Our Programs
Leadership Core
Grow in skills, confidence, and competency through this program designed to address the academic support and professional development needed to implement service-learning projects as an undergraduate student. Receive support and feedback from administrators while providing access to learning computing and AI to more students throughout your community/university.
STARS AI Scholars
This is a year-long program open to undergraduate, graduate students, and K-12 teachers to learn the foundational concepts for AI, explore AI based research topics, and lead AI focused outreach for younger students.
STARS Early Research Scholars
A program for undergraduate students to gain hands-on experience in computing and AI education research early on in their academic journey.
STARS Solstice–National Summit and STARS Solstice–Regional Workshops
These are in-person biannual gatherings that offer academic and professional development opportunities to promote persistence in computing, career exploration and workforce readiness. The national summit is designed to address emerging computing topics on a national level while the regional summit is geared towards engagement with locally relevant topics.
Career Mentoring Network
STARS undergraduate students connect one-on-one with computing professionals in fields of interest including AI, quantum, and biotechnology while receiving guidance and mentorship in considering their career paths.
K-12 Partnership Programs
STARS undergraduate students collaborate with regional and national organizations to bring computing education to local schools through outreach efforts designed to inspire K-12 students to participate in computing at every level across disciplinary interests.
Research, Evaluation, and Dissemination
STARS values continuous improvement of programming and evaluates their effectiveness to ensure they are meeting the goals and mission of the organization. We will continue to research by identifying practices that expand computing and AI pathways for students of diverse backgrounds. We will disseminate findings to benefit the broader computing education community.
Programs
Who We Are
A Community of Changemakers in Tech
STARS Computing Core is a national alliance of students, faculty, colleges, and partners working together to broaden participation in computing. We focus on equity, empowerment, and student-driven leadership because we believe the future of technology should be shaped by everyone.
What We Do
We create pathways for persistence and leadership in computing.
Through local campus chapters, national collaborations, and hands-on programs, STARS helps students stay in computing and grow as leaders who care about community as much as code.
We support students who have been historically underrepresented in tech including women, Black, Hispanic/Latino, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, and first-generation students and give them the tools to thrive.
Why It Matters
Computing is shaping the world and those who get to shape computing still aren’t representative of the full range of talent that exists in the field.
STARS is changing that. By developing diverse student leaders, we help transform classrooms, campuses, and career paths into spaces where everyone belongs.
When students feel seen, supported, and equipped, they stay. They lead. They change what’s possible.
Ready to lead in tech and bring others with you?
Whether you’re a student, educator, or industry ally, there’s a place for you in the STARS Computing Core.