ACM

Communications of the ACM

Home/Magazine Archive/March 2014 (Vol. 57, No. 3)/Using Targeted Conferences to Recruit Women Into Computer.../Abstract

Contributed articles

Using Targeted Conferences to Recruit Women Into Computer Science

By Christine Alvarado, Eugene Judson
Communications of the ACM, March 2014, Vol. 57 No. 3, Pages 70-77
10.1145/2500883
Comments

View as: Print Mobile App ACM Digital Library In the Digital Edition Share:

Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing poster — GHC of Women in Computing aims to increase women's participation in CS worldwide.

Credit: Anita Borg Institute

The shortage of women in computer science (CS) is well documented. Since 2001, the Computing Research Association Taulbee Survey reports the percentage of women obtaining a bachelor's degree in CS dropped from 18.8% in 2001 to 13.8% in 2010.⁷ A 2011 study by Baumann et al.⁴ found that although some schools saw increases in the percentage of women receiving Ph.D.'s and earning faculty positions, the percentage of women receiving bachelor's degrees continued to drop. Increasing the number of qualified women (along with other underrepresented populations) choosing to study CS is critical in combating the shortage of CS graduates in the U.S.^16,22,23

Harvey Mudd College (HMC) is recognized for dramatically increasing the percentage (and number) of women majoring in CS, from 12% historically to approximately 40%, where it has held steady since 2008.^13,18 This percentage is well above the U.S. average, even among elite private schools, which, at approximately 16%, tend to have a slightly higher average than elite public schools.⁴

No entries found

Log in to Read the Full Article

Sign In

Sign in using your ACM Web Account username and password to access premium content if you are an ACM member, Communications subscriber or Digital Library subscriber.

Need Access?

Please select one of the options below for access to premium content and features.

Create a Web Account

If you are already an ACM member, Communications subscriber, or Digital Library subscriber, please set up a web account to access premium content on this site.

Join the ACM

Become a member to take full advantage of ACM's outstanding computing information resources, networking opportunities, and other benefits.

Subscribe to Communications of the ACM Magazine

Get full access to 50+ years of CACM content and receive the print version of the magazine monthly.

Purchase the Article

Non-members can purchase this article or a copy of the magazine in which it appears.