From Awareness to Application: Strengthening Recruitment for NSF S-STEM Scholarships in Computer Science

TL;DR

This paper describes the development and initial evaluation of targeted recruitment strategies to increase NSF S-STEM scholarship applications in computer science, emphasizing early outreach and clear communication.

Contribution

It introduces a suite of targeted recruitment strategies and provides initial evidence of their effectiveness in attracting qualified applicants.

Findings

Information sessions and departmental emails are highly effective.

Early communication and clear eligibility criteria improve application rates.

Streamlined application processes facilitate student recruitment.

Abstract

Recruiting academically strong students into NSF S-STEM scholarship programs remains a persistent challenge in computer science education. This paper presents the design and initial implementation of a suite of targeted recruitment strategies for our NSF-funded project. Our recruitment strategy leverages multiple channels. Information sessions and early outreach efforts were employed to increase awareness and reduce perceived barriers to applying. Data from our recruitment includes applicant demographics, academic performance, financial aid profiles, recruitment source tracking, and survey responses on students awareness and decision-making processes. These data provide a foundation for evaluating the reach and effectiveness of various recruitment strategies and identifying factors that influence student application decisions. Quantitative and qualitative research approaches are employed to examine the implementation and outcomes of proactive recruitment strategies. Our preliminary analysis indicates that direct information sessions and departmental emails are effective recruitment strategies, accounting for a large portion of eligible applications. Our findings emphasize the importance of early communication about the program, clearly defined eligibility criteria, and a streamlined application process. By sharing ongoing progress and lessons learned from our project, this paper contributes evidence-based insights into recruitment practices and offers strategies that can be adapted by other institutions implementing NSF S-STEM programs.