NSF-funded scholarship program at Appalachian addresses nation’s shortage in math and computer science professionals

A National Science Foundation funded scholarship program at Appalachian State University is helping address the nation’s shortage of math and computer science professionals.

Appalachian’s Department of Computer Sciences has received $459,298 from the NSF to provide scholarships worth $4,000 a year for up to eight semesters of study for undergraduates and up to four semesters of study for graduate students in the computer science and mathematical sciences degree programs.

The department has received approximately $995,000 from the NSF Computer Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Scholarship Program (CSEMS) since it began in 2001.

The department expects to award 30 scholarships each semester beginning fall semester.

“The goal of the program is to increase the number of workers in math, computer science and engineering fields,” said computer science department chairman Dr. James Wilkes.

“The funding for the grant comes from the visa fees U.S. companies pay for foreign workers who are hired to fill vacancies in their businesses,” Wilkes said. “Congress recognized there weren’t enough qualified U.S. citizens to fill the vacancies and used some of the fees to create the scholarship program,” Wilkes said.

Because computer science traditionally has a high attrition, a goal of the program is to help students succeed academically, Wilkes said.

In addition to financial support, students receive mentoring from faculty and from student peers. The mentoring has been a key component of the program.

Dr. Rahman Tashakkori, an associate professor in the Department of Computer Science, coordinates the CSEMS program on campus. He has worked with faculty from the mathematics and computer sciences departments who helped write the NSF grant proposal to develop a required seminar for CSEMS students that facilitates study and mentoring groups, and research and service projects.

“Mentoring affects our students’ lives every day,” Tashakkori said. “But it’s a concept many students may not be familiar with. Our mathematics and computer science students do much better with mentoring. This should start at the middle school and high school levels to achieve a more significant impact.”

Each student in the CSEMS program has a faculty mentor with whom they can talk about coursework or other matters of concern or interest. In addition, upper level students also help mentor students in the program.

“The students know they always have someone they can lean on or who can give them advice,” he said.

Students also are placed on teams in which they work on service and research projects together. And, they are available two hours a week to mentor and tutor other students who may be struggling with math or computer science assignments.

The process builds a sense of community among the scholarship students – from the freshmen to graduate students, Tashakkori said.

A total of 58 Appalachian students have received CSEMS scholarships since the program began in 2001. Of that number, 17 were graduate students or undergraduates who have since enrolled in a graduate program.

The scholarships are awarded based on academic ability and financial need. For more information, contact Dr. Wilkes in the Department of Computer Science at (828) 262-2370 or visit www.cs.appstate.edu/csems.