Dog sitting next to a robot
Giving Opportunities

Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences

All aspects of life in the 21st century depend critically on computing. UMass Amherst is committed to a vision of computing for the common good, where future leaders leverage data and information ethically.

Deploying computing for the common good

Faculty and students at Manning College understand the critical role played by information and computer sciences in the worldwide economy, national connectivity, local interaction, and individual experience.

Increased investment in the college will expand their capacity to assess and respond to the social, legal, political, and economic implications of technology.

Our Vision

Shaping the ethical future of computer science

As the pace of new technology and the need for a tech-savvy workforce accelerates, Manning College seeks to expand transformative learning experiences for students, support innovative research, and advance the safety, fairness, and ethical use of technology.

$22.9M
research funding awarded in 2024
32%
Percentage of undergraduate women enrolled at Manning College
50%
Of junior faculty are NSF CAREER Award recipients

Initiatives for Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences

Scholarships and inclusive programming

The college seeks to increase funding for students from a variety of backgrounds and expand mentoring and student support programs that help students navigate college life and forge a path to success in their chosen programs.

Professional development opportunities

The college is committed to expanding access to student organizations, undergraduate research experiences, an industry mentoring course, courses in the ethical application of computing, and summer experiential learning programs.

Fixed-term and endowed faculty positions

Support for these positions will enable the college to attract and retain diverse, top-tier faculty who fuel vital research and inspired teaching.

Support for research initiatives

The college aims to increase support for fruitful initiatives like quantum information systems research, the Center for Data Science, the Cybersecurity Institute, and the Center of Excellence in Robotics.

Computing collaborative hub

This 90,000-square-foot facility, set to open in 2025, will bring together students and faculty in classrooms, research labs, and community spaces designed to inspire creativity and collaboration in service of the common good.

“It is not enough to drive the state of the art forward, making computing ever more powerful. We need to do more to ensure the safety of the technology we create.”

Laura Haas, Donna M and Robert J Manning Dean
Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences
Laura Haas, Donna M and Robert J Manning Dean, Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences

Campaign Progress: $51,800,000

Goal: $60M
86%
CICS building with flowers
Spotlight on computational decarbonization

Reducing society’s carbon footprint through computing

A multi-institution team led by Distinguished Professor Prashant Shenoy has received $12 million from the NSF to develop computational decarbonization, a new branch of computer science and engineering that seeks to automate decarbonization across the electrical grid, the built environment, transportation, and computing itself.

An illustration of big data analytics and high speed communication technology; data flow, data stream, digital information telecommunication, quantum computer qubits and internet concept. Credit: Getty Images
Spotlight on Quantum Information Systems Research

Building the Internet of the Future

Manning College and College of Engineering researchers have joined the National Science Foundation’s Center for Quantum Networks. The team is leading the effort to design infrastructure to support future city-scale quantum networks.

Ready to learn more about the Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences?