Attracting and Retaining Under-represented Groups in Computer Science

Abstract

This paper describes new strategies (involving active recruiting and peer-led team learning) for encouraging women and minority students to enroll in introductory computer science courses, and to go on to major or minor in computer science. The first year of the program had impressive results: we succeeded in attracting under-represented students who would not otherwise take CS courses, and in improving retention of those students in our introductory programming course.