New scholarship helps CECS compete with top schools for student recruitment

In an effort to help recruit high-achieving incoming undergraduate students, the College of Engineering and Computer Science has created the CECS New Freshman Scholarship, which will provide recipients with $7,000 each year, for up to four years.

The college has many scholarships aimed at retaining current students. The new scholarship, part of Dean Houssam Toutanji’s initiative, helps CSUN compete with other top schools in recruiting talented students, and provides significant financial incentives to study at CSUN.

“At the time they need to make a decision to be here or other places, we want to attract them to be here,” said Xudong Jia, associate dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

The College of Engineering and Computer Science plans to award four of the scholarships for fall 2021, Jia said.

The College of Engineering and Computer Science will work with CSUN Admission and Records to screen students currently applying for admission to CSUN as potential candidates for the first scholarship. Candidates will be contacted with an invitation and instructions to apply.

To qualify, an applicant must be a first-time, domestic, freshman, degree-seeking student admitted to CSUN with a cumulative GPA of 3.50 on a 4.0 scale upon admission. The students who meet the criteria will be invited to apply. Applicants must submit an essay that highlights leadership experiences, successes and learning. Up to two letters of recommendation also factor into the decision.

The application deadline is Feb. 15.

Scholarship recipients must be enrolled full-time and maintain a 3.50 grade point at CSUN. They must declare and maintain a major in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences.