Description
As part of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering’s (CISE) commitment to broaden participation in computing (BPC), several NSF CISE programs now require PIs to have a meaningful Broadening Participation in Computing (BPC) Plan at the time of the award. Computing departments are encouraged to develop Departmental BPC Plans that faculty can use in their proposals for those NSF programs.
To support academic institutions in developing a Departmental BPC Plan, the Computing Research Association (CRA), in collaboration with Morehouse College, is hosting a fully-funded in-person workshop on May 30th- June 1st, 2023 in Atlanta, GA.
The workshop will present information on Departmental BPC Plans, hands-on activities and resources to develop Plans, and the opportunity to engage with BPC Plan consultants.
Eligibility
This workshop is open to all computing department faculty and administrators developing Departmental BPC Plans. We highly recommend (but do not require) that each department participates in the workshop in teams of 2-3. For each department, we ask that at least one participant represent the leadership (e.g., department heads, deans, etc.) at the workshop. We also encourage non-academic staff, research institute personnel, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) professionals, and leaders from other broadening participation-related organizations to attend. Registrants do not need to have prior experience developing Departmental BPC Plans.
Application
While each department may send up to three representatives to attend the workshop, we only require one application. The person that completes the application on behalf of the department will be asked to provide information on the other representatives (e.g., name, email). The extended deadline for application is Sunday, April 16th.
Workshop Dates
Tuesday, May 30th – Thursday June 1st
Participation
Up to three representatives from each department will be accepted to participate in the workshop. We ask department leadership to prioritize attending with a computing department faculty or administrator that will be developing the Departmental BPC Plan.
Funding
This workshop is funded by the NSF. Attendees will be reimbursed for their travel expenses in accordance with CRA’s travel policy.
General Logistics
The workshop will be hosted at The Candler Hotel in Atlanta, GA. Details on lodging information will be shared with registrants via email.
Accessibility
Please indicate any requests for accessibility accommodations on your workshop application. Contact Roohia Meer at bpcinfo@cra.org with any questions.
CRA Code of Conduct
CRA is committed to uniting industry, academia, and government to advance computer science research to positively impact the world. Key to this commitment is increasing the success and participation of computing researchers. CRA recognizes the inherent worth and dignity of every individual and group to contribute to its mission. CRA embraces and encourages diversity and inclusion.
To achieve its mission, CRA provides a safe and welcoming environment, free from discrimination and harassment, for all participants in all CRA-sponsored activities. Participants include but are not limited to, attendees, sponsored attendees, guests, speakers, CRA staff, external vendors, sponsors, CRA board members, CRA committee members, CRA committee board members, faculty mentors, and student mentees. CRA-sponsored activities include, but are not limited to, its workshops, conferences, Research Experiences for Undergraduates, board meetings, CRA’s work environment, all ancillary social gatherings, and online communications, including email and social media, and verbal communications to organize or otherwise contribute to these activities.
All CRA activity participants are required to treat each other with respect in all their behavior, e.g., speech, actions, and online communications. CRA prohibits discrimination, harassment, or retaliation.
Unacceptable Behavior
Unacceptable behavior at CRA activities includes but is not limited to:
Discrimination Any behavior that discriminates, abuses, offends, or denigrates other participants based on race, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, disability, appearance, political affiliation, religion, veteran status, or any other personal characteristic or identity.
Sexual and Physical Harassment Any unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, or conduct of a perceived sexual nature. For example, propositions, comments on physical appearance, offensive sexual comments, promises of favors for sexual activity, physical threats, touching, sexual assault, physical assault, and displaying of sexual images.
Harassment Any behavior directed at individuals that intimidates, abuses, offends, disrupts, denigrates, creates psychological, physical or physiological fear, bullies, stalks, records, or in any way interferes with these individuals’ participation or responsibilities at CRA activities.
Retaliation Any harassment directed at individuals who report or bear witness to violations or investigations of potential violations of the CRA Code of Conduct, or falsely reporting violations of the CRA Code of Conduct.
Be thoughtful in all your communications. “Having no intent to offend” and “joking” do not make unacceptable behavior acceptable.
Consequences of Unacceptable Behavior
Participation in CRA activities is considered a privilege, not a right. CRA reserves the right to:
- remove individuals from any CRA activity without warning and without reimbursing or refunding meeting participation costs;
- prohibit individuals from participating in future CRA activities;
- remove individuals from CRA leadership positions; and
- prevent individuals from deriving benefits from CRA activities.
Reporting of and Responses to Unacceptable Behavior
Targets of unacceptable behavior should first take appropriate actions to ensure their immediate safety.
Targets of unacceptable behavior should contact CRA staff and designated participants in person at ongoing CRA activities or by phone or email. CRA will post the designated people and contact information for each CRA activity and additional details on reporting on this website. These designated individuals may take immediate action on verbal reports of unacceptable behavior, such as removing an individual who may have violated the code of conduct from the CRA activity.
Targets and witnesses of unacceptable behavior are encouraged to file a formal complaint with CRA using the designated process.
CRA requests all participants to act if they notice a dangerous situation and to report violations of this code of conduct to Burçin Tamer at burcin@cra.org.
| Tuesday, May 30, 2023 | |
| Time | Session |
| 3:00 PM | Registration Location: Pre-Function, 2nd Floor |
| 6:00 PM | Reception Location: Heritage Ballroom |
| Wednesday, May 31, 2023 | |
| Time | Session |
| 8:00 AM | Breakfast Location: 2nd Floor Rotunda |
| 9:00 AM | Welcome |
| 9:30 AM | A Conversation with NSF: The BPC Initiative and Q&A Speaker: Manuel Pérez-Quiñones Location: Heritage Ballroom An explanation of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering’s (CISE) initiatives to scale up BPC efforts in the computing community, including the CISE Directorate’s requirement for Principal Investigators (PIs) to submit a BPC Project Plans with research proposals. |
| 10:00 AM | Developing BPC Plans: Plan Types and Strategies Speaker: Tracy Camp Location: Heritage Ballroom An overview of how to develop Departmental BPC Plans that reflect your own department’s strategy for broadening participation in computing, within your specific context, and in ways that help faculty develop the BPC Project Plans required for proposals. |
| 10:25 AM | Developing BPC Plans: Resources Speaker: Wendy DuBow The session will provide an overview of the resource-filled website BPCnet.org and the other ways BPCnet.org supports departments. |
| 10:45 AM | Break Location: Second Floor Rotunda |
| 11:00 AM | Departmental BPC Plan: Goals and Context Speaker: Luther Tychenoviech This session will guide departments on how to write the “Context” and “Goals” sections of their Departmental BPC Plans. |
| 11:20 AM | Writing Session: Drafting Your Plan’s Goals and Context Led by: Luther Tychenoviech Departments will work in groups, with the support of BPC Plan consultants, to draft the “Goals and Context” sections of their Departmental BPC Plans. |
| 12:30 PM | Lunch Location: By George Restaurant |
| 1:30 PM | Writing Session Debrief Led by: Luther Tychenoviech |
| 1:40 PM | Departmental BPC Plan: Activities Speaker: Colleen Lewis Location: Heritage Ballroom
This session will guide departments on how to approach the “Activities” sections of their Departmental BPC Plans. |
| 2:00 PM | Writing Session: Drafting Your Plan’s Activities Led by: Colleen Lewis Departments will work in groups, with the support of BPC Plan consultants, to draft the “Activities” sections of their Departmental BPC Plans. |
| 3:10 PM | Break |
| 3:25 PM | Writing Session Debrief Led by: Colleen Lewis |
| 3:35 PM | How Evaluation Can Drive BPC Actions Speaker: Tray Camp Location: Heritage Ballroom This session will include guidance on how to use evaluation to drive action, using CS@Mines as an example |
| 3:55 PM | Writing Session: Drafting Your Plan’s Measurements Led by: Tracy Camp |
| 4:35 PM | Open Forum on BPC (and BPC Plans): Questions and Comments Speaker: BPC Plan Consultants Location: Heritage Ballroom |
| 6:30 PM | Dinner Location: Heritage Ballroom |
| Thursday, June 1, 2023 | |
| Time | Session |
| 8:00 AM | Breakfast Location: 2nd Floor Rotunda |
| 9:00 AM | Day 1 Debrief Location: Heritage Ballroom |
| 9:10 AM | Overcoming Institutional Barriers to Developing and Implementing a BPC Plan Speaker: Dorian Arnold Location: Heritage Ballroom This interactive session will describe commonly encountered barriers in developing and implementing a Departmental BPC Plan, how to best integrate a BPC Plan into the department/institution, and how to get buy-in from faculty. |
| 9:30 AM | How to Engage Historically Black Colleges and Universities Early and Often Speaker: Kinnis Gosha Location: Heritage Ballroom This session will talk strategically about HBCUs and how to engage them. Possessing firsthand experience with more than 21 NSF grants, Dr. Kinnis Gosha will facilitate a candid discussion:- Relationship building with HBCU faculty, students, and administrators as subject matter experts, research collaborators, and colleagues – Intentional budgets, publications, and measurable outcomes aligned with HBCU research goals and strategic plans – What works and what never works when collaborating on proposals, implementing projects, reporting data, and evaluating studies. Participants in this session will also leave with an HBCU Engagement Toolkit that they can include in their BPC Departmental Plans. |
| 10:30 AM | Peer Reviews and Discussions Led by: Dorian Arnold Location: Heritage BallroomIn this session, departments will work in pairs to discuss their Departmental BPC Plans and receive peer feedback. |
| 12:00 PM | Next Steps: Socializing, Finalizing, and Submitting your Plans Led by: Dorian Arnold Location: Heritage BallroomThis session will review guidance on the 3 things you should do after the workshop: Socialize your plan, Finalize it, and then Submit it for verification to BPCnet.org. |
| 12:20 PM | Closing Remarks |
| 12:30 PM | Lunch |
| 1:30 PM | IAAMCS Guidelines Workshop and Morehouse College Tour (Optional) Location: Morehouse College During this interactive workshop, participants will learn using the IAAMCS Guidelines to gain an in-depth understanding of research- and experience-based actions that support the successful mentorship of Black/African American students in Computing Sciences. This workshop will also include student and alumni testimonials and a moderated panel discussion on HBCU-collaborated grant proposals, “What does it take to get the button pushed?” The panel will include representation from the Office of Sponsored Programs, Research & Undergraduate Student Training, STEM administrative and teaching faculty, and the AUC Data Science Initiative. Lastly, IAAMCS Programs will be discussed in detail along with clear guidelines on how to include IAAMCS programs in your BPC strategy. |
If you have any questions, please contact Roohia Meer at roohia@cra.org for more information.