Evaluating STEM Faculty Development Initiatives

Project Description

The African American Researchers in Computing Sciences (AARCS) program, funded by the National Science Foundation, aims to broaden the participation of African Americans at the levels of tenure track faculty and research scientist in the computing sciences. All activities are specifically designed to address the barriers and disbeliefs, concerns, and misunderstandings about computing sciences faculty and research. The activities include a series of targeted presentations by African American computing sciences faulty and graduate students at HBCUs, a Future Faculty Mentoring Program, and an annual AARCS mini-conference hosted at Auburn University. The targeted presentations take place at HBCUs and provide undergraduates with mentoring and information on research careers. The Future Faculty Mentoring Program provides advanced graduate students with e-mentoring on academic careers, and the AARCS mini-conference is a research and skill building conference for undergraduates and graduate students. Although African Americans are the target group for this program, the AARCS program serves as a model that can be used to target other underrepresented groups.

Description of Work

The evaluation for the project is led by Dr. Jerlando F. L. Jackson, Associate Professor of Higher and Postsecondary Education, through the Center on Education on Education and Work. The primary objectives of the evaluation component is to: (a) to measure the effect of the AARCS Program on African American undergraduate students at HBCUs in the Southeast and Ph.D. students at research extensive institutions nation-wide; and (b) to determine the efficacy of the AARCS Program in regards to meeting individual and programmatic goals. The programs goals are two-fold: (a) program-level goals; and (b) individual-level goals. The program level goals are: (a) increase the number of African American Computing Sciences faculty and researchers; (b) promote and ensure African American undergraduate participation in computing sciences graduate programs; and (c) provide exposure to undergraduate and graduate students to prominent African American scholars and researchers in computing sciences. Individual-level goals are: (a) change the disposition, attitudes, and perceptions of African-American undergraduates at HBCUs in the Southeast regarding computing sciences related disciplines; (b) to increase the knowledge of African-American undergraduates at HBCUs in the Southeast about the benefits of graduate schools and faculty/research positions in computing sciences; and (c) to encourage the pursuit of graduate school in computing sciences with the goal of obtaining faculty or research position for African Americans at HBCUs in the Southeast.

Related Documents

AARCS 2006 Evaluation Summary

Related Websites

http://www.aarcsonline.com/