The Maryland Center for Women in Computing

MCWIC photo collage

Mission and Goals

Mission

The Maryland Center for Women in Computing (MCWIC) works to increase diversity in all fields of computing by providing opportunities for individuals who identify as women to engage and contribute to the technical community through research, education, outreach, and partnerships. MCWIC envisions a vibrant community of scholars, researchers, students and others coming together to increase the involvement—and success—of all women interested in earning or currently pursuing a computing degree.

Why support Women in Computing?

  • While women have been at the forefront of many exciting moments in the history of computing only three women have ever won the prestigious Turing Award.
  • According to NCWIT, 57% of all 2020 bachelor's degree recipients were women. Only 22% of all computer and information science bachelor’s degree students went to women. (NCWIT - By the Numbers 2022)
  • At the University of Maryland in Fall 2019, 20% of our undergraduate students are women majoring in computer science. Currently, 48% of the undergraduate students at the university are women.

How Are We Bringing More Extraordinary Women Into Computing?

The Maryland Center of Women in Computing 

  • Supports, educates and mentors women majoring in computing fields at the University of Maryland
  • Collaborates with the K-12 community in order to to encourage all students especially those from underrepresented populations to participate in computing
  • Sustains a vibrant community of scholars, researchers, students and educators working together to increase the involvement—and success—of women interested in earning a computer science and other technical degrees
  • Fosters a supportive, collaborative community for current undergraduate and graduate women studying computing at the university through a dedicated learning and meeting space

Support

The Center is supported by the University of Maryland’s Department of Computer Science, the University’s Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS), and the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences (CMNS). Additional support comes from our corporate sponsors.

Learn more about our specific programs below.

Fall and Spring Semester Outreach Programs

The Maryland Center for Women in Computing host a wide variety of programs to encourage underrepresented populations to pursue computing, and recruit these students to the University of Maryland. You can view more detail about these programs under the outreach tab.
 
  • STEM/Robotics K-12 Outreach (Returning Spring 2021)
  • Weekly Elementary & Middle School Outreach in PGCPS 
  • Ladies Navigate Computer Science- High School Recruitment Event for Women interested in computing
  • Ignite Computing Elementary Workshop at UMD 
  • High School Computing Workshops at UMD
  • Girls Who Code - UMD Chapter
  • Rise Up 4 CS - Maryland
    • Rise Up 4 CS - Maryland helps all high school students who identify as a woman or non-binary pass the Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science A course and exam. You must be enrolled in an AP CS A (Java) during the 2021-2022 school year to apply. 
    • Register at https://go.umd.edu/i4c_FallRegister | Starts October 2021
  • Cyber Girls Ambassadors (Returning Fall 2021)

Slideshow:
Outreach

Girl Scout STEM Outreach

Current Students

Current Students

MCWIC supports women in computing through:
Learn more about our current student support through the current student tab.