Check out the next phase of the NSF LEVEL UP initiative:
NSF LEVEL UP AI
NSF LEVEL UP
Grant No. CNS-2246079 is no longer active. If you are looking for the current active NSF LEVEL UP project, please check out NSF LEVEL UP AI.
Grant No. CNS-2246079 is no longer active. If you are looking for the current active NSF LEVEL UP project, please check out NSF LEVEL UP AI.
NSF LEVEL UP Goal
The goal of NSF LEVEL UP is to build consensus around a united vision of inclusive undergraduate computing education. Through collaboration with a respected advisory board of computing educators and professionals from across the country, the NSF LEVEL UP project will develop an evidence-based report of best practices that computing departments should implement nationwide. CRA will work with our diverse computing community members to chart a pathway that undergraduate computing programs can implement to offer inclusive computing courses and opportunities where all students feel welcome and thrive.
A Collaborative Effort
CRA will lead the shared effort that involves the Association for Computing Machinery, IEEE Computer Society, several National Science Foundation (NSF) Broadening Participation in Computing (BPC) Alliances (including AccessComputing, Computing Alliance of Hispanic-Serving Institutions, CRA-Widening Participation, Expanding Computing Education Pathways, Institute for African-American Mentoring in Computing Sciences, Diversifying LEAdership in the Professoriate Alliance, National Center for Women and Information Technology, and STARS Computing Corps), as well as the Center for Inclusive Computing at Northeastern University.
Let’s LEVEL UP
Computing education continues to face challenges around inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessible learning. Change is possible with a coordinated effort among computing department leaders and faculty. CRA encourages all universities and colleges to “LEVEL UP” and implement best practices that broaden participation in computing. NSF LEVEL UP will build consensus on which BPC evidence-based best practices are vital and should be implemented on a large scale.
Grant No. CNS-2246079 is no longer active. If you are looking for the current active NSF LEVEL UP project, please check out NSF LEVEL UP AI.
The NSF LEVEL UP program will form seven working groups to address seven of computing’s biggest challenges. The following details provide an overview on the discussion that is expected in each working group. Complete plans for the working groups will be finalized by the Advisory Board before the first regional workshop.
Grant No. CNS-2246079 is no longer active. If you are looking for the current active NSF LEVEL UP project, please check out NSF LEVEL UP AI.
To reach our NSF LEVEL UP goals, CRA will hold a series of regional workshops where faculty across the country will meet and build consensus around inclusive computing education.
Join the regional consensus-building workshop most convenient for you. Apply to attend now! Applicants are accepted on a rolling basis. Thus, we encourage you to apply soon (as once a workshop is full, it’s full!).
| Event Dates | Apply By Date | Register By Date | |
| Washington, D.C. | Aug 7-8, 2023 | Passed | Passed |
| Atlanta | Sep 18-19, 2023 | Passed | Passed |
| Chicago | Oct 19-20, 2023 | Passed | Passed |
| Boston | Nov 28-29, 2023 | Passed | Passed |
| Denver | Jan 16-17, 2024 | Passed | Passed |
| Portland | Mar 19-20, 2024 | Passed | Passed |
When you register for an NSF LEVEL UP workshop, you’ll need to choose which working group you would like to participate in (your first and second choice). You can find working group details on the working groups tab.
Keynote Speakers
Each workshop will include an inspirational keynote by a community member who has helped change the face of computing.
Washington, D.C. – Carla E. Brodley
Carla E. Brodley is the Dean of Inclusive Computing and the Founding Executive Director of the Center for Inclusive Computing (CIC) at Northeastern University. Under her leadership, the CIC funds and advises over 80 universities in the United States to remove systemic barriers that prevent women of all races and ethnicities from discovering and persisting in computing. View keynote presentation slides here.
Atlanta – Avis Yates Rivers
As CEO of Technology Concepts Group International (TCGi), Avis Yates Rivers sits at the helm of a multi-million-dollar company that she built from the ground up. TCGi delivers value in 3 pillars–Technology Solutions, Procurement Solutions, and IT Talent Management and Acquisition. She has been a successful tech entrepreneur for over 30 years and is a change agent for increasing the meaningful participation of women and people of color in technology. View keynote presentation slides here.
Chicago – Mark Guzdial
Mark Guzdial is a Professor in Computer Science & Engineering, in Information and Education (courtesy), and the Director of the Program in Computing in the Arts and Sciences at the University of Michigan. He studies how people learn computing and how to improve that learning. He was one of the leads on the NSF alliance “Expanding Computing Education Pathways”, which helped US states improve and broaden their computing education. He is an ACM Distinguished Educator and a Fellow of the ACM. View keynote presentation slides here.
Boston – Kamau Bobb
Kamau Bobb is the founding Senior Director of the Constellations Center for Equity in Computing at Georgia Tech. He is an engineer and science and technology policy scholar whose work focuses on the relationship between equity in the STEM enterprise, large educational systems, and the structural conditions that influence contemporary American life. He brings to his current position a wealth of experience as a former Program Officer at the National Science Foundation (NSF). View keynote presentation slides here.
Denver – Shaundra “Shani B” Daily
Shaundra “Shani B” Daily is the Cue Family professor of the practice of Electrical and Computer Engineering & Computer Science at Duke University and Levitan Faculty Fellow, Special Assistant to the Vice Provosts. Her research focuses on the design, implementation, and evaluation of technologies, programs, and curricula to support diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM fields. She is currently Co-PI of the Alliance for Identity-Inclusive Computing, Education and Workforce Director for the Athena AI Institute. View keynote presentation slides here.
Portland – Lucy Sanders
Lucy Sanders is CEO and Co-founder of the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT). NCWIT is the farthest-reaching network of change leaders focused on advancing innovation by correcting underrepresentation in computing. Lucy has an extensive industry background, having worked in R&D and executive (VP) positions at AT&T Bell Labs, Lucent Bell Labs, and Avaya Labs for over 20 years, where she specialized in systems-level software and solutions (multimedia communication, and customer relationship management). View keynote presentation slides here.
Grant No. CNS-2246079 is no longer active. If you are looking for the current active NSF LEVEL UP project, please check out NSF LEVEL UP AI.
NSF LEVEL UP Workshop Agenda
DAY 1
DAY 2
Workshop Resources
Access Computing – Resource
Alliance for Identity Inclusive Computing Education (AiiCE) – Resource
Center for Inclusive Computing (CIC) – Resource and Carla Brodley’s DC Keynote Presentation Slides
Computing Alliance of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (CAHSI) – Resource
CRA – Widening Participation (CRA-WP) – Resource
Expanding Computing Education Pathways (ECEP) – Resource
LEAP Alliance – Resource
Momentum (Accelerating Equity in Computing and Technology) – Resource
National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT) – Resource
Grant No. CNS-2246079 is no longer active. If you are looking for the current active NSF LEVEL UP project, please check out NSF LEVEL UP AI.
Advisory Board Members for NSF LEVEL UP:
- Nancy Amato, Abel Bliss Professor of Engineering and Department Head (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign), Chair of the CRA Board
- Valerie Barr, Director of the Bard Network Computing Initiative, Margaret Hamilton Distinguished Professor of Computer Science (Bard College), Former Chair of ACM-W
- Carla Brodley, Executive Director of the Center for Inclusive Computing, Dean of Inclusive Computing (Northeastern University)
- Cheryl Calhoun, Provost and VP of Instruction (Arapahoe Community College)
- Tracy Camp, Executive Director and CEO of CRA, Emeritus Professor (Colorado School of Mines), Chair of Advisory Board
- Shani Daly, Professor of the Practice, Levitan Faculty Fellow Special Assistant to the Vice Provosts (Duke University)
- Juan Gilbert, Banks Family Preeminence Endowed Professor and Department Chair (Florida)
- Kinnis Gosha, Hortinius I. Chenault Endowed Division Chair for Experiential Learning and Interdisciplinary Studies, Director of the Culturally Relevant Computer Lab at Morehouse College (Morehouse College), Vice Chair of BPC Alliance Committee
- Mary Hall, Director, School of Computing (University of Utah), CRA Board Member
- Susanne Hambrusch, Professor (Purdue University), CRA-E Member
- Raquel Hill, Chair and Professor (Spelman College)
- Shanika Hope, Director of CS Impact and Outreach (Google)
- Ed Lazowska, Professor and Bill & Melinda Gates Chair Emeritus of the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering (University of Washington)
- Clayton Lewis, Emeritus Professor of Computer Science (University of Colorado Boulder)
- Ran Libeskind-Hadas, Founding Chair of the Kravis Department of Integrated Sciences (Claremont McKenna College)
- Jane Prey, ACM Education Board Advisor (and previous co-Chair), Vice Chair of Advisory Board
- Enrico Pontelli, Dean of AS, Regents Professor, New Mexico State University
- Lucy Sanders, CEO and Co-founder of the National Center for Women & Information Technology, Executive-in-Residence for the ATLAS Institute (University of Colorado Boulder), Chair of BPC Alliance Committee
- Vivek Sarkar, Stephen Fleming Chair for Telecommunications in the College of Computing, Chair of School of Computer Science (Georgia Tech), Co-Chair of CRA-I
- Deborah Silver, Executive Director of Professional Science Master’s Program, Professor (Rutgers University), IEEE-CS Representative
- Laurel Yamaguchi, Program Strategy and Investment Lead (Pivotal Ventures)
LEVEL UP BPC Alliance Committee:
- AccessComputing: Brianna Blaser, Associate Director of AccessComputing
- CAHSI: Ann Gates, Vice Provost, The University of Texas at El Paso, CAHSI PI
- CRA-WP: Susan H. Rodger, Professor of the Practice (Duke University), CRA-WP Co-Chair
- ECEP: Carol Fletcher, Director, Expanding Pathways in Computing, The University of Texas at Austin, ECEP PI
- IAAMCS: Kinnis Gosha, Hortenius I. Chenault Endowed Professor of Computer Science (Morehouse College), IAAMCS Principal Investigator
- LEAP: Valerie Taylor, Senior Scientist, Consortium for Advanced Science and Engineering, University of Chicago, LEAP Alliance PI
- NCWIT: Lucy Sanders, NCWIT Co-Founder and Executive in Residence, University of Colorado
- STARS: Jamie Payton, Chair and Professor of Computer and Information Sciences, Temple University, STARS PI and Executive Director
NSF LEVEL UP is a collaborative effort involving ACM, CRA, IEEE-CS, and several other organizations. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. CNS-2246079. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
