Drexel University’s College of Computing & Informatics (CCI) was highlighted in a recent article from Technical.ly Philly about how Philadelphia area universities are diversifying the STEM field.
Drexel CCI Dean & Isaac L. Auerbach Professor Yi Deng, PhD told Technical.ly Philly that the College’s Black and Latinx population accounts for 11 to 12 percent of undergraduate enrollment. Those numbers are congruent with peer universities, however, there is still work to be done as the College is in the early stages of a five-year racial equity overhaul.
For the last five years, CCI has increased the number of women enrolled in and placed into tech careers from the College. This effort was helped by initiatives such as implementing new recruiting practices, improving the College’s messaging, training faculty and professional staff, engaging local high school students and working closely with industry partners. In addition, the College has added nearly 100 scholarships for women students each year since the Diversity in Tech Initiative began in 2017.
The recent establishment of the CCI’s inaugural Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council – comprised of faculty, students, and professional staff and led by Assistant Dean, Operations & Faculty Affairs and CCI’s Diversity Officer, Marie Fazio – has also helped to uphold a more welcoming, supportive, respectful and inclusive environment.
According to Deng, the College’s enrollment of undergraduate women students increased from 10.5 percent to 14 percent over the last five years; the goal is to continue growing to 20 percent or higher.
“We’re not done yet. There’s still a long way to go,” Deng said. “But we made a notable improvement.”
Read more on Technical.ly Philly's website.