The DO-IT Center and NSF AccessComputing, in collaboration with the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering, have received funding from the Computing Research Association to establish AccessUR2PhD: Supporting Women and Gender Marginalized Students with Disabilities in Computing Research. AccessUR2PhD aims to increase the number of women and gender-marginalized individuals with disabilities (WGMD) on track to earn a PhD in a computing field with a focus on mentoring and community.
NSF AccessComputing staff are supporting the project and have launched the first step - a series of mentoring circles designed to further connect students with one another and with mentors. Each mentoring circle will have 10-15 students and mentors participating in discussions facilitated via both virtual meetings and asynchronous communication. Mentoring Circle topics and dates have been identified:
- #1 Accommodations and Managing Your Relationship with a Research Mentor. Two meetings: Meeting dates: Friday, May 30 & Friday, June 20, from 1:00-2:00 pm PST | 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm EST
- #2 Conducting Research as an Undergrad. Four meetings: Meeting dates: Friday, July 11; Friday, July 25; Friday, August 8; & Friday August 29, from 1:00-2:00 pm PST | 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm EST
- #3 Graduate School Applications. Three meetings: Friday, September 12; Friday, September 26; & Friday, October 10, from from 1:00-2:00 pm PST | 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm EST
In addition, AccessUR2Phd participants will be encouraged to take advantage of CRA’s existing UR2PhD undergraduate research methods course, mentor training program, and workshops.
Additional projects to be undertaken by AccessUR2PhD include focus groups where WGMD computing students will be able to share and address issues specific to their engagement in computing research; a three-part webinar series to support students in achieving research and career goals; one or more project videos about being successful as a WGMD student in computing research and/or best practices to engage such students in computing research and PhD programs; and a variety of resources and publications. Project staff will also contribute to the literature by publishing at least one peer-reviewed article on expanding opportunities for WGMD students in computing research.
AccessUR2PhD will also offer expanded support for student travel to attend conferences to present their research, learn about research and graduate school, and connect with mentors. Students will be able to submit individual requests for specific academic conferences, as well as for conferences focused on broadening participation in computing, like the Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing conference.