Diversity in Computer Science
CS Mission
The Department of Computer Science is committed to diversity in our students, faculty, and staff, supporting both the participation and success of underrepresented minorities as well as addressing the underrepresentation of women in computer science.
We have redesigned computer science recruiting materials to emphasize the variety of career options available to CS graduates--career options that appeal to a diverse group of students. The department supports a number of events, programs, and other initiatives aimed at increasing the pipeline of women and underrepresented minorities. These initiatives reinforce the fact that successful companies depend on a variety of contributions from a diverse group of employees. Examples of current activities include middle school summer camps to expose underrepresented students to the excitement of computer science, training workshops for high school math teachers to help them link classroom activities to computer science topics, and a student-led high school visitation program called "ROCS: Reaching Out for Computer Science".
We work closely with the Midwest Crossroads AGEP program office at Purdue, offer summer-bridge programs to incoming students, and participate in conferences aimed at recruiting underrepresented minorities. We also host GEM consortium fellows and Science Bound summer interns.
We have an active presence at conferences including the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing and the CIC Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP). We visit minority serving institutions and high schools with high enrollment of underrepresented minorities and encourage students to join our program.
The departmental Computer Science Women's Network (CSWN) is an organization of students, faculty, and staff dedicated to helping all members succeed in computer science. Over the past several years we have been successful in hiring outstanding female faculty. We are currently planning a Women in Computer Science Career day, targeting high school juniors.
Purdue Diversity Initiatives/Mosaic Plan
Mission Statement: The Diversity Leadership Group was created to design ways to expand and institutionalize educational equity initiatives through the Office of the Provost.
Student Organizations
- Association of Multicultural Computer Scientists (AMCS)
The mission of the Association of Multicultural Computer Scientists (AMCS) is to provide a support system that facilitates multicultural students’ academic, social, and professional development.
- Association of Multicultural Science Students (AMSS)
A group driving toward a goal of acquiring jobs, internships, research assistantships, etc. for its members. AMSS also offers some scholarships to those members that show academic excellence, community service, and club service.
- Computer Science Women's Network (CSWN)
An organization consisting of people (both students and staff) who are dedicated to helping the group in the computer science (CS) field. The leadership team that organizes most activities is made up of students who want to reach out and help all the members in CS.
- Science Opportunities to Advance Retention (SOAR)
In order to improve retention, Multicultural Science Programs has launched the SOAR Program. The intent of SOAR is to guide students to acclimating to college, to their major department, and to establish successful strategies in order to complete the core courses of their major.