How the Grantsperson Identity of HBCU Computer Science Faculty Shape Efforts to Broaden the Participation of Black People in Tech

Abstract:A “grantsperson” is a ubiquitous, elusive and debated identity in higher education that describes a person who is proficient in competing for external funding to support research and programs. Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) receive less revenue for computer science research and programs, which could have consequences for national efforts to broaden the participation of Black people in tech. The purpose of this investigation is to explore the grantsperson identity among HBCU computer science faculty and how it shapes the experiences of Black computer science students. This research is based on the findings of focus groups that explored HBCU computer science professors’ experiences with pursuing external funding including factors that facilitated and/or inhibited the process. Participants included faculty with diverse perspectives and institutional experiences representing 15 HBCUs from eight states and the District of Columbia. The findings of this study provided six themes, which can be used to create a profile of an HBCU-based computer science grantsperson.