, CS education policies, research, and CS data dashboards. Both ECEP member states and leaders outside of ECEP states leverage ECEP publications such as the State Summit and Landscape Report Toolkits, models of systemic change such as the CAPE Framework and 5-Stage Model for State Change.
- CAHSI has contributed to systemic change through its leadership in policy and organizational development, particularly with Hispanic-Serving Research Universities (HSRUs). By advocating for the recognition of these institutions in legislation like the H.R. 4372 MSI STEM Achievement Act, CAHSI has shaped national policy, while its research-informed signature practices have led to the creation of departmental action plans that improve student outcomes and promote inclusivity.
- LEAP has contributed to systemic change to the graduate recruiting and admissions practices through the LEAP Advocates. On measure of the impact of the recruiting strategies in a 24% increase in the first-year students from underrepresented communities from Fall 2021 to Fall 2022.
Collectively, these alliances are dismantling barriers and reshaping the computing field through advocacy, institutional transformation, inclusive practices, and community-driven efforts.
Creating Partnerships with the NSF BPC Alliances
The NSF BPC Alliances are excellent resources for advocates. Their resources and programs provide opportunities to: develop strategy for BPC activities at the institutional, local, or state level; participate in professional development; and support students. In addition, NSF BPC Alliances can be resources for meaningful project BPC plans that the NSF CISE directorate is requiring for many grants, and the departmental BPC plans that often lie behind the project plans. Rather than develop new activities, convenings, or guess at what might be promising practices, individual Principal Investigators and departments can draw upon existing NSF BPC Alliance programs. The table below provides a small sample of the many NSF BPC Alliance projects others can get involved in.
Ways to Connect with NSF BPC Alliances to Increase your own BPC Progress
| Alliance | Opportunities for Students | Engagement for Departments & Organizations | Website / Contact |
| NSF AccessComputing | (*for students with disabilities)
|
|
uw.edu/accesscomputing / accesscomp@uw.edu |
| Committee on Widening Participation in Computing Research (CRA-WP) | (*for students in any group underrepresented in computing)
|
|
https://cra.org/cra-wp/ |
| NSF Computing Alliance of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (CAHSI) |
|
|
https://cahsi.utep.edu/ |
| NSF Diversifying Leadership in the Professoriate (LEAP) Alliance |
|
|
https://cmd-it.org/project/leap-alliance/ |
| NSF Expanding Computing Education Pathways (ECEP) Alliance |
|
|
www.ecepalliance.org |
| NSF Institute for African-American Mentoring in Computing Sciences (NSF IAAMCS) |
|
|
iaamcs.org |
| NCWIT | (*for students who are gender queer, nonbinary and women)
|
|
www.ncwit.org & www.aspirations.org / info@ncwit.org |
| NSF STARS Computing Corps |
|
|
https://www.starscomputingcorps.org/ / info@ncwit.org |
Participating with NSF BPC Alliance programs and using the knowledge derived from their years of experience can bolster individual and departmental BPC efforts.
Acknowledgements: THE NSF BPC Alliances are currently funded by the following grants: 2417847, 2417833, 2416898, 2417148, 2417014, 2417666, 2417664, 2417779, and 2417798.
The NSF BPC Alliance PIs are:
Maya Cakmak, Raja Kushalnagar, Stacy Branham, Elaine Short, Brianna Blaser (NSF AccessComputing); Ann Quiroz Gates, Mohsen Beheshti, Patricia Morreale, Enrico Pontelli, Nayda Santiago (CAHSI), Susan Rodger, Amanda Stent, Curtis Cain (CRA-WP); Alexis Cobo (CSforAll); Carol Fletcher, Sarah Dunton, Josh Childs, Aman Yadav, Allison Scott (NSF ECEP); Kinnis Gosha, Juan Gilbert, Cheryl Seals, Justin Ballenger, Nannette Napier (NSF iAAMCS); Valerie Taylor (NSF LEAP); Terry Hogan, Sherri Sanders, Lecia Barker, Lucy Sanders (NCWIT); Jamie Payton, Tiffany Barnes, Susan Fisk, Clarissa Thompson, Veronica Catete (NSF STARS).
