CWIT Scholars

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The Center for Women in Technology (CWIT, pronounced “see-wit”) is dedicated to increasing the representation of women and all underrepresented groups, and their allies, in technology and engineering 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 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 inclusive engineering and information technology education at UMBC will help make UMBC a destination for women and their allies interested in technical careers and serve as a national model for other universities. 

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.

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 all students that fosters diversity in IT and engineering.

• 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 students to encourage them to consider a career in computing or Engineering;
• 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 Gender and Women’s Studies, and GWST352: Women, Gender, and Information 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 computing and engineering workforce to foster greater diversity in the field, or they may enroll in a premier graduate program to continue their studies in their area of interest.

CWIT Alumni are employed in organizations such as Booz Allen Hamilton, General Electric, Lockheed Martin, NavAir, and Northrop Grumman; or are participating in Masters and Doctoral programs at The Johns Hopkins University, Northeastern University, UMBC, and the University of Pennsylvania.

CWIT By The Numbers:

• 87% of all CWIT Scholars have either graduated in 6-years or are still pursuing their studies in a IT or Engineering major. The average for all first-time full-time students entering UMBC since 1995 is approximately 62%.
• Since the CWIT Scholars program’s inception in 2002 there have been a total of 218 CWIT Scholars. As of Fall 2020, the average GPA for current CWIT Scholars is 3.54.
• In Fall 2022, there were a total of 67 CWIT Scholars being supported by the CWIT program.

Application Procedure

Candidates for the CWIT Scholars Program must complete a separate scholarship application. Letters of recommendation are optional. A faculty committee will interview finalists.

Application Deadline

For incoming freshmen in Fall 2025, the completed CWIT Scholars application and supporting documents must be submitted to the Scholarships Office by January 15. Applications are available from UMBC’s Office of Scholarships. Final award decisions will be announced no later than the end of March.