Faculty and staff resources
Small things you can do right away
Take advantage of our pre-semester syllabus peer review.
- The CS-IDEA committee offers a free peer response service for faculty. Email us your syllabus two weeks before the semester starts for a free peer response with concrete suggestions for IDEA-centric language.
- Also, review the CS-IDEA tips and resources for syllabus creation.
Try one of Cynthia Lee's tips for what you can do at the start of the semester, mid-semester, and end of the semester.
- Cynthia suggests printing out her "What can I do today to create a more inclusive community in CS?" list and taping it on your wall. She has some great, super specific tips organized by time of semester. So, you can do something today, no matter what day it is.
Visit the Faculty Fighting Racism site
Faculty Fighting Racism was created by the Graduate School Diversity Consultation Team as a first step in the process of understanding what it means to be anti-racist.
Teaching
Review the resources and best practices for improving pedagogy
The CS-IDEA committee compiled these resources and best practices for improving pedagogy to help CS&E faculty implement best practices as we regularly review and improve our own teaching methods.
Resources for rethinking and revising CS curriculum
- Maria Klawe's work toward gender parity in computer science and engineering at Harvey Mudd College
- Evan Peck's "Ethical CS" resources for rethinking CS 1
- Lesson Plan ideas from the Equality and Human Rights Commission
Research
NSF Broadening Participation in CS plan resources
- NSF's new BPC plan requirement provides a wonderful opportunity and also raises a number of questions about how to go about writing a plan and how to connect it to our department's plan.
- This is the definitive white paper that makes the case for and describes NSF's BPC pilot effort going on now.
- Additional information and links can be found on the CISE BPC webpage and also in their BPC slide deck.
- Intended primarily for department-level plans, the BCPnet Resource Portal acts as a clearinghouse for departments to partner with relevant organizations.
- When submitting a BPC plan with an NSF grant proposal, PIs can write their own plan or build upon a department BPC plan, adding a page to describe how their own goals and activities link to the department's plan.
- Internal resources for faculty - CS&E BPC Plan
Understanding diversity and responding within CS research communities
A number of CS research communities are doing interesting things around diversity. Below are some links to some successful activities that could be inspirational for your own CS research community whatever that may be. (Note: This is an inspirational, not exhaustive list, and many of the conferences/communities highlighted below are doing multiple great activities.)
- The ACM FAccT conference publishes a detailed Diversity and Inclusion Statement that builds on the conference's strategic plan and highlights innovation happening at the current conference.
- Members of the data visualization research community wrote a book to continue the discussion on diversity started at a recent IEEE VIS panel: Diversity in Visualization, Morgan & Claypool
- ACM CHI maintains a detailed Accessibility FAQ.
- IEEE VR is exploring remote virtual participation to provide alternative ways for people at attend the conference when travel is not an option.
Learn more
Training opportunities available to UMN faculty and staff
- The Office of Equity and Diversity runs a free certificate program. You can see the upcoming schedule and register online to attend all or some of their courses.
- UMN is a member of the Women in Engineering ProActive Network, which provides access to a number of relevant professional development webinars.
National reports, articles, and other links
- The Computing Research Association's main diversity page
- The National Academies report: Assessing and Responding to the Growth of Computer Science Undergraduate Enrollments(contains detailed discussions of diversity)
- 5 Ways to Welcome Women to Computer Science by Janet Davis for The Chronicle of Higher Education, 2019
- Our department also has a strong track record of seeking external support to help our students through programs like the US Dept. of Education's Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need.
More About CS-IDEA committee
- About the CS-IDEA committee
- Broadening Participation in Computing (BPC) plan
- Computer Science Inclusiveness, Diversity, Equity, and Advocacy (CS-IDEA) committee
- CS-IDEA calendar
- Get involved
- Identity-based student groups and resources
- Keller Hall - Accessible and Inclusive Facilities
- Land acknowledgement
- Lind Hall - Accessible and Inclusive Facilities
- Student and post-doc resources