eCAMINOS
Scholarships and Portfolios for Engineering Careers in the Southwest
Priority Deadline:
September 15, 2024
Program Overview
Are you a new undergraduate student in the College of Engineering at the University of Arizona (Tucson campus or Yuma campus) in Fall 2024?
Have you completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®)?
The eCAMINOS (engineering pathways) program is designed to support engineering students' aspirations by providing (a) need-based scholarships, (b) resources to develop and maintain their engineering portfolios, (c) dedicated mentorship and advising from faculty, peers, and academic advisors, and (d) access to internships and research opportunities.
Program Benefits
Scholars in the eCAMINOS program will receive the following benefits to ensure successful completion of their engineering degree and placement in an engineering career.
Scholarship: Scholars will receive varying amounts of scholarships up to $15,000 per year based on unmet financial need.
Mentorship: Scholars will receive tailored mentoring through monthly cohort-based workshops (two hours per month)
Internship: Scholars will have access to paid internships in industry or research settings during the third year of their engineering degree.
Stewardship of professional portfolios: Scholars will iteratively develop portfolios to document, reflect on, and disseminate their accomplishments and artifacts.
Leadership: Scholars will receive training in technical leadership through elective courses in the senior year.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the eCAMINOS (engineering pathways) scholarship, scholars must satisfy the following criteria:
Be admitted to the University of Arizona College of Engineering
Be a new undergraduate (i.e., first year) student at the Tucson campus OR a new transfer student at the Yuma campus
Maintain at least half-time enrollment (i.e., a minimum of six units per semester)
Plan to pursue and complete a bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) for every year of participation in eCAMINOS program
Demonstrate financial need after accounting for all other sources of financial aid (as determined by the University of Arizona Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid)
Be a citizen of the United States, permanent resident, national of the United States, or refugee (as defined by section 101(a) or section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act).
Renewal Criteria
To renew the eCAMINOS scholarship annually, scholars must satisfy the following criteria:
Maintain satisfactory progress towards your engineering degree, including: enrollment in core courses as per their plan of study, complying with the campus code of conduct, and maintaining at least a 2.8 grade point average.
Participate in monthly cohort activities
FAQs
Scholarship: FAFSA, scholarship amounts, financial need
Where can I find more information about completing my FAFSA application?
The Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid has a range of resources, including pre-recorded workshops and information in both Spanish and English, here.
What does unmet financial need mean?
Unmet financial need is the amount of money that a student needs to pay for college after financial aid and other resources are taken into account. It is calculated based on information from the FAFSA and the cost of attendance for the College of Engineering at the University. The Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid will determine the unmet financial need for each student.
How will scholarships be disbursed?
Scholarships will be disbursed through the student’s bursar account. Since eCAMINOS is a last-dollar scholarship, the award will apply to any outstanding charges, and the remainder will be processed as a refund.
Mentorship: Program eligibility and benefits
What majors are considered eligible for this scholarship?
Almost all engineering majors are considered eligible. This includes Aerospace, Biomedical Engineering, Biosystems Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Material Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mining Engineering, Optical Science and Engineering, Software Engineering, and Systems Engineering.
The following engineering majors are not eligible for scholarship: Engineering Management, Environmental Engineering
Who will provide mentorship?
You will have a constellation of mentors and advisors to support you through the engineering program, including faculty mentor(s), academic advisor, peer mentor, and a career advocate/coach.
What is the time commitment for the scholars participating in the eCAMINOS program?
On average, you will commit at least two hours per month to professional development and cohort/group activities. The primary activity that will support your growth and success in engineering is developing and maintaining your individual portfolios, which you can choose to do on your own time on a regular basis. We will provide support and resources to help you develop portfolios and use them to your benefit.
What happens if I change my major to one that is not in engineering?
This scholarship program is specifically for promoting engineering careers and therefore, you will not be eligible for this scholarship if you change your major to one outside of engineering. Scholarships will be discontinued beginning in the semester following the change.
Contact
If you have questions about the eCAMINOS program, please e-mail the program directors at ecaminos@arizona.edu.
These materials are based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant #2322673. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.