Academic Support
Academic support within the P2SCS program is designed to reduce systemic barriers to success in introductory computer science courses by proactively offering resources, instructional support, and community-based scaffolding.
Equity-Focused Teaching Assistant Support
P2SCS ensures that participating students are paired with teaching assistants (TAs) who are not only academically strong but also representative of the students' own identities and lived experiences. These near-peer mentors model success and offer culturally responsive support that validates student identity while navigating technical content.
Structured, Required Discussion Sessions
Inspired by Supplemental Instruction (SI) models, the program mandates weekly small-group discussion sections facilitated by trained TAs. These sessions offer collaborative opportunities to reinforce lecture content, practice problem-solving, and build academic community. Unlike optional review sessions, these are embedded into the program design.
Free Access to Essential Course Materials
Recognizing the cost burden of textbooks and related material, P2SCS provides students with access to all required course materials. This includes textbooks, coding tools, and access to homework platforms. Removing financial and logistical barriers allows students to fully participate in the academic experience from day one.
Sustainable, Scalable Support Model
By embedding academic support directly into high-enrollment CS1 and CS2 courses, the model becomes scalable to other institutions. It helps faculty recognize and address equity gaps while offering students a predictable structure of academic reinforcement aligned with course expectations.