Vviewpoints
DOI: 10.1145/2133806.2133817
Broadening Participation
improving Gender
Composition in Computing

Combining academic and industry representation, the NCWIT Pacesetters program
works to increase the participation of girls and women in computing.

WhaT GeTs measUred gets done.” Taking this maxim to heart, a group of highly com- mitted member organizations from the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) formed a nationwide U.S. program “Pacesetters.” Twenty-four academic and corporate organizations committed to adding 1,000 “Net New Women” to the U.S. computing talent pool by 2012.

PhotograPhs courtesy oF sit with me

Net New Women are technical women who would otherwise not have pursued or remained in computing careers. These are the women who have little or incorrect information about computing careers; who never experienced an engaging introduction that sparked their interest in computing; who had an interest, but left because no one encouraged them and told them they could succeed in computing; or who switched to a different career after tiring of the isolation or career stagnation they experienced. Understanding the urgency of this situation, NCWIT Pacesetters are creating a model for change that they hope will finally “move the needle,” both within organizations and on a national scale, in real and quantifiable ways.

NCWIT is a rapidly growing coalition of more than 300 corporations, academic institutions, government agencies, and non-profit organizations devoted to women’s full participation in computing (see http://www.ncwit.org).

Representatives from 14 Pacesetters organizations are featured in video stories promoting their results as part of the Sit With me campaign in use by over 300 nc Wit organizations (see http://sitwithme.org/tag/pacesetters/).