MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — Penn State Harrisburg has joined the National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT) Higher Ed Learning Circles for Undergraduate Programs, a nationally recognized initiative that supports institutions working to expand access to and improve student success in computing.
As part of the 2025–2026 Learning Circles cohort, a campus team is engaged in a yearlong strategic planning and capacity building program that guides faculty and staff in transforming undergraduate computing pathways through systemic, data-informed approaches.
A limited number of institutions are accepted into the initiative each year, said Roderick Lee, associate professor of information systems in the School of Business Administration and associate professor of human‑centered computing and social informatics in the College of Information Sciences and Technology. This places Penn State Harrisburg among a select group of institutions nationwide that are working to address challenges in computing education, ensure equitable access to artificial intelligence (AI) and computing programs, foster inclusive learning environments, strengthen student retention, and prepare learners for a rapidly changing technology workforce.
“Selection signals that Penn State Harrisburg is one of the institutions leading national conversations about improving computing and AI education,” Lee said. “We are not simply updating a course or adding a program. We are engaging in systemic, research-based planning, applying national standards and best practices, and using tools supported by data to guide long-term improvements. By the end of the program, the campus will have an actionable, strategic plan that shapes computing and AI education for years to come.”
To lead the Learning Circles work, the campus has formed an AI and computing education strategic planning team, which includes faculty from information sciences, computer science, human-centered computing, teacher education, and mathematics, as well as staff in advising, admissions, communications, student engagement, and academic support services.
“This broad collaboration reflects the NCWIT model itself. Sustainable improvement in computing education requires coordinated efforts that extend far beyond the classroom,” Lee said.
The Learning Circles program draws on an NCWIT framework that defines six focus areas essential to student success: program entry; classroom experience; community and belonging; program curriculum and supports; data and evaluation; and institutionalization. The focus areas aim to help institutions examine their systems, identify barriers, and implement evidence-based strategies tailored to their needs.
Participants engage in activities that focus on organizational change, inclusive teaching, data analysis and strategic implementation. By the end of the program, each institution produces a strategic plan that guides curricular innovation and student success efforts.
Penn State is shaping the future of higher education in the age of artificial intelligence. Our focus is on human-centered, ethical AI innovation that delivers meaningful impacts for Penn State and the broader community. Through visionary planning, strategic partnerships, targeted hiring and strategic investments, we will equip every Penn State student, staff and faculty member with the AI-related knowledge, experience and confidence they need to succeed in the AI-powered future. Learn more at psu.edu/ai.