In 2020 at Mason, 21% of computer science degrees were conferred to women, the university reported, equal to the national percentage, according to the Computer Research Association’s Taulbee Survey. In the same year at Mason, 7% of computer science degrees went to African American students, and 6% to Hispanic students. Nationally, those percentages were 3.3% and 7.9%, respectively, according the Taulbee Survey.

The department has a broad plan to recruit more women and students from underrepresented groups by recruiting through Mason’s ADVANCE program, creating new programs and actively recruiting from high schools.

Its goals are to increase the proportion of women undergraduate students to 33%; increase the proportion of Hispanic and African American undergraduate students to 30%; and double the number of female and Hispanic and African American undergraduates engaged in research.

Mengistu started Minorities in Computing in March.

“One of the long-term objectives is to look for internships and scholarships for these minority students,” he said. “But one thing we have to keep in mind, this is a student organization by them and for them.”

Natnael Haile, the organization’s president, said outreach will include speaking to high school students, and using video and social media to get the word out about what computer science can bring to minority communities.

“I wanted to get involved because representation in the minority community is very important to me,” the junior said. “I’m very much that person who strives to have that inclusion in our campus, and having that diversity and inclusion in whatever field it might be.”

Yaddanapudi, the organization’s secretary, concurred.

See article in George: https://www2.gmu.edu/news/591281