Scholarship FAQs
Yes. With a few exceptions, you must be a declared major in one of our departments or programs to be eligible to receive a CSE scholarship. Our departments and programs are:
Some scholarships allow for majors outside of the college to apply, but these students must be declared majors in the applicable programs. Scholarships with these exceptions include the Barbara Ellen Maguire-Veith Scholarship, Marion Van Nostrand for Single Parents, and the STEM Empowerment Scholarship.
Undeclared majors may be eligible for the Arthur and Doreen Parrett Fund.
If you are unsure if your major program is eligible for a scholarship, please email us.
No, each department offers scholarships as well. Please visit their webpages for more information.
No, only students who intend to enroll in undergraduate courses in the fall are eligible to receive an undergraduate summer research award.
No, but you are eligible for graduate academic scholarships. Scholarships that are available to graduate students include the Alma Clark Glass Scholarship For Science, Technology, Engineering, And Mathematics, Barbara Ellen Maguire-Veith Family Scholarship, Mickey and Carole Ghio Science Scholarship, and Robert L. Hamilton Family Graduate Scholarship in Science.
Students have demonstrated financial need if they qualify for a minimum of $1 in financial aid through FAFSA or WAFSA.
Yes, in most cases, you will apply through the application form. Some departments prefer a different internal process, so it is best to check with your department before submitting your application to CSE.
The process for department-nominated scholarships is unique to self-nominated scholarships. Here is what the department-nominated process looks like:
- Students will submit applications through the online portal.
- All student applications will be sent to departments to review.
- The departments will choose a single candidate as their scholarship nominee.
- The departments will send their nominee's application to the scholarship committee for review.
- The scholarship committee will award the scholarships by selecting recipients from the nominee pool.
The process for self-nominated and department-nominated scholarships begins the same. In most cases, all students, regardless of scholarship type, will submit their application form through the online portal. Some departments prefer a different internal process, so it is best to check with your department before submitting your application to CSE.
Self-nominated scholarship application will then be reviewed by the scholarship committee. At this time, award recipients will be chosen.
Department-nominated scholarship applications will be reviewed in the following steps:
- All student applications will be sent to departments to review.
- The departments will choose a single candidate as their scholarship nominee.
- The departments will send their nominee's application to the scholarship committee for review.
- The scholarship committee will award the scholarships by selecting recipients from the nominee pool.
Applications are due at 11:59pm of the deadline. Our webforms do not close automatically, so if you are having trouble uploading documents through the webform, you will have a few minutes of grace to submit all materials. If the webform will not submit, please email your materials to cse@wwu.edu.
If you are unable to attach your files to the application form, there are a few options you can try:
- Reduce your file size.
Large files will have a harder time uploading to our site. Try reducing the file size and re-attempt upload to our site.
- Send your materials directly to cse@wwu.edu.
All materials can be sent to directly to our office’s email. If you cannot submit your application form without uploading the file(s), please copy and paste all the relevant application information (i.e. name, W#, expected graduation date) into your email along with your file attachments.
You may send your letter of support to the student directly for them to upload through our website application portal with the rest of their application OR you may send your letter directly to the dean’s office at cse@wwu.edu. The dean’s office will ensure the letter is attached to the appropriate application.
No, you do not need to write multiple letters of recommendation, but your letter must address all requirements of the scholarship. For example, letters of recommendation for the Kohlmeier Mikulencak summer research award should mention the student’s neurodivergence and how they have successfully managed it.
Yes, faculty letters of support are due by the official scholarship/summer research award application deadline.