The Center for Women in Technology

CWIT Scholars

The Center for Women In Technology (CWIT) at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) is pleased to announce completion of the 10th year of the CWIT Scholars Program! The CWIT Scholars Program is a merit-based scholarship program for talented undergraduates majoring in computer science, information systems, business technology administration (with a technical focus), computer engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical/biochemical/environmental engineering, or a related program at UMBC. 

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Apply for CWIT for Fall 2013 (Deadline is January 15, 2013)

What is CWIT?
The Center for Women in Technology (CWIT, pronounced “see-wit”) is dedicated to increasing the representation of women in creating technology and in engineering and information technology fields. CWIT efforts begin with nurturing a strong group of Scholars, grow to building community resources for other women in these majors, extend to fostering a healthy gender climate and ITE pedagogy in College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT) departments, and finally expand into outreach efforts to increase interest in technical careers. A successful program for female-friendly engineering and information technology education at UMBC will help make UMBC a destination for women (and men) interested in technical careers and serve as a national model for other universities. See also: About CWIT.

Scholarship Benefits
CWIT Scholars receive four-year scholarships ranging from $5,000 – $15,000 per academic year for in-state students, and from $10,000 – $22,000 per academic year for out-of-state students, to cover full tuition, mandatory fees, and other expenses. Each CWIT Scholar participates in special courses and activities and receive mentoring from faculty and participating members of the IT and engineering communities. See also: CWIT Scholars Summary.

The Curriculum
In addition to completing their chosen major, CWIT Scholars participate in a series of academic and extracurricular activities designed to foster a supportive community for women in IT and engineering. See also: Model.

• A mentoring program connecting the freshman and sophomore scholars to UMBC faculty in their majors, and junior and senior scholars to successful IT and Engineering professionals;
• Numerous networking opportunities with successful IT and engineering professionals;
• Priority acceptance to live in the CWIT Living Learning Community, which is a floor in a residence hall on campus specifically for CWIT Scholars and other peers in the IT and engineering majors;
• A focused First-Year Experience course all CWIT Scholars and LLC members enroll in during their first semester at UMBC;
• An outreach program for Scholars to mentor middle and high school girls to encourage them to consider a career in IT or Engineering;
• Service-learning opportunities built through UMBC’s strong relationship with area schools;
• An internship program in partnership with the Shriver Center  that will involve premier workforce development opportunities for CWIT Scholars in their junior and/or senior years;
• Leadership opportunities through participation in the CWIT Student Council and other on-campus organizations;
• Two special courses that address gender issues on campus, in the community, and in the workplace; GWST100: An Introduction to Women’s Studies, and GWST352: Women in Science and Technology;
• Monthly meetings with other CWIT Scholars, and various community-building social activities with peers.

The Value of Participation

Graduates of the CWIT Scholars Program can expect to take a leadership role in the IT and engineering workforce to foster the continued growth of women in the field, or they may enroll in a premier graduate program to continue their studies in their area of interest. See also: Results.

Application Procedure

Candidates for the CWIT Scholars Program must complete a separate scholarship application. Two letters of recommendation are required: one from a science or technology teacher and one from someone familiar with the student’s academic work and leadership qualities. A faculty committee will interview finalists. See also: How to Apply.

Application Deadline

For incoming freshmen in Fall 2013, the completed CWIT Scholars application and supporting documents must be submitted to the Scholarships Office by January 15, 2013. Applications are available from UMBC’s Office of Scholarships. Final award decisions will be announced no later than the end of March.

To learn more about the CWIT Scholars Program, please contact CWIT’s Assistant Director, Crystal Diaz (410-455-8076; ) or the UMBC Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships (410-455-3813; ).