Computer Science (UW-L) and Electronic and Computer Engineering Technology (Western)
National Science Foundation S-STEM Scholarships

The Computer Science Department at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse and the Electronic and Computer Engineering Technology Program at Western Technical College has been awarded a National Science Foundation S-STEM grant of $597,000 to support scholarships for full-time students studying computer science and computer engineering technology. The program will award up to 10 new scholarships for the 2010-11 academic year. Students in good standing can renew their scholarships through the 2012-13 academic year.

Students attending UW-L can be awarded up to $10,000 each year. Students attending Western can be awarded up $5,000 each year. Award limits depend on financial need.

Students who complete the electronic and computer engineering technology program at Western with a 3.0 or better average can transfer to the UW-L computer science program through the 2+2 program. Students who transfer as part of the 2+2 program can retain their scholarship and while attending UW-L are eligible for the higher award limit.

The program will also support various cohort activities including travel to a regional conference for each scholarship cohort as well as external speakers and mentors.

Scholarship Qualifications

To qualify for scholarship support students must

• be admitted to the UW-L Computer Science program (UW-L CS) or the Electronic and Computer Engineering Technology program at Western (Western ECET)
• be citizens of the United States, national or refugee alien or permanent resident alien
• obtain a score of 23 or higher on the ACT or complete the ALEKS placement exam for Tech Math 1
• maintain full-time status in the UW-L CS program or the Western ECET program
• make adequate progress toward complete of CS or ECET degree
• demonstrate financial need, defined for undergraduate students by the US Department of Education rules for need-based federal financial assistance..
• participate in scholarship cohort activities (there will be about 1 activity per month)

Application Process

There are three steps to the application process.

1. Complete the online UW-L application available at http://apply.wisconsin.edu
   
   or
   
   Complete Western's online application available at http://www.westerntc.edu/getstarted


2. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) available at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov
3. Complete the Supplemental Scholarship Application available at CS_SSTEM Application

Deadlines for UW-L students

1. Students should apply to UW-L before February 1.
2. Financial aid application should be completed by March 15.
3. Scholarship application should be completed by March 15.
4. The STEM scholarship committee will begin reviewing applications on March 22.

Deadlines for Western students

Deadline extended to May 1st or until all awards have been made.

1. Students should apply to Western before March 15.
2. Financial aid application should be completed by March 15.
3. Scholarship application should be completed by March 15.
4. The STEM scholarship committee will begin reviewing applications on March 22.

For more information please contact the UWL Computer Science department at 608-785-6805 or gendreau@cs.uwlax.edu or contact Western at 608-789-6137 or fancherj@westerntc.edu.

Support for this program is provided by the National Science Foundation through the Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (S-STEM) program under award DUE-0807066. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.