CSEMS was part of a nationwide program mandated by Congress to increase the number of students electing a career in technology or mathematics. This program, funded by and NSF grant from fall 2002 through Spring 2007 is now sponsored by the Suffolk County Legislature. It supports scholarships for academically talented students, enabling them to enter the high technology workforce following completion of an associate, baccalaureate, and/or graduate level degree specifically in computer science, computer technology, engineering, engineering technology, or mathematics.
The CSEMS program emphasizes the importance of recruiting students to high technology disciplines, monitoring and supporting students through degree completion, and partnering with industry to facilitate student career placement in the high technology workforce. Student eligibility is determined soley by academic merit.
CSEMS scholarship funds may be used for expenses included in the institution's Cost of Attendance as calculated according to U. S. Department of Education guidelines. It is expected that scholarship recipients will receive an associate degree in one of the CSEMS disciplines and/or transfer from an associate degree program in one of the CSEMS disciplines. CSEMS grants may be made for up to four years and provide individual scholarships of $3000 per year.
CSEMS scholarship recipients must be enrolled full time in one of SCCC's computer science, computer technology, engineering, engineering technology, or mathematics degree programs. Enrollment must be full-time for each semester a student receives a scholarship. Recipients must demonstrate academic potential or ability as evidenced by at least a 3.00 GPA in their major.
The Suffolk County Legislature and CSEMS team at SCCC are primarily interested in using these scholarships to help students reduce their working hours. The scholarship money should be used as a source of funds that allows the scholar to spend more time on academic work. This will be reflected in higher graduation success rates and a shorter time to graduation. Suffolk's goal is to help students finish the foundation of their education and get into the high-tech work force as soon as possible. In addition to the scholarship awards, the college monitors each student's academic progress and stands ready to provide any academic help he or she needs. To facilitate this support, SCCC assigns a mentor who is knowledgeable in the major of each scholar. Students connect with their mentors whenever the need arises. Each SCCC CSEMS scholar is part of a national effort to make the American high technology workforce as competitive as any in the world.