Technology too often has a culture of invisibility, otherness, self-doubt, and closed doors. Our Aspirations in Computing (AiC) program’s exclusive awards, scholarships, internships, and community turn barriers into possibilities by building women’s leadership, technical, and entrepreneurial skills. High school students can participate in the annual local awards program and college students studying computing can join the Community directly. Faculty and employees can volunteer, and businesses can offer internships and jobs.

Technology too often has a culture of invisibility, otherness, self-doubt, and closed doors. Our Aspirations in Computing (AiC) program’s exclusive awards, scholarships, internships, and community turn barriers into possibilities by building women’s leadership, technical, and entrepreneurial skills. High school students can participate in the annual local awards program and college students studying computing can join the Community directly. Faculty and employees can volunteer, and businesses can offer internships and jobs.

Mary Jean Harrold and David Notkin made outstanding research, graduate mentoring, and diversity contributions. This award was created in their honor and recognizes faculty members who combine outstanding research accomplishments with excellence in graduate mentoring, as well as those who advocate for recruiting, encouraging, and promoting women and minorities in computing fields at both a local and national level.

Since 2011, the NCWIT Student Seed Fund has invested $316,250 in more than 157 student-run programs for women in computing at AA member institutions nationwide. Programs have included programming workshops, tech summits, peer mentoring and support, professional training, after-school programs, and the creation of multimedia materials — all aimed at increasing recruitment and retention of women and other underrepresented groups in computing.

In partnership with the National Science Foundation (NSF) and NCWIT, CRA has launched BPCnet.org, a resource portal designed to amplify the NSF CISE Directorate’s efforts in broadening participation in computing (BPC).

Extension Services (ES) consultants help academic computing departments build consensus and action from the inside out—customized practices for reimagining strategic recruitment, retention, and evaluation that change what’s possible and create a momentum of enthusiasm for long-term change.

Around the country, postsecondary institutions are making great strides in improving the numbers of women students in computing majors. The NCWIT Extension Services Transformation (NEXT) Awards recognize the achievements of these outstanding departments.