Academic Innovation and New Ventures

Mason students can apply for new digital tech scholarships for minorities and women

Colleen Rich — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 17:03:54 +0000

Mason students can apply for new digital tech scholarships for minorities and women Colleen Rich Thu, 08/05/2021 - 13:03

Illustration by Marcia Staimer/Creative Services

This fall, ��AV students will be eligible to apply for Greater Washington Partnership’s Capital CoLAB Digital Tech Credential Scholarships for Minorities and Women. The scholarships are part of an effort to encourage underrepresented students to gain digital skills.

Over the summer, Capital CoLAB, Greater Washington Partnership’s tech-focused initiative, launched its new $5 million scholarship fund, with a goal of supporting 2,000 students at area universities with $2,500 scholarships each by 2025. Mason is one of 17 area universities where students are eligible. The scholarships are specifically targeting students who wish to obtain their Digital Technology Credential through the College of Engineering and Computing.

Digital Tech Credentials are offered by universities as a way to show employers that students are prepared for roles in the tech arena. In addition, the scholarships will operate on a cohort model, where students who receive funding will connect with each other.

"The cohort of scholars under this new program will be directly connected to their future employers and this support will further validate their decision to undertake the additional coursework to achieve the credentials,” said Liza Wilson Durant, associate provost for strategic initiatives and community engagement and associate dean for strategic initiatives and community engagement at the College of Engineering and Computing. “It is very exciting to see the widespread industry investment in our diverse student community at Mason."

Marc Austin, executive director of Mason’s Professional Education and New Ventures, said that Mason has been involved in the earliest design of the credentialing program.

“We are excited about being able to foster greater inclusiveness and equity through this important and generous scholarship program through the Greater Washington Partnership,” Austin said.

Capital CoLAB is working to encourage women and minorities to join the tech world and to help fill an anticipated annual shortage of 60,000 IT, tech and digital workers through 2025.

“��AV has been a tremendous Capital CoLAB partner since the very beginning, bringing talented and diverse students into the Digital Tech Credential program and always reminding regional employers of the incredible potential workforce that resides in their own backyard,” said Jeanne Contardo, managing director of Capital CoLAB.

Contardo added that the Digital Tech Credential Scholarship recognizes “the strong talent we have in the National Capital Region and signals to diverse students that their talents, energy, and drive are vital to ensuring this region has the most inclusive workforce in the country.”

Interested students should contact Tara Kuhn, project manager for Academic Innovation and New Ventures, at thiggins@gmu.edu.