The Department of Computer and Information Science of the Ohio State University (OSU) sponsors a number of awards and programs for women and minority students. These programs are designed to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in all of our degree programs and to create a departmental environment in which all students can thrive and succeed. The programs address a student's progress from undergraduate study through to employment.

These programs are made possible by the financial support of the GE Foundation. The GE Fund Faculty For the Future program seeks to increase the number of female and minority faculty members in engineering and the physical sciences who will serve as role models. GE is committed to ensuring that the United States remains competitive by helping to develop a capable, highly educated, and diverse work force. The grant terms define underrepresented minorities as US citizens or permanent residents who are African American, Hispanic, Native American or female. Award recipients must be underrepresented minorities enrolled in or admitted to OSU's Computer & Info Science Department. In all the programs, the department tries to achieve a balance between women and racial minorities receiving the awards.

Prof. Renée J. Miller leads these efforts. For further information on any of the programs, see

Summary of Programs

• Undergraduate Research Opportunities To overcome barriers to undergraduate mentoring, this program provides funding for undergraduates to become involved in faculty led research projects. Recognizing that successful mentoring requires initiative and commitment by faculty members, this program also provides incentives for faculty to establish and sustain long-term mentoring relationships with undergraduate students. Awards pay undergraduate research stipends and also provide the faculty mentor with research funding for the proposed project. The competition for these awards is held in early fall quarter.

• Graduate Assistantships Graduate assistantships provide opportunity and incentive for students to pursue graduate study and ensure a growing, healthy community of women and minority students within the department. Two assistantships are available. The awards pay tuition, fees and graduate stipends. The initial call for applications is announced in the fall quarter and decisions on the awards made in late winter or early spring quarters.

• Academic Enrichment Seminar for Graduate Students The seminar is facilitated by an advanced PhD student, trained in mentoring and teaching strategies, and focuses on developing study and research skills. Our goal is to recognize and address differences in the background and training of minority students early in their careers to ensure that such differences are not barriers to their continued academic success. The seminar TA also provides one-on-one tutoring and mentoring for women and minority students.

• Forgivable Loans For promising women and minority students interested in academic positions, forgivable loans provide funding for PhD study to supplement standard teaching and research assistantships. The goal is to ensure that monetary concerns are not a barrier to students making the long-term commitment required by a PhD. The competition for these awards is held in the winter quarter.

• Faculty Coupons To help ensure the success of our women and minority students in their academic careers, the program will provide faculty coupons that may be used to start an academic program or lab. The goal is to ensure students are provided the resources to establish successful academic careers. The competition for these awards is held in the winter quarter.

In addition to the formal programs, the department sponsors WICS (Women in Computer Science) an informal group that provides an opportunity for our female faculty, staff and students to socialize and interact. WICS meets several times quarterly for potluck receptions, pizza parties and talks. WICS maintains an email list and web site for members. We currently have three women faculty who are all very active in WICS.

The department is very supportive of women's events and provides cost sharing for women to attend technical conferences and for such events as the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing and the CRA mentoring workshops for women.