The Center for Minorities and People with Disabilities in IT (CMD-IT) has opened nominations for the 2018 University Award.   The University Award recognizes a US institution that has demonstrated a strong commitment to increasing the computer science baccalaureate degree production of minorities and students with disabilities through effective retention programs. The 2018 University Award is sponsored by  Microsoft, Inc.  The CMD-IT University Award includes:

• Monetary prize of $15,000
• An award
• Invitation to give an presentation at the Tapia 2018 Faculty Workshop

Award decisions will be based on quantitative and qualitative reporting of results. The qualitative component in the application must include a description of the retention programs in place, as well as details about the unit that awards the undergraduate computer science degree, and details about the institution. The quantitative component must include a five year history of retention data disaggregated by student demographics. 

A confidential report will be produced for each participating institution, including the aggregated data from all participants.   All data will remain confidential.  Past award recipients cannot submit a nomination for up to three years after the award.

Award submissions are due:   June 11, 2018

Submit your Award Nomination

The University Award will be given out at the  2018 ACM Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing, September 19-22, 2018 in Orlando, FL.  

March is Women's History Month.  In honor of Women's History Month we wanted to share a list of organizations and resources that focus on women of color in computing.  We would like to expand this list.  If your organization or an organization that you know is not here, please email us with the name and web link.  We'll publish the updated list next month.

• 10 Black Women Changing the Face in Tech
• The Status of Women of Color in Computer Science
• African-American Women in Computer Science Wikipedia page
• blackcomputeHER
• Latinas in Computing
• Black Women in Computing

It is with great pleasure that CMD-IT extends our heartfelt congratulations to these members of our community who have been honored by our field of computing: 

• David Patterson has received the 2017 ACM A.M. Turing Award.  Dave was the recipient of the 2016 Tapia Award and General Chair of Tapia 2011. 
• Juan E. Gilbert and Manuel Perez Quinones have received the 2018 CRA A. Nico Habermann Award. Juan received the 2013 Tapia Award and Manuel received the 2017 Tapia Award, was Program Chair for Tapia 2014 and leads the CMD-IT University Award program.
• Charles Isbell and Ayanna Howard have been elected or appointed to CRA Board of Directors.  Charles is a member of the CMD-IT Board of Directors and was the General Chair of Tapia 2015 and Ayanna was a Tapia 2011 Plenary speaker.