A Framework For Discussing Black Student Threats to Belonging in Computer Science

The number of Black high school students who are exposed to technology and computing has increased significantly due to legislative efforts and the work of nonprofits organizations. Unfortunately, exposure to computing does not guarantee a relative increase in the graduation rates of Black undergraduate computing majors if the systemic barriers to retention that represent threats to belonging in Computer Science are not properly addressed. This paper describes a theoretical framework for understanding historically marginalized student's threats to belonging in computing by looking at how the interactions between social, psychological and environmental factors that exist can lead to decisions to stay in or leave the field.