CMD-IT University Award

The CMD-IT University Award recognizes US institutions that have demonstrated a strong commitment to increasing the computer science baccalaureate degree production of minorities and students with disabilities, through effective retention programs. The CMD-IT University Award includes:

• Monetary Prize of $15,000
• An Award
• Invitation to give an invited presentation at the faculty workshop at Tapia 2020

Award decisions will be based on quantitative and qualitative reporting of results. The qualitative report in the application must include a description of the retention programs in place, as well as details about the unit that awards the undergraduate computer science degree, and contextual details about the institution. The quantitative report in the application includes a five year history of retention data for different groups of students.

All nominations will remain confidential. Each participating university will receive a detailed report that summarizes the data across all participating institutions. Past award recipients cannot submit a nomination for up to three years beyond the award.

How to use this Activity in your Project BPC Plan:

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Activity Summary

During each year of the grant, the PIs will apply for the CMD-IT University Award, which is awarded to computing departments, schools, or colleges. The award involves collecting retention data by demographic group for the last five years and providing a description of the retention programs. The award provides a helpful structure and deadlines for collecting important retention data and evaluating the effectiveness of existing retention programs. 

1. Context & Goals

Context: The department does not currently track retention data for all students or students of different demographic groups. [Provide currently available data, including IPEDS data from https://bpcnet.org/research-data/.]

Goal: The PI will apply for the CMD-IT University Award each year of the award. 

Activity Motivation: The award provides deadlines for collecting retention data and evaluating the effectiveness of retention programs. Even if the department wins the award, the PI will continue to share with CMD-IT materials equivalent to the application materials. This ensures that data collection will continue and applications for the award provide CMD-IT with important comparison data.

2. Intended Population

Activity Participants: PI [name] with support from the Institutional Research Office.

Participant Recruitment: N/A.

3. Strategy

Responsibilities of PIs: The PI will be responsible for working with the Institutional Research Office to collect and analyze data and prepare the application for the CMD-IT Award.

Activity Content: Applying for the CMD-IT University Award requires both collecting retention data disaggregated by demographic data and providing 

Activity Budget: N/A

4. Preparation

The PI has watched the Information Session video for the CMD-IT University Award and read through the requirements for the application. The PI has met with a staff member from the Institutional Research Office to go over the requirements for the CMD-IT award and has confirmed that accessing these data would be allowed and feasible. [If accessing retention data disaggregated by gender, disability, and race/ethnicity is not allowed at your institution, explain the limitation here.] The PI has discussed the plan with their department chair and the department chair has agreed to provide 30 minutes in a department meeting each year to discuss the data and analysis in the award. 

5. Measurement

In the annual report, the PI will confirm that they have accessed the relevant data and submitted the application for the CMD-IT University Award. After the first submission, the PI will summarize the feedback they receive on their application and what changes they made in their subsequent application to address this feedback.