Georgia Tech expands computer science recruiting program

By Laura Diamond

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Georgia Tech received a $1.4 million federal grant to continue a program to increase interest in computer science.

The award from the National Science Foundation is a follow-up to a grant the university received from the group a few years ago to start “Georgia Computes!” That statewide program targets people who are typically underrepresented in computer science, including minorities, women and people with disabilities.

Officials at the university’s College of Computing said the next phase of the program will increase teacher education efforts in the area of computer science.

Using the previous federal grant, college officials created summer computing campus, worked with high schools to increase the number of college-level Advanced Placement computer science classes offered and launched other initiatives to drum up interest in the subject area.

Other states, including Alabama, Florida and Illinois, have developed similar programs using Georgia Computes! as a model, officials said.