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Approach
BFOIT’s programs are built upon a "branching-but-leaky
pipeline" model. In this, we acknowledge that a young adult
interested in a career may choose from a range of educational opportunities.
However, along this path there are several key points where many
students fall from this course. To this end, we work to shepherd
a relatively small number of students through this, while developing
programs that aim to patch these leaks in the pipeline in the most
cost-effective manner. Consequently, BFOIT’s programs are interconnected
and will serve a distinct body of students through their college
years. The programs develop potential college students, recruit
them into the schools, and work to increase student retention and
graduation.
BFOIT’s programs serves a distinct body of students through
their pre-college and college years with services that are comprehensive,
interconnected, and hands-on. BFOIT provides high tech training,
career advice, and educational assistance to potential female and
minority college students, including summer institutes for high
school students, admissions application reinforcement, and free
SAT preparation classes. We then follow-through by recruiting
promising students into the schools and developing a network of
undergraduate support that increases student retention and graduation.
Thus, the approach of BFOIT is to develop a pool of committed students
by building relationships. These students are matched to appropriate
institutions and guided through the learning process from late high
school to graduation from a tertiary institution. BFOIT’s programs
addresses two barriers to underrepresented groups pursuing education
and careers in information technology:
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First, education experts have identified lack of self-confidence
as a primary deterrent among minority high school students
considering a high tech education. Many of these youth
— a number of whom have come from disadvantaged home-lives
— do not believe that studying computer science at a
major university is a viable, realistic option for someone
of their background.
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Second, once women and minorities have begun their education
in computer science, too many leave the field or, even worse,
drop out of school. BFOIT develops cost-effective programs
that aim to patch "leaks" in the educational pipeline,
while shepherding a relatively small number of students through
their post-secondary education. Once the students have graduated
with a degree in computer science, they are empowered to achieve
success as well as become a role model for future students.
Population
The demographics of California computer science undergraduates remain
unacceptably narrow. A large pool of talent is being missed
because of this facet of the “digital divide,” in which
a substantial percentage of the state’s population is underrepresented
in the student bodies of our leading public colleges and universities.
The students served by BFOIT are Bay Area high school and college
students who are members of groups traditionally underrepresented
in computer science fields. The cultural and social backgrounds
of these students are quite diverse. These young men and women are
intelligent students who show an interest in computer science. Thus,
they have the potential to be the economic and technological leaders
of the near future. However, most face social and economic barriers
to pursuing a career in information technology. The often-neglected
potential of these students provides an opportunity for us to help
narrow the digital divide. Consequently, BFOIT’s programs provides
a range of support services in order to increase their chance of
success.
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