Tag Archive: Mentoring
By Kari George, Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Persistent equity gaps in computing doctoral degree attainment motivated a new study that examined what influences students’ consideration of departure. As an important precursor to their decisions to stay or leave their programs, understanding what shapes students’ thoughts of leaving is critical to supporting […]
We are seeking instructors for a new CRA program called UR2PhD, whose goal is to vastly increase the number of women students (particularly Black, Latina, and Native women students) who have high-quality undergraduate research experiences and continue into PhD programs.
The UR2PhD Program aims to increase the percentage of women entering PhD programs by at least 15% per year, with even higher increases for U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
The Computing Research Association (CRA) recently announced that it has received a $5 million grant from a philanthropic partner to support the Undergraduate Research to the PhD (UR2PhD) program. UR2PhD (read as “you are 2 PhD”) focuses on engaging more women who are U.S. citizens and permanent residents in computing PhD programs through a virtual, nationally managed approach to quality undergraduate research opportunities and to bridging the gap to PhD applications.
The Early Research Scholars Program (ERSP), founded by Christine Alvarado in the Computer Science Department at UC San Diego (UCSD), provides authentic research experiences to early undergraduates over one academic year. Since its inception in 2014, the program has transformed the landscape of undergraduate research at UC San Diego by significantly broadening access to research among early students, with over 350 student participants, 60% of whom identify as women or non-binary, and 22% as Black, Latinx, or Native American students. Further, ERSP has retained most participants (97% since the program matured).
CRA’s Data Buddies Survey 2021 data indicate that students in doctoral programs are more likely than their peers in terminal master’s programs to report being satisfied with their advisor relationships across a set of advisory domains.
CRA’s Data Buddies Survey 2021 data indicate that 16% of undergraduates in computing fields have been involved in K-12 outreach during their degree program. Participation rates across different racial and ethnic groups varied. Within racial/ethnic groups, participation rates also varied as a function of gender identity.
Where do graduate students find mentors? CERP revisited a prior analysis with updated data from the 2020 Data Buddies Survey and discovered the most common sources for mentors. Additionally, CERP uncovered some significant differences between where men and women graduate students find mentors.
Are you interested in mentoring prospective graduate students through the application and reentry process?
The mentor and coach application is now available on the CSGrad4US Mentoring Program webpage. The goals of the CSGrad4US Mentoring Program are:
Specific topics include the admissions process, preparation of all components of a strong graduate application, differences between graduate programs at different institutions, how to compare programs with respect to the Fellow’s goals and background, and general guidelines on making a selection among admission acceptances.
Applications received by June 1st will be given preference.
For questions regarding eligibility, please email csgrad4us@cra.org.
In response to the National Science Foundation (NSF) Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) Directorate’s recently announced CSGrad4US Fellowship program, the Computing Research Association’s Education (CRA-E) and Widening Participation (CRA-WP) committees, with CRA support, are exploring the development of a CSGrad4US Mentoring Program to support recipients of the CSGrad4US Fellowship. The goals of the mentoring program would be (1) to guide returning students through the application process towards a successful CS Ph.D. admission and school selection and (2) to mentor them through the transition to Ph.D. graduate study during the first year. The CSGrad4US Mentoring Program would include both a group mentoring component addressing general aspects of the graduate application process and an individual coaching component.
Interested in serving as a mentor or coach?
More information and a sign-up opportunity will be posted on CRA, CRA-E and CRA-WP websites in the spring. Click here to subscribe to updates.
Education presents a complex and confusing landscape. The traditional view of a CS education pipeline flowing from elementary through secondary, postsecondary, and graduate education is an oversimplification – one that may hinder our efforts to diversify computing. This simplification encourages a focus on educational efforts based on retention across stages and the traditional transitions between them, ignoring the fact that successful students may enter or re-enter CS education through a variety of nonstandard onramps.
Where do graduate students find mentors? CERP analyzed results of the 2018 Data Buddies Survey and discovered the most common sources for mentors. Additionally, CERP uncovered some significant differences between where men and women graduate students find mentors.
