Catching up to the 51%: Promoting female student engagement in computing education

Abstract

Between 1966 and 2006, the number of women who earned a computer science degree fluctuated, rising from 14.6% (1966) to 34% (1986) but thereafter falling to 20.5% (2006).1 In contrast to this unpredictability, the demand for computing and information technology professionals has been steady, projected to grow about 20% in the next ten years. However, United States Census data show that, although women make up nearly half of the workforce, they hold only one quarter of all technology and computing jobs and have earned only 18% of the degrees awarded in computer and information science.2 To help better understand and respond to the current low percentage of female students in the major, we describe an initiative of the College's Computer Systems Technology (CST) Department. The CST department offers two degrees: an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Computer Information Systems and a Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech) in Computer Systems. While the total enrollment of both degree programs has been steadily increasing over the past six years, the increase has largely been realized for male students while the percentage of female students has declined. Complementing ongoing studies of this phenomenon, our focus has been on the female student body of the department. A focus group of first-year and senior female students was formed and regularly gathered each semester to provide opportunities for female students and faculty members to share concerns, ideas, and experiences. Two surveys, one of all female students and another of all male students, were designed in consultation with the College's Assessment and Institutional Research Office to help understand the motivation of female students, their personal professional goals, learning experiences, as well as the challenges they face. Analyses of the survey outcomes guided strategies to a create female-friendly classroom environment as well as an awareness among all faculty members and students of the gender gap, leading to the determination to continue the efforts to inspire female students, supporting them throughout their studies and guiding them to be better prepared for what they choose after graduation, whether it be higher education or a career.