The tech workforce faces an extensive talent gap. More and more companies are struggling to fill roles, amplified by outdated hiring practices and the continued acceleration of the Great Resignation. While the tech industry continues to adapt and adjust, one thing we know for certain is that creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce plays a fundamental part in encouraging new talent to join our industry.
When we founded Springboard, our ambition was to transform lives through high-quality, accessible education. Over the years, as we grew to become a key talent pipeline for leading tech companies, we realized that Springboard also has the ability to shape the makeup of the tech workforce of the future. The state of the tech industry shows us that there’s more work to be done in the area of diversity and inclusion: women are severely underrepresented in executive roles, and employees frequently report discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, and more.
It’s time to commit our resources to help make much-needed changes across the tech industry, and turn opportunity into action.
Today, I’m proud to announce that we’re launching the Springboard Inclusion Scholarship Program, an initiative aimed at increasing access to Springboard’s career-transforming learning programs to support equal opportunities for underrepresented talent and needs-based individuals. The Inclusion Scholarship Program will start with an initial commitment from Springboard of $10 million in scholarship funds through the year 2030, anchored by a series of new scholarship offerings, ranging from partial, half, and full-tuition scholarships. We have also formed a coalition of like-minded, DEI-committed organizations to expand the reach and impact of the program.
The scholarship funding is just one part of our commitment. We know that for this program to have its intended impact, we must commit to measuring and reporting our progress. To hold ourselves accountable, we’ve established the following targets for the diversification of our student body by 2030:
- A commitment to increase enrollment of students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups to 40% of the student body by 2030, surpassing the estimated 2030 national averages for the US demographic
- A commitment to maintain our current 50% enrollment level of women and gender nonconforming students
We know this is an ambitious commitment, but as a leader in our industry, it’s our responsibility to pave the way. And while we’re setting the table, nothing would make us happier than having our peer schools join us in this commitment.
Earlier this month, we published our most recent outcomes data in an effort to lead with transparency as we establish these new targets. We want prospective students to make informed decisions—information is power, and students deserve nothing less. Our industry does a disservice to students if we use opaque reporting metrics that create more confusion than clarity. We’re proud of our student outcomes and job placements, and as we work toward improving equal opportunity for students from all backgrounds, we’re committed to showing the value of our programs unambiguously.
We look forward to expanding the reach and impact of the Inclusion Scholarship Program over the coming years and creating a better future for the tech workforce.
Head over to our scholarships page for more information about the new offerings and eligibility requirements, and reach out to us if you’re a mission-aligned company interested in learning how you can help us double the $10 million commitment by 2030.
