Hampton University News June 10, 2015 HU awarded grant to increase minorities, women in Computer Science Hampton University has been awarded a grant to assist the continuing efforts to enhance undergraduate education and research in computer science and increase the number of minorities and women who pursue advanced degrees and careers in computing. The HU Department of Computer Science in partnership with the HU Graduate College has been awarded a five-year $622,480 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to implement the "Workforce Preparation through Computing Scholarship (We-Prep-CS) Program." Dr. Chutima Boonthum, associate professor of computer science, will serve as the Principal Investigator and Dr. Jean Muhammad, Chair of the Department of Computer Science, and Dr. Patrena Benton, Dean of the Graduate College, will serve as Co-Principal Investigators. "The We-Prep-CS S-STEM program will target underrepresented minorities in the field of computer science preparing them for the STEM workforce and the matriculation into the STEM graduate programs," said Boonthum. "The project will demonstrate a creative, sustainable model for recruiting, engaging, retaining, and graduating historically underrepresented students in computing programs that can guide other institutions in efforts to diversify the STEM workforce." The project adds to the comprehensive student support services within the department and supports efforts by the Graduate College to ensure the success of students seeking master's degrees in computer science. This project will also look to increase the number of women and members of historically underrepresented groups entering the computer science workforce and graduate programs. Scholarships will enable undergraduate and graduate students in computing programs to study full-time, while project activities will engage students academically and socially by providing research and internship opportunities, social cohort building activities, career counseling, and graduate school and/or workforce preparation. The project will also support two undergraduate-cohorts with a minimum of 10 undergraduate and three graduate-cohorts with a minimum of six graduate students. Each student will be awarded up-to $10,000 per year based on their financial need." The project will demonstrate a creative, sustainable model for recruiting, engaging, retaining, and graduating historically underrepresented students in computing programs that can guide other institutions in efforts to diversify the STEM workforce. Finally, the project will contribute to the scholarly understanding of STEM student perceptions of financial aid and need. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.