This alliance is an ambitious 9-institution collaboration that will result in significant, sustained increase in enrollment and graduation of African Americans in graduate level computing degree programs and entry into research-oriented careers. The program, based on the combined experience of committed partners, will strengthen undergraduate computing programs, create and maintain research experiences for undergraduates, and support ongoing research and teaching partnerships among faculty members. These activities will increase African Americans’ entry into computing research careers, support new faculty in maximizing their career potential, and produce a steady progression of role models for undergraduate students, indirectly increasing the participation of African Americans in computing research professions through provision of those who have the greatest effect on entry: African-American faculty.

Objectives

Strengthen Undergraduate Computing and Information Technology Programs at HBCUs

The first priority for the alliance is to build an environment that includes social, academic, and career support through peer, tier, faculty-student mentoring, outreach between undergraduates at partner institutions and local community programs that increase the pipeline from high school to undergraduate and collaborative learning environments for improved learning and retention.

Recruiting with the Dual Feeder Model

North Carolina A&T State University, a traditional HBCU, is in a unique capacity as a research-intensive  university with a strong graduate level masters program in computational science and engineering and computer sciences provides an avenue for an innovative double feeder model.

Institutionalize Two-Way Research, Graduate Education, and Teaching Partnerships

Two-way partnerships will include opportunities for undergraduate summer research experiences at research universities and joint research projects between faculty and students at partner research universities and historically black universities that include teaching and research exchange visits.

Create Pathways For HBCU Students To Pursue Faculty Careers

The project will facilitate faculty careers for HBCU students after completing the Ph.D. A network support system will be developed to incorporate two-way faculty research relationships between R1 and HBCUs that allow faculty at HBCUs to conduct shared research and supervise graduate students.

Scaling and Sustaining the Project Through Evaluation and Dissemination

The program includes an integrated evaluation plan aimed at not only improving implementation, but also documenting and carefully describing results to identify effective practices. This careful documentation of processes and outcomes makes possible future adoption and adaptation by a broader audience.

    HBCU Research Partnerships is supported by a NSF Broadening Participation in Computing Award