PATHS Scholarship Program

Mines is a public university devoted to engineering and applied science, with the highest admissions standards of any public university in Colorado and among the highest of any public university in the U.S. Mines ranked #1 in the 2015 USA Today list of “top 10 engineering colleges in the U.S.” and 38th in the 2015 US News and World Report “Top Public Schools” ranking. Learn more at: http://inside.mines.edu.

The fastest growing program at Mines is Computer Science (CS). CS@Mines prepares tomorrow's leaders to bring the computational power and thinking of computer science to all fields of engineering and science, as well as business, medicine and entertainment. Learn more at: http://cs.mines.edu.

Path Ambassadors to High Success (PATHS) is a scholarship program created and managed by a collaborative Mines leadership team with funding from the National Science Foundation. PATHS offers an exciting opportunity for academically talented, low-income students in Colorado to study Computer Science (CS) at Mines. Through a process open to all graduating high school students and community college transfer students in Colorado who meet the eligibility criteria, PATHS creates new and strengthens existing pathways for economically challenged, high-potential CS students to attend and thrive at Mines. In addition to financial awards, PATHS empowers students through on-campus communities that provide a spectrum of activities, support services, career guidance, and university resources to encourage scholars through successful completion of an undergraduate degree. PATHS especially seeks worthy scholars from groups underrepresented in CS and STEM fields, generally, by ethnic/cultural heritage, gender, etc. PATHS anticipates selecting 10-20 incoming freshmen and/or transfer students as PATHS Scholars annually through the application process. Click here be directed to the application.

Each student selected to become a PATHS Scholar will receive a scholarship toward Mines tuition, fees, and expenses. While exact amounts may vary depending on each scholar's circumstances, an average PATHS Scholarship award will be approximately $5,000 annually. In rare cases, the maximum award may be up to $10,000 per year. PATHS Scholarships are "stackable" with other financial aid, and individual award levels are determined in consultation with the Mines Financial Aid Office, which coordinates awards, grants and aid available to each student from all sources.

Every PATHS Scholar who meets the program standards will be eligible to renew annually, with the expectation that they will continue to be funded at the same annual monetary award level each year through Mines graduation, up to a maximum of four (4) academic years (8 semesters). PATHS awards may be extended beyond 8 semesters only with good cause shown through an appeal process, in the sole discretion of the PATHS leadership team.

Yes. PATHS Scholars can accept financial assistance from other sources. The Mines Financial Aid Office is available to answer specific questions about your individual situation by email at finaid@mines.edu or by phone at 303-273-3301.

PATHS might make sense for you, depending on your overall academic and career interests. PATHS Scholars will pursue a major in CS. Scholars who are uncertain about their precise plans in CS can pursue a major in any of the several available CS Major Focus Areas. The focus areas allow you to combine core CS learning with concentrated coursework in, for instance, data science, computer engineering or robotics and intelligent systems. You can complete core CS classes early on during your studies at Mines, which will give you time to explore and determine which of the several available CS Major Focus Areas best suits your individual interests. The choice of focus areas allows students to develop expertise that extends to careers beyond CS that they ultimately may decide to pursue.

To apply for a PATHS Scholarship, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• US Citizen, Permanent Resident, National or Refugee
• Resident of Colorado
• Incoming freshman or community college transfer, accepted by Mines Undergraduate Admissions
• Unmet financial need demonstrated though FAFSA process

Students who meet the above standards and identify as part of any group(s) historically underrepresented in STEM fields are highly encouraged to apply for a PATHS Scholarship.

No. The only citizenship that impacts your eligibility is your own.

Yes. A fundamental purpose of the PATHS program is to cultivate CS studies at Mines among high-potential, low-income students who live in Colorado.

While academic achievement is a factor in the selection process, PATHS does not impose a minimum GPA requirement from your current school for you to be eligible to apply. Indeed, the PATHS Scholarship Application allows you to share with the selection committee any circumstances or challenges that may have impacted your grades or involvement in school/community activities.

Yes, home schooled high school seniors are welcome to apply for a PATHS Scholarship if they are interested in a CS major, enjoy outreach and mentoring activities, and meet the PATHS eligibility standards (citizenship status, CO resident, admitted to Mines as a full-time student, and have unmet financial need).

No. PATHS supports undergraduate students in pursuit of their first Bachelor’s degree within one of the several CS Major Focus Areas available through the Mines CS Department. Those students who previously have earned an undergraduate Bachelor’s degree in any field of study from any institution are ineligible.

“Demonstrated financial need” is determined through completion of the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) process. Specifically, financial need is determined by subtracting the calculated Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the Cost of Attendance. A positive number reflects the amount of financial need the family may have. The lower the EFC, the higher the financial need. If family circumstances are different from what was reflected on the FAFSA, please contact the Financial Aid Office at finaid@mines.edu. Demonstrated financial need is a core component of the PATHS selection process.

PRIORITY APPLICATION DEADLINE:

11:59PM MST on January 31, 2019

PATHS welcomes scholarship applications from eligible graduating high school seniors and students who have completed one or two years of community college in Colorado, who have been accepted to and plan to attend Mines full-time, and who listed in their Mines application an expressed interest in majoring in CS. To meet the Priority Application Deadline, eligible PATHS applicants must submit all application materials on or before the Priority Application Deadline of 11:59PM MST on January 31, 2019.

Eligible students who have an expressed interest in majoring in CS, and who are not accepted to Mines in time to apply to PATHS by the Priority Application Deadline of January 31, 2019 may apply for a PATHS Scholarship with an Extended Application Deadline of March 1, 2019. PATHS will consider on a funds-available basis applications submitted under the Extended Application Deadline. For that reason, interested students are encouraged to apply and complete the Mines admissions process as early as possible in order to receive a decision early enough to apply for a PATHS Scholarship by the Priority Application Deadline of January 31, 2019.

Your PATHS Scholarship Application will be considered successfully submitted only thru your applicant portal. You will receive email confirmation when your PATHS application is complete.

PATHS encourages all eligible admitted students to apply at their earliest possible opportunity. Your completed application must be submitted by the Priority Application Deadline of January 31, 2019 to guarantee consideration by the selection committee.

Students with expressed interest in a CS major who are admitted to Mines and meet the PATHS eligibility criteria after January 1, 2019 may be considered for a PATHS Scholarship in the discretion of the selection committee on a funds-available basis after consideration of all Priority Applications. Eligible students who apply to PATHS after January 31, 2019 must submit their completed PATHS Scholarship Application by the Extended Application Deadline of March 1, 2019.

Information from the FAFSA process will enable the Mines Financial Aid Office to provide accurate information to the PATHS selection committee. Please complete your FAFSA documents as early as possible.

For all students who apply to PATHS by the Priority Application Deadline, the FAFSA must be submitted and received at Mines by the PATHS Priority Application Deadline of January 31, 2019. The process takes approximately 3-5 business days, so the Mines Financial Aid Office suggests that you do it as soon as possible. The FAFSA form is available for completion as of October 1, 2018. Please complete the FAFSA online at https://FAFSA.ed.gov.

The FAFSA can be completed online at https://fafsa.ed.gov/ starting October 1st of each year. It is important to note that the FAFSA must be completed each year you are attending Mines. See step-by-step instructions to submit your FAFSA to Mines Office of Financial Aid at https://inside.mines.edu/Apply-for-Financial-Aid_1.

PATHS cannot provide advice on FAFSA completion and recommends that you get needed guidance directly from the source. Please contact the staff of the Mines Financial Aid Office for assistance by email at finaid@mines.edu or by phone at 303-273-3301. They will be happy to help you.

You will receive confirmation once you have completed the PATHS Application through the Applicant Portal. If you believe that you have submitted your application but have not received confirmation, please inquire by email to paths@mines.edu. Please ensure that you get confirmation of successful receipt of your application prior to the relevant application deadline.

The PATHS selection committee will use a holistic approach to consider all applications submitted, based upon the following selection criteria:

• Academic achievement, especially in science & math
• Well-formed academic/career goals that include CS
• Demonstrated maturity and motivation to succeed
• Interest in K-12 outreach efforts
• Leadership or work experience
• Financial need demonstrated through FAFSA

Your essay responses should address these selection criteria, especially your academic/career goals and interest in outreach.

The selection committee will consider all PATHS Scholarship Applications submitted by the Priority Application Deadline of January 31, 2019 to make its initial selection of PATHS Scholars. The committee will notify priority applicants of decisions no later than March 2019. If funds remain available after consideration of all priority applications, the committee may consider later-accepted students with an expressed interest in a CS major who apply to PATHS by the Extended Application Deadline of March 1, 2019.

The PATHS Application asks you to provide the name and contact information of someone who can recommend you to become a PATHS Scholar. Please select someone who has worked closely with you and can address specifically how your attributes match the listed selection criteria. A science or math teacher who has interacted with you directly through coursework during a recent academic year is an example of a good choice, although any teacher who knows you well is suitable. Alternatively, your recommender can be an employer, an activity sponsor, a mentor in the community, or any other person (age 21 or older and not a member of your family) who can communicate effectively why you would be a worthy candidate for a PATHS Scholarship. Consider the scholarship selection criteria listed in the immediately preceding FAQ response above, and choose a recommender who is best positioned to provide specific examples that describe your applicable talents, achievements, interests and characteristics.

Please inform your recommender that PATHS may contact recommenders by phone or email during the selection process.

PATHS Scholars are highly encouraged to renew annually for continued funding and to participate actively in the PATHS program consistently as they pursue an undergraduate degree in Computer Science at Mines. PATHS Scholarships are renewable for a maximum of 8 semesters, through senior year at Mines, with a process to extend funding beyond 8 semesters in particular cases for good cause in the sole discretion of the PATHS Leadership Team.

To renew your PATHS Scholarship, you must fulfill the following ongoing responsibilities:

• Maintain a minimum 2.75 GPA at Mines.
• Take Mines courses toward a major in CS, pursuing one of the four available CS Major Focus Areas.
• Pass a minimum of 24 credit hours/year (Fall + Spring).
• Participate in all required PATHS cohort activities.
• Complete periodic PATHS evaluation surveys.

If a PATHS Scholar fails to meet a standard listed above, there is a process to seek renewal on a probationary basis, which will be granted only in appropriate situations in the sole discretion of the PATHS Leadership Team. Students who are selected as PATHS Scholars and who subsequently decide not to pursue a major in Computer Science may not be eligible to return to PATHS prospectively for annual funding.

The PATHS on-campus cohort community provides a social network and ongoing support to PATHS Scholars through various program elements, including academic, social and pre-professional activities, an annual teambuilding retreat, peer mentoring, outreach training and engagement to identify and recruit future PATHS participants (Mines Ambassador program), and PATHS community meetings to discuss issues and brainstorm ideas. Some activities that PATHS considers core to Scholars’ success will have required attendance. Others will be optional, and you can be as involved as you like. We encourage you to take advantage of as many of the programming elements as you can, because all are designed to bolster your success at Mines and beyond. While your PATHS community will be only one of the many cohort groups you will join during your studies at Mines, it is one that likely will be quite enriching if you embrace it wholeheartedly.

The PATHS program engages current PATHS Scholars to serve as ambassadors for Mines in outreach and recruitment efforts at Colorado high schools and community colleges. Ideally, PATHS Scholars reconnect with their own high school or community college to represent the PATHS program and encourage promising CS students to apply to become future PATHS scholars and, more generally, to attend Mines.

PATHS Scholars/Mines Ambassadors will learn skills to recruit and engage diverse populations of prospective students. Every scholar/ambassador will work with a partner school and serve as a role model and mentor to prospective students there through onsite face-to-face interactions. Occasionally, ambassadors will meet with interested students after school to discuss steps those students should be taking toward college (e.g., preparing for the SAT or ACT, taking higher-level math courses, the importance of computing in society, etc.) and to encourage them to consider Mines, generally, and PATHS, specifically, on their path to a future career.

The ambassador role and other PATHS community functions typically will involve a time commitment of two (2) hours per week. Given this ambassador role, PATHS applicants must have interest in performing outreach to K-12 students. The PATHS program views current Scholars themselves to be the best ambassadors of the PATHS program to actively recruit high-potential future participants.

Shortly before each new academic year, all participating PATHS faculty and students will take part in a 2-day Colorado retreat (sponsored by the program) to promote teamwork and community through teambuilding exercises, individual assessments and professional development presentations. Further, career preparation activities will be provided periodically to PATHS Scholars collectively and individually, such as résumé writing and technical workshops. Additionally, PATHS Scholars will be enrolled together in the same section of “CSM 101,” a required course to acclimate new students to Mines, its available resources and the surrounding environment. Finally, PATHS Scholars will be introduced to professional development groups available to join on campus and become familiar with opportunities through Mines’ active computing industrial partnership program (C-MAPP). Some activities are mandatory while others are optional for PATHS Scholars, depending on circumstances, interests, and class year.

CS@Mines encourages students to study abroad. Your standing as a PATHS Scholar should continue consistent with the terms of your invitation letter throughout your study abroad, with the following points in mind:

1. You continue to meet program requirements in the Acceptance Form (e.g., promptly complete surveys). Outreach efforts can be worked around a term abroad.
2. You continue to be eligible for PATHS funding (see the "Eligibility Information" section).
3. Working with Mines Financial Aid Office, exact $ amount of your PATHS funding could be modified while you study abroad if the cost of that program is less than cost of attending Mines during that time, reducing your overall financial need. PATHS can fund only students with unmet financial need.