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The accomplishments of women and people of color have often gone unrecognized in the computing field, but students like Xandra McCoy and Sophya Hargenrater, undergraduates in computer science, have been working to honor the sometimes overlooked computing pioneers who have come before them.

It is daunting to enter a career when no one in the field looks like you. For more young women and people of color to pursue computing, they must be able to see themselves in the field, McCoy said. Our goal is to highlight the diverse contributors that have been there all along as well as encourage diversity in computing for the future.

As part of the Computer Science Genome team, also called CS Genome, McCoy and Hargenrater researched and built Hidden Figures, a database of information about computer scientists throughout history.

The project is part of a Department of Computer Science initiative called Broadening Undergraduate Research Groups in Systems (BURGS). BURGS was formed last spring to help undergraduates gain hands-on skills and experience. It has grown to encompass five projects, including CS Genome the team of nearly 20 students that built Hidden Figures and develops other data repositories for research purposes.

McCoy is a computer science junior who, alongside Hargenrater, a senior, and the rest of the CS Genome team, were invited to present Hidden Figures as the 35th anniversary exhibit forthe International Conference for High Performance Computing, Networking, Storage, and Analysis, one of the highest profile conferences in computing held this fall in Denver.

The conference organizers gave five students, including McCoy and Hargenrater, a full scholarship to attend and present their work, along with their faculty advisor,Margaret Ellis, associate professor of practice in computer science.

The overall theme for the exhibition was I am HPC an effort to highlight and encourage the diversity in computing.

For more than a decade, the computer science department has worked to recruit students and faculty from around the world and to make itsacademic and research programs widely accessible to underrepresented groups.

In the United States in 2020, self-identified males constituted 77 percent of computer science graduates, and 36 percent of degree recipients self-identified as white the largest single ethnic demographic in the discipline, according to theNational Center for Education Statistics.

The student Hidden Figures database titled after the movie of the same namehighlights computer science-related pioneerswhose stories have been overlooked. As an open source project, it allows users to not only search for information, but to add new entries. Since its creation, it has grown to feature more than 300 computing professionals.

As a woman in computing myself, it can sometimes be daunting to be a minority in my classes, Hargenrater said. And it was encouraging to work on this project and know that women and other minority groups have made major contributions in computing.

Hargenrater describes feeling intimidated by the conference at first, as there were over 13,000 attendees, most of whom were professionals in the computer systems field. However, once she and McCoy began presenting their exhibit, she became more comfortable after seeing how the attendees were impressed by their work.

It was a valuable experience to be able to talk to people around the globe and learn about the hidden figures that they personally know. It was also beneficial to see other projects and talk to professionals to gain new ideas to implement into our project going forward, Hargenrater said.

The conference team was even able to meet some of the computer scientists featured in the database like Valerie Taylor, who has made contributions to parallel computing, and Rosa Badia, who specializes in programming models for complex systems and distributed computing. The two pioneers serve as inspiration to the team members, who spent a semester researching the womens contributions to computing.

They are accomplished in both technical and leadership roles, which is what I strive for in the future, McCoy said.

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Students find 'hidden figures' in computing - Virginia Tech

The Foxcroft School earned the College Board Advanced Placement Computer Science Female Diversity awards for achieving high female representation in two computer science courses for the 2022-23 school year, the school announced in a news release.

The Middleburg school is the only one in Virginia and one of only 68 worldwide to earn the awards, which are for high female representation in both Advanced Placement Computer Science A and Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles.

Foxcroft continues to lead the way in STEM education for girls, Head of School Cathy S. McGehee said in the release. We encourage our students to take computer science. The technology field is one where women continue to be underrepresented, and efforts such as ours can make a difference."

This is the third time Foxcroft has received both the Computer Science A and Principles course female diversity awards and the fifth time it has received AP Computer Science Female Diversity awards.

Women represent just 24% of the five million people in computing occupations, according to the release. Research from the International Coalition of Girls Schools shows that attending an all-girls school strengthens interest and success in STEM fields. Girls school graduates rate confidence in their abilities at least 10% higher than their co-educated counterparts when it comes to math and computer skills.

A Google study showed that 54% of female computer science majors took AdvancedPlacement Computer Science A in high school. College Board research also found that, for most students Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles serves as a stepping stone to other advanced advanced STEM coursework.

The Foxcroft School in rural western Loudoun County was founded in 1914 and is a college preparatory boarding and day school for girls in grades 9-12.

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Foxcroft the lone Virginia school to earn dual computer science female diversity awards - InsideNoVa

Computer programming, also often simply referred to as coding, has become an increasingly popular career track in recent decades. As the tech sector in the U.S. has blossomed and produced some of the economys largest companies, its largely grown because of a small army of programmers, which includes individuals like Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and others.

While programming may sound complicated, it is, at its core, the process of dictating instructions and solving problems. And the ability to do that, at least in front of a computer screen, has been a relatively scarce skill set over the past 50 years or so.

Thats whats driven growth in the tech sector and an interest in programming. Median salaries for programmers, as of 2022, were just shy of $100,000, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Programming has become increasingly competitive, but it can still be a viable career option for manybut it all starts with gaining a fundamental understanding of what it is, and what it entails.

Computer programming involves using a programming language to write programs, which are a set of instructions dictating what a computer should do. A computer on its own does nothing, you need to give it instructions so itll do what you want it to do, says Grace Lewis, First Vice President of the IEEE Computer Society.

The essence of coding is telling a computer to perform some task on your behalf, she says. If a certain situation happens, then calculate this in a certain way, she adds, as programmers need to anticipate the decision points that a computer will run into when performing a task, and need instructions as to how to navigate.

Other experts define programming or coding in more or less the same way. An effective programmer needs to be able to tell the computer what to do, to perform an action or response to a users input, says Dr. Sriram Mohan, Ph.D., head of the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

That may sound technical and complicated, but Lewis says that we perform similar actions all day long without realizing itor, at least, not recording it into a programming language.

Programming is a lot like driving, she says, explaining that as you drive down the road, youre making decisions about how fast to go, when to brake, what turns to make, and more. Those are the types of instructions that may be written into a program that a computer references to complete a given task.

As such, learning to program can be similar to learning to drive. If you take the driving course, at some point you become good enough to take the driving test and pass itprogramming is the same way, you learn the basics, Lewis says.

Programming works by deciding what task a programmer wants a computer to perform, and then writing the specific instructions (i.e., a program) to perform that taskand doing it in a programming language. A programming language is one that a computer understands.

Depending on the specific task, programmers may choose one language or another, and languages have varying levels of difficulty. Some are high-level languages, which may be easier for humans to understand, as they more closely resemble the English language. Others can be low-level, which are closer to the binary language (zeroes and ones) that computers communicate with, but that are further from English.

But in terms of the nuts and bolts of programming, a coder decides what it wants the computer to do, and uses a programming language to write a program to perform the task. The details can vary significantly from program to program, but what programming boils down to is the act of writing detailed instructions to perform a task in a language that the computer can interpret.

There are different types of programming languages (beyond the high-level and low-level categories) that are used to write various programs. Within those types, there are numerous specific languages as well.

The languages that are ultimately used for one task or another depend on several factors, including how granular a program needs to be, the context in which its being used (say, a specific industry use or within a specific company), and even a programmers personal preferences. But mostly, It comes down to the company and the industry that its in, says Dr. Mohan.

With that, there are three primary types of programming languages: Procedural, functional, and object-oriented.

Procedural programming languages do more or less what they sound like they do: They follow a procedure. A procedural language is the way you provide instructions to a computer or define instructions, Dr. Mohan says. And that generally means using a sort of step-by-step approach to writing a program. As such, a programmer might write a set of instructions to be followed in sequence for the computer to complete a given task.

Some common procedural languages include C, Java, and C++.

Functional languages are more complex than procedural languages, as they rope in different mathematical functions to construct a program. That can require a higher-level skill set than using a procedural language, in many cases. In functional programming, you need to use a technique called recursion, and it can be a tricky concept, says Arjun Chandrasekhar, an assistant professor of computer science at Southwestern University. Recursion involves reducing or simplifying a problem into its simplest formand yes, it can be tricky to grasp.

For programmers who may be more mathematically inclined, utilizing a functional language may feel more natural. Common functional languages include Haskell and Python.

Object-oriented programming languages use objects rather than functions or procedural instructions to create programs. Its yet another abstract concept to wrap your head around, but in a nutshell, object-oriented languages or programming uses classes and objects within its code to build or create programs. Those can then interact with each other to create programs.

Unfortunately, it only gets more abstract from there for those who dont have a programming background. Some examples of object-oriented languages include C#, Ruby, and Rust.

While this all might sound intimidating and overwhelming, especially for someone who lacks a tech background but is interested in programming, the experts say that everyone, even the most experienced coders, at one point had to start from scratch, too.

With that in mind, its best to try not to get discouraged, and if youre interested in a career in programming, to give it a shot and see if you like it, Lewis says. Like anything, you need to try things out.

Computer programmers use programming languages to write programs, which act as instructions for a computer to follow and complete a specific task. In effect, programmers translate English into code, which a computer can interpret to follow a certain function.

Computer programmers tend to be paid relatively well compared to many other professions in the U.S. As of 2022, median annual salaries were just shy of $100,000, whereas median household income that year was around $75,000.

Programming will be difficult for some people and less difficult for others, depending on a number of factors. However, experts say that individuals with a knack for problem-solving and math may find it easier than others.

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Computer programming: What it is and what you need to know to learn it - Fortune

St. Cloud State University has been recognized as one of the top institutions nationwide in 2024 for its online program offerings by BestColleges, a leading online resource for college planning and advice.

SCSU was ranked second in the nation for Most Affordable Online Computer Science Program, noting SCSUs convenient blend of foundational and specialized courses within the program, which specializes in big data applications or artificial intelligence and machine learning.

This program offering at SCSU is designed to be done asynchronously, yet students have the opportunity to attend state-of-the-art on-campus labs that provide hands-on, graduate-level work.

In 2024, BestColleges revised its methodology and approach to school rankings, focusing on the most important factors that students consider in their college decision-making process. Its new methodology incorporates key metrics such as affordability, student outcomes, flexibility and accessibility, and ease of admissions. These metrics were taking directly from BestColleges College Choice and Admissions Survey, which reflects the top preferences and priorities of students nationwide.

BestColleges rankings are tailored to meet the needs and interests of students, providing them with valuable insights into the colleges and universities that align with their goals and values. Learn more about BestColleges methodology.

Learn more about this program and thefull list of world-class academic programs and resources availableto students at SCSU.

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SCSU recognized for Most Affordable Online Computer Science Program in 2024 St. Cloud State TODAY - St. Cloud State University

A revolutionary project to reimagine Cal Polys Computer Engineering Department has secured close to $2 million from the National Science Foundation as educators seek to transform engineering education on campus and across the country.

The highly prestigious award through NSFs Revolutionizing Engineering Departments (IUSE/PFE: RED) program, which supports radical changes to the training of undergraduate engineering students, will fund the five-year Breaking the Binary project.

Through workshops, dialogue and critical mentoring, CPE students and faculty will examine their perceptions and beliefs to uncover implicit bias within the department, then reimagine a department that is designed for all its members, from curriculum to physical spaces.

We want to make the department a better place for students, faculty and staff of different races, genders, sexual orientations and abilities, among other social identities, said Computer Engineering Department Chair Lynne Slivovsky.

She believes that addressing equity and justice within the department will lead to increased diversity and inclusivity, bringing about shifts in the demographics of the computer engineering population.

College engineering departments are not doing the kind of work we are doing on this scale, she said. Its revolutionary.

The project, which officially launched in June 2023, has broad goals including holding workshops and encouraging dialogue in which faculty members examine their perceptions and beliefs.

We can identify that different models are at play instead of assuming this is how it is for everyone, said Slivovsky, giving the example of shifting from a deficit model that focuses on learners weaknesses to an asset-based one that focuses on the strengths students bring to the classroom. In the end, we want to determine how we can design things differently.

The grant team also is exploring ways to deepen relationships between and among students, staff and faculty.

We can build authentic relationships that allow us to have a greater appreciation for each other and ask honest questions about perpetuating systemic structures, she said.

Those relationships will ultimately enable a more collaborative dynamic between faculty and students, fostering a tailored educational experience.

We want to be a place that values everyone for who they are and how they show up, where they can learn computer engineering but not at the expense of their own identity, Slivovsky said. The grant team includes members from inside and outside the department who are committed to making a difference.

Professor and co-principal investigator Jane Lehr called the grant a tremendous achievement that will enable faculty, students and staff at Cal Poly to take transformative action to create a new approach to doing computer engineering that will serve as a model at Cal Poly, nationally and potentially beyond.

Lehr serves as the director of the universitys Office of Student Research and is a professor in ethnic studies and womens, gender and queer studies and affiliated faculty in computer science and software engineering and science and technology studies.

The interdisciplinary faculty team also includes Bridget Benson, associate dean and computer engineering professor, Andrew Danowitz and John Oliver, computer engineering professors, and Liz Thompson, director of the General Engineering program and industrial engineering professor. External and internal advisory boards will support and aid the team.

Experts outside Cal Poly will also lend their skills, including Jon Stolk, professor of materials science and engineering education at Olin College of Engineering, and Susan Lord, chair and professor of integrated engineering at University of California, San Diego.

Founding Director of The Noyce School of Applied Computing Chris Lupo expressed his enthusiasm for the grants broader impact. The school that launched this year combines three departments Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Software Engineering.

This is a groundbreaking opportunity that will not only transform computer engineering within our college but also revolutionize the educational landscape in this field, Lupo said. With this grant, we are poised to embark on a journey of innovation, collaboration and daring invention.

Image caption: Students in lecturer Rich Murray's capstone computer engineering project lab class work on projects involving a ventilator and a prototype rover in 2021. The computer engineering department recently received a National Science Foundation grant to address equity, justice and inclusion.

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Computer Engineering Wins $2 Million Grant to Imagine a More Inclusive Future - Cal Poly