Title: An understanding of factors influencing retention of African-American undergraduate students in computer science

Authors: Giti Javidi; Ehsan Sheybani

Addresses: Information Technology, University of South Florida Sarasota Manatee (USFSM), 8350 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34243, USA ' Information Systems and Decision Science, University of South Florida Sarasota Manatee (USFSM), 8350 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34243, USA

Abstract: This paper describes factors that best predict intention among African-American undergraduate students to persist in the computer science (CS) major at two historically black colleges and universities (HBCU). The question posed in this study is: How might universities promote the attainment of African-American students in CS? To answer that question, we believe the right question to ask is "Why do those students who succeed in attaining a degree in CS, select and stay in the program?" rather than "Why do they drop out of CS program?" We explore this question by examining characteristics of African-American students who persist in the CS field. Although limited to two HBCUs, this study sheds light on strategies for improving retention computer science based on the characteristics/experiences of those who have persisted in the program.

Keywords: STEM; science, technology, engineering and mathematics; persistence; African American; retention; minority; computer science; enrolment.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIIE.2017.086806

International Journal of Innovation in Education, 2017 Vol.4 No.1, pp.66 - 78

Received: 10 Apr 2017
Accepted: 20 Jul 2017
Published online: 26 Sep 2017 *

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