ABSTRACT
This paper discusses the recognized need for an organization focused on serving students from underrepresented populations in the computing field at Texas A&M University, describing the formation of the Aggie Hispanics in Computing group. In 2016, the combined undergraduate and graduate Hispanic enrollment in computer science and computer engineering at Texas A&M University initially sat at 17.9% and then decreased to approximately 11.76% in 2021, with undergraduate Hispanic enrollment in computing reduced from almost 22% to under 15% in that same time frame. This significant shift in Hispanic student representation spurred the development of the Aggie Hispanics In Computing (AHIC) student organization to create a computing community that provides support around the shared experiences of being part of a minority group in an even less diverse discipline. The university, overall, was recently recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, but the College of Engineering remains a predominately-white institution. This new organization is not the only Hispanic-serving organization at Texas A&M University;rather, it was designed to focus particularly on serving Hispanic students in the computer science and computer engineering disciplines at Texas A&M University. The organization was founded during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Since then, AHIC has grown significantly in membership, financial support, and activities to increase the representation of Hispanic students within the computing disciplines at Texas A&M University. The organization has grown from 6 to over 50 members from various majors in the past year alone. AHIC has also received financial support from a multitude of companies, such as General Motors and Chevron. AHIC's overall goal is to create a supportive community for minorities in computing fields. This community has grown through hosting events that provide information and resources about professional career opportunities, technical workshops, mentoring programs, and participation in research groups. AHIC has also initiated several long-term initiatives, such as peer-teaching for introductory computer science courses. AHIC's promotion of career-guidance events (where company representatives and alumni provide advice for currently enrolled students) proved to be an effective strategy for recruiting members. The organization has also hosted seminars and workshops educating first-year students on new computing skills and the opportunities that a computer science and computer engineering degree can provide. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2022.