Tag Archive: Data Buddies Project

Thank you, Data Buddies! (Fall 2019)


The annual Data Buddies Survey came to a close in February of 2020. CERP wishes to thank the 134 institutions and departments that made data collection possible, with special appreciation extended to Elite Data Buddies who received at least a 20% response rate from survey respondents.

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One Year Later, CERP Data Still Indicate REU Participation Relates to Graduate School Enrollment


Analyzing data collected graduating computing students during the spring of 2018, CERP replicated findings indicating that students with formal research experience are more likely to apply to graduate school and enroll in doctoral programs compared to students without any formal research experiences during their undergraduate program.

Person sitting in front of computing in the background of “pre-college coding experience” textPerson sitting in front of computing in the background of “pre-college coding experience” text

Higher Sense of Belonging for Students with Pre-college Coding Experience


According to the Data Buddies Survey (2018), undergraduate students with pre-college coding experience tend to have higher sense of belonging in computing. Given the importance of sense of belonging for retaining students in the field of computing, this finding highlights the potential long-term benefits of engaging students in coding early-on.

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Why Do Undergraduate and Graduate Students Choose Computing?


Interest in the field, job prospects, and a desire to make an impact on the society are the most common reasons for why students choose to enroll in a computing degree program at both undergraduate and graduate level. An understanding of these factors can not only help departments’ recruitment efforts but also guide strategies for student retention.

Forbes Article on Inclusivity in Higher Education Highlights CERP Project


A recent Forbes article written by Maria Klawe, president of Harvey Mudd College and a former CRA board member, addresses “Why We Need Inclusive Teaching In Every Classroom.” In the article, Klawe interviews Colleen Lewis, a computer science professor at Harvey Mudd, about Lewis’ work to develop, incorporate, and disseminate inclusive teaching practices. Lewis researches issues of diversity and gender in computer science education and collaborates with CRA’s Center for Evaluating the Research Pipeline (CERP). In the article, she shares resources and mentions her new project with CERP.