Reframing the Representation of Black Students in Undergraduate Computing

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 1
  In Roundtable Session: An Exploration of Teaching and Learning

Abstract

Existing reports on Blacks in computing often provide mixed messages about how well this population is represented in computing fields. These mixed messages are the result of differing populations and variations in computing definitions. We use data from the National Center for Education Statistics to examine how Black representation in undergraduate computing degree attainment is sensitive to the nuances of field definition, institutional type, and gender. Preliminary findings from this study raise questions about whether deficit-based narratives accurately portray the representation of Blacks in computing.

Authors

• Linda J. Sax, University of California - Los Angeles

• Kari George, University of California - Los Angeles

• Daniel Harris, University of California - Los Angeles