ISECON 2008 Strategies for Increasing IT Enrollment: Recruiting, Retaining and Encouraging the Transfer of Women and Underrepresented Groups to Four-Year Colleges ISECON 2008 Phoenix, AZ Nov , 2008

The Community College of Baltimore County Mathematics Department Donna Hiestand-Tupper Barbara Leitherer Sylvia Sorkin Mary Elizabeth Gore

Community College of Baltimore County n Public, two-year college system with 3 campuses n Fall 2007 credit enrollment: 19,426 students –34% Full-time – 66% Part-time –62% Female –24% Pell recipients –31% African-American –1,410 Associate degrees awarded in FY 2007

What is GHSP? n The Grace Hopper Scholars Program is an NSF funded initiative designed to assist female students interested in a career in technology. n GHSP is not limited to women, but it is marketed towards them. n 96% of the scholars are women.

What is NOT Required? n A minimum Grade Point Average n A minimum or maximum financial need requirement n A minimum number of credits taken each semester n A deadline as to how long a student can be in the program n Citizenship requirements

Application/Recruitment n Students must apply to the program n One page application for demographic information and a 300 word essay on why they want to pursue a degree in technology n Students recruited via faculty referrals, in class visits and other students.

Why Join GHSP? n Each student assigned a mentor. –Mentors are either faculty or from industry and are trained by Maryland State Resource Center n Both Online and Traditional Tutoring n Bridge Programs n Bonding with other Technology Majors n Onsite visits to corporations

More Reasons to Join $$$ n $300 course reimbursement for first Math or computer-related course with a grade of C or better. –This corresponds to approximately 3 credits. n Student must complete the requirements in order to receive the money. n Money for transportation to GHSP events if necessary.

Requirements in GHSP n Must be active participants for at least two semesters n Students must attend one summer bridge program n Students must contact mentor at least twice a semester n Students must attend at least one other social activity

Sample Summer Bridge Agenda n Math study skills workshop n Learning Styles Assessment n Computer related activity n Mentor lunches n Resume writing workshop n Interviewing skills workshop n Panel sessions with students from local 4- year schools

Mentoring n Mentor/Mentee contacts are required twice a semester. n Once to intervene if student needs help n Once to help plan future schedule n Best pairings occurred when mentor and mentee had common interest outside of school.

Definition of Enrollment Status n Full-time students take at least 12 credit hours per semester. n Part-time students take less than 12 credit hours per semester. n Mixed enrollment implies students changed enrollment status at least once during their time at CCBC.

Who Are Grace Hopper Scholars?

At risk population… n Part-time enrollment status n Delaying enrollment into college n Not having a standard high school diploma n Having children n Single Parent n Financially independent of parents.* n Working full-time while enrolled.

Progress of GH Scholars Summer 08

Progress of GH Scholars As of Summer 2008

Comparison to DoE Study

Drop Out Concerns n Overall, 18% of Grace Hopper Scholars have dropped out of CCBC –Part-time students at much higher risk n Dropout rate in Maryland Community Colleges is 55% n Dropout rate at CCBC is 56%

Future of GHSP n Work with partner colleges to assist them in the establishment of mentor programs n Continue research on support systems for part-time students. n Program transfers from School of Math & Science to School of Applied and Information Technology

? What does CSEM mean? Computer Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Mathematics

CCBC CSEM Funding Fall 04 – Fall 08 n August 2004, 4-year NSF-CSEM project funded 30 scholarships per year n Average length of award has been 3 semesters n Awardees have a required summer experience for career information, and luncheon with guest speaker each semester

NSF CSEM Scholarships n Funded by H1-B visa fees for foreign workers. n Awardees must complete FAFSA, have unmet financial need, and be full-time students. Maximum award is $3,125 per year. n Scholarship awardees must be: U.S. Citizens Permanent Resident Aliens Refugee Aliens n Institution determines other criteria for award and renewal.

CSEM Scholarship Awardees n Each has a faculty mentor in a CSEM field n Mentors meet at least monthly with their 3-4 student mentees n Use brief mentoring logs to record meetings n Awardee creates an individual academic plan with the mentor n Complete a Student Attitude Questionnaire each semester to track attitudes toward CSEM fields

CCBC CSEM Scholarship Criteria n Minimum 2.5 Grade Point Average n Eligible for Introductory Algebra, or higher n Register for 12 credits and maintain 2.5 GPA in one of these 6 degree programs: Computer Information Systems Computer Science E-Business Engineering Multimedia Technology Mathematics

About CCBC CSEM Scholarships n Scholarships can “follow” awardees to 4-yr institutions for CSEM-field bachelor’s degrees after earning 30 credits at CCBC n 33% of scholarship awards were renewals made to CCBC students who were transferring

Transferred Graduated but did not transfer Still at community college Dropped out MD state cohort of 13,978 full-time public community college freshman 4 years after 2002 entry 25% 11% 55% 9% Transfer, Graduation, Retention 34% Success Rate

Transferred Graduated but did not transfer Still at community college Dropped out MD state cohort of 13,978 full-time public community college freshman 4 years after 2002 entry Transfer, Graduation, Retention 63 CCBC CSEM awardees 4 years after first awards made 64% 3% 14% 19% 78% Success Rate 25% 11% 55% 9%

75 CSEM Scholars Fall 04 - Fall CSEM Scholars’ Ethnicity 31 % 17 % 48 % 4%4%

Majors for 75 CCBC CSEM Scholars Fall 04 - Fall 08 CSEM Scholars - Program & Gender

Representation of Females n 33% of CSEMS awardees female (25/75) n 29% of CSEMS awards were to females (64/224) n 28% of CSEMS awardees who transferred were female (11/40) CCBC CSEM Scholarships Fall 2004 – Fall 2008

40 of 63 CSEM Awardees Transferred As of Fall 2008, n 18 to Univ. of Maryland Baltimore County n 7 to University of Baltimore n 15 to other public and private 4-year institutions

Transfer and Degree Completion Percent 63 CSEM Scholars Fall 04 - Spring 2007

The Community College of Baltimore County Maryland, USA

Acknowledgement This project was supported in part by the National Science Foundation under awards DUE and DUE Opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF.