Diversity Initiatives and Access

Women in Computing (WiC) is dedicated to expanding the representation of women and gender minorities in computing and preparing women and gender minorities for leadership roles within Computing. Hundreds of women and gender minority students participate in our computing career-focused programs and events each year.

Learn more about Women in Computing

Computing Organization for Multicultural Students (COMS) is devoted to increasing the number of underrepresented students in computing. COMS provides a community to promote a successful graduation rate and helps students prepare for leadership roles within the diverse field of computing.

Learn more about Computing Organization for Multicultural Students

What makes RIT the best choice for deaf and hear-of-hearing computing students? The Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences, in collaboration with the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, is committed to providing deaf and hard-of-hearing students with outstanding access and support services, such as interpreting services, note-taking, real-time captioning, and tutoring/advising.

Learn more about Access and Support Services

NTID also offers individualized pre-baccalaureate programs to help students prepare for specific RIT programs. Contact the NTID Admissions for more information.

NRT-AI: AWARE-AI: AWAREness for Sensing Humans Responsibly with AI

National Science Foundation. Award to RIT: $1,994,676. The budget supports trainee fellowships, educational activities, and subject fees; the program focuses on promoting women, DHH, and AALANA students in STEM.

Learn more on the AWARE-AI website

College of Computing Scholars - ENhancing Growth-mindset Academic Experiences (ENGAgE)

Supports Graduation of Undergraduate Students in Computing," National Science Foundation. The GCCIS ENGAgE Program provides scholarships to academically talented low-income students studying in the Computing and Information Technologies, Web and Mobile Computing, Human Centered Computing, Software Engineering, and Computing Security degree programs.

Learn more on the ENGAgE website

IGM Diversity & Inclusion Task Force

Began June 2nd, 2020 to initiate a more inclusive environment within the IGM department. The task force has developed ACT with an integrity motto and hosted social events, game jams, training, and workshops.

STANDARD: Ethical Approaches to Empower Disabled Graduate Students in STEM

Let by Kristen Shinohara, this project investigates how academic culture and relationships systematically disadvantage disabled students in computing at the graduate level. This project investigates how ableism-the act of privileging nondisabled people over those with disabilities-is an ethical issue that manifests in academic relationships and culture. Ableist culture may contribute to unethical systemic obstacles for achievement at the graduate level, particularly because the graduate experience is shaped by relationships more than curricular requirements typical at the undergraduate level. National Science Foundation. $282,900.

2021 Collaborative Network for Engineering and Computing Diversity (CoNECD )

Led by Margaret Bailey, Naveen Sharma, Lana Verschage, and T. Conlon, this collaborative network is creating an inclusive, vibrant learning environment within a large, software engineering program with experiential learning experiences created for students, faculty, and senior design coaches & sponsors. 2021 Collaborative Network for Engineering and Computing Diversity (CoNECD), Crystal City, VA. January 2021. [under peer review]