DMP FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
The objective of the
Computing Research Association's
Committee on the Status of Women in Computing Research (CRA-W)'s
Distributed Mentor Project (DMP)
is to increase the number of women entering graduate studies in the fields
of computer science and computer engineering.
This highly selective program matches promising undergraduate women with a
faculty mentor for a summer research experience at the faculty member's
home institution. Students are directly involved in a research project
and interact with graduate students and professors on a daily basis.
This experience is invaluable for students who are considering graduate school,
providing them with a close-up view of what graduate school is really like
and also increasing their competitiveness as an applicant for graduate
admissions and fellowships.
Since summer 2007,
the
Coalition to Diversify Computing (CDC)
has also managed a DMP program (CDC DMP).
The CDC is a joint organization of the ACM, CRA, and IEEE-CS.
The objective of the CDC DMP program is to increase the number of
men and women from underrepresented groups entering graduate studies in the fields
of computer science and computer engineering.
This program will be similar to the DMP,
but encourages applications from talented undergraduate men and women
from underrepresented groups.
With the CDC DMP, an option exists for the research to take place
remotely, using collaborative technologies such that the student can
remain at his or her home institution with local and remote mentors.
This option includes at least two visits by the student to the
remote mentor's institution.
Information about the Summer 2008 DMP & CDC DMP Programs
Student and mentor applications for the summer 2008
program will open in December 2007 and
will be accepted until February 15, 2008.
There is a common application for both the DMP and
the CDC DMP, and students and faculty mentors can
apply to one or both programs.
The selection process and administration of the two
programs will be handled independently by the CRA-W and CDC,
respectively.
Funding for the student consists of $600 per week for research, plus
relocation travel assistance when appropriate. A student's funding
is intended to cover 10 weeks of research in the summer of 2008, but
alternative arrangements are possible.
Additional funds may be available to support student conference travel,
either during the summer or afterward,
and for outreach activities promoting the DMP.
Note regarding cost sharing by faculty mentors.
The number of students interested in the DMP program has increased
substantially over the last several years and many qualified
students have not been selected due to lack of funding. To enable
more students to participate, faculty are now encouraged to provide
funds to support (partially or fully) students;
the DMP will provide travel support for all students.
Note for faculty mentors regarding the DMP Program.
Male faculty are encouraged to apply as mentors - men have
been serving as DMP mentors since summer 2004.
Based on the number of mentor applications typically received from
female faculty, and the documented benefits of female role models
for female undergraduates, most DMP funds will be allocated to female mentors.
Hence, it is anticipated that male mentors will provide full funding
for their students' stipends (the program will provide travel support).
Note for faculty mentors regarding the CDC DMP Program.
All interested faculty are encouraged to apply as mentors.
However, based on the documented benefits of role models from
similar demographic groups, it is anticipated that most CDC DMP
funds will be used to support students matched with mentors
from underrepresented groups.
Hence, it is anticipated that other mentors will provide full funding
for their students' stipends (the program will provide travel support).
DMP Credits and Sponsors
The DMP was conceived of and is managed by the CRA
Committee on the Status of Women in Computing Research (CRA-W).
The
Computing Research Association (CRA)
is an association of more than 180 North American academic departments of
computer science and computer engineering; laboratories and centers in
industry, government, and academia engaging in basic computing
research; and affiliated professional societies.
A grant from the National Science Foundation and additional support from
AAAI,
the Henry Luce Foundation,
NSF's Partnerships for Advanced Computational
Infrastructure Education, Outreach, and Training program
(http://www.eot.org),
and USENIX support the DMP.
The CDC DMP was piloted in summer 2007.
The
Coalition to Diversify Computing (CDC)
is a joint organization of the ACM, CRA, and IEEE-CS.
Both the DMP and the CDC DMP programs for summer 2008
will be funded in part by a grant from the NSF
Broadening Participation in Computing (BPC) program.
[
DMP Awards & Student Websites 1994-2007
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Accomplishments of DMP Participants
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[
DMP Program Details & Evaluation
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DMP Sponsors
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DMP Resources
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