AccessComputing: Capacity Building Institutes

AccessComputing helps students with disabilities successfully pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in computing fields, and works to increase the capacity of postsecondary institutions and other organizations to fully include individuals with disabilities in computing education and careers. We often work with computer science educators to make their departments more welcoming and accessible to individuals with disabilities.

Capacity building institutes (CBI) bring people together to collaboratively identify solutions to specific problems. Participants may come from across disciplines, departments, and/or institutions. AccessComputing project has worked with universities to organize CBIs that bring together individuals on their campuses to identify, implement, and institutionalize policies, practices, and procedures that lead to more accessible computer science education.

A departmental plan can specify that they will host a Capacity Building Institute to bring together stakeholders from their institution. A CISE PI can plan a similar panel for their department.   AccessComputing has extensive experience organizing CBIs in a variety of settings. Consult with AccessComputing to get advice on topics to cover, agendas, evaluation, and follow up after the event.To learn more, read our guide Increasing Access to Computing and Information Technology by Conducting a Capacity Building Institute (CBI) on Your Campus or proceedings from AccessComputing Capacity Building Institutes, including CBIs hosted by universities are available.