Help provide more scholarships to support diversity at Texas Computer Science

As the largest top-10 computer science program in the country, Texas Computer Science is uniquely positioned to tackle head-on the demand for bolstering diversity in tech. The Texas Computer Science Endowment for Change was established to support diversity efforts by funding opportunities for underserved students with a demonstrated passion for computer science. Scholarships through the Texas Computer Science Endowment for Change are available to incoming and current undergraduate computer science students who have participated in The Code Longhorn program or are members of or plan to join the Association of Black Computer Scientists (ABCS), or the Hispanic Association of Computer Scientists (HACS). 

Your Impact

Your gift to the Texas Computer Science Endowment for Change will play an important role in our current and future underserved students' lives by providing them with the crucial financial support needed to overcome barriers preventing them from having access to or completing a computer science degree. No matter the amount, your investment in our students will make a difference by enriching their time on the Forty Acres and empowering talented young women and men from underserved backgrounds who will change the face of the next generation of computer scientists.

The Code Longhorn program provides access to learning opportunities in computer science for underrepresented high school students and aims to pique their interest in computer science before high school graduation.  Once enrolled as a CS major at The University of Texas at Austin, the student organizations ABCS and HACS provide diverse communities where CS students can find support, guidance, and connection throughout their education and well into their careers. The Texas Computer Science Endowment for Change commits to advancing continuous growth in diversity at Texas Computer Science by offering financial support to students from the day that they enroll until the moment they celebrate obtaining their degree from Texas Computer Science. 

Thanks to a generous matching challenge from the Texas Department of Computer Science, you can make your gift to the Texas Computer Science Endowment for Change today and it will be matched 1:1 up to $25,000, doubling your impact! 

About the Texas Computer Science Endowment for Change

The Texas Computer Science Endowment for Change, established on July 15, 2020, will be matched 1:1 by the Texas Department of Computer Science up to $25,000 to provide undergraduate scholarships to students majoring in computer science to students that have participated in Code Longhorn (or a similar or successor program) prior to admission and those who have financial need and are members of or plan to join the Association of Black Computer Scientists (ABCS) or Hispanic Association of Computer Scientists (HACS), both of which are officially registered and recognized University student organizations. The main goal is to expand the support and recruitment of diverse student communities into Texas Computer Science. To achieve this, we will provide financial and programmatic support to current and future underserved students who face social hardship that might inhibit their pursuit of studying in this field. 

About Code Longhorn, HACS and ABCS

Code Longhorn: Code Longhorn is a free, one-week residential camp program for high school underrepresented populations (African-American, Latinx, and Native American students).  It is designed to dispel myths about computer science, intrigue students with the potential of computing and problem-solving.  The camp includes team-building activities, educational sessions, and recreation.  

HACS: The Hispanic Association of Computer Scientists (HACS) is an organization that aims to empower and provide support for Hispanic and Latinx students in computer science through academic, professional, and social development. We partner with companies who value diversity - from interview workshops to tech talks, to office tours - our members have the opportunity to create relationships with company reps that lead to internships and career opportunities.  The HACS mentorship programs foster collaboration between the upperclassmen and underclassmen - members can attend study sessions and always find someone to help when classes become overwhelming or just to hang out with. We understand that computer science can be difficult, especially for those with no prior experience. HACS empowers members to pursue technology-related education and careers and create lifelong friendships.

ABCS: The Association for Black Computer Scientist (ABCS) is a student-led organization that provides mentorship, networking, and opportunities to Black students pursuing an education in computer science. The organization works to build and empower members of Texas Computer Science and the broader Black community to pursue technology-related education and careers. We host many events centered around bridging connections between students and company recruiters that lead to internships and full-time opportunities. We hope to inspire and equip the next diverse generation of thoughtful technologists by uplifting the broader community to learn more about CS opportunities and empowering youth to pursue new and exciting topics in technology.

FAQs

What is an endowment? Endowments are a sound investment in a better future. With an endowed gift, you provide permanent support for the University. Your gift is invested — never spent — and each year a distribution, like dividends on a mutual fund account, is made to your chosen program or area. Investment earnings above the dividend rate help the endowment value grow over time, to keep pace with inflation, and maintain your endowment’s spending power.

Can I utilize my company's match?  YES! Many employers sponsor matching gift programs (Apple, Google, Microsoft, etc.) and will match any charitable contributions made by employees. To find out if your company has a matching gift program, please click here. Tip: You will need to request the matching gift from your employer.

What is a gift matching program? Matching gifts are donations a company, employer, or individual makes to match charitable contributions made to a specific cause.