Student Organizations

The UMass Amherst chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery is the local student chapter of ACM, the computing professional society. The group is dedicated to engaging students in computing, helping them to build professional connections, and having fun! They hold events throughout the academic year, including tech talks, programming competitions, and social events. 

BICS's mission is to create a space for Black individuals in CICS and connect them with resources and people that help male their academic and personal life better. In this club, we will help members through career advising, mentor programs, workshops, and provide a space to debrief and be open about time here in the Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences.

BUILD UMass aims to provide students with opportunities to use technology for social good and gain practical knowledge through pro-bono consulting engagements for non-profits, local businesses and other registered student organizations at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

CICS Pride serves and supports the LGBTQIA community of the Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences and promotes an inclusive learning environment in computing. The group's focus is on community building and social activities. All students, faculty, and staff members, regardless of gender and sexual orientation, are welcome to join the group and attend events.

CICSoft provides a collaborative environment for members to enhance their technical capabilities while developing applications. It creates an atmosphere for students to learn application development from the ground up through weekly sessions. The group's Lab division aims to develop and publish next-generation apps for UMass and the greater community. Join CICSoft's Annual Appathon to turn your app concept into a reality. We aim to serve as a vital bridge, fostering a seamless connection between the CS university experience and the dynamic demands of the industry.

ColorStack exists to increase the number of Black and Latinx Computer Science graduates that go on to launch rewarding technical careers.

CICS COST works to encourage and increase computer science outreach to youth and educators. By providing volunteer opportunities and empowering student-led events, the organization helps students develop important leadership skills while they make a difference in their community.

The CS Women's Group serves to build a strong community of female-identified computer science graduate students while Enhancing the academic and professional successes of its members. The group promotes  an inclusive community within the College, highlights disparities, and celebrates the accomplishments of women in computer science.

Cybersecurity is the body of technologies, processes, and practices designed to protect networks, computers, programs, and data from attack, damage, or unauthorized access. In a computing context, security includes both cybersecurity and physical security. The UMass Cybersecurity Club educates UMass students on these processes and practices by hosting speakers, workshops, and cybersecurity competitions.

The purpose of the UMass Amherst Data Science Club is to promote data science among members, and create an environment for like-minded people to meet and learn together. Our audience ranges from people who are new to data science to those who are very familiar with the world of data science and already have relevant skills. This club organizes events such as guest lectures/speakers from the data science industry, data science career fairs, resume writing workshops and projects related to the fields of data science that members can work on together or separately. The main purpose is to bring together a community that is passionate about data science and related fields. We strive to educate and sharpen the skills necessary for UMass Amherst students to succeed within the competitive workforce upon graduation.

#freshCICS is a social group for first-year students in CICS that provides support, collaboration, community, and mentoring from peers and second-year students. It’s a great way to get involved, make friends, and have fun. 

At the UMass Game Development Club, we foster a collaborative community for game enthusiasts and developers. Our mission is to explore the art and craft of game creation, from conceptual discussions and hands-on development to career growth in the industry. We strive to inspire innovation through regular game development, workshops, and shared knowledge, empowering members to turn their passion for games into impactful projects and fulfilling careers.

Girls Who Code is an international non-profit organization that aims at equipping women and girls with the knowledge of technology in order to bridge the prevailing gender gap in the sphere of technology. It aims to inspire and educate by building a community by sharing resources thereby nurturing various tech related skills. It hosts various workshops, events, summer programs, hackathons, college loops in universities and high-school clubs, across the globe. Girls Who Code is on track to achieve gender parity in entry-level tech jobs by 2030. In our GWC College Loops @ UMass Chapter, we hope to foster a sense of unity and sisterhood amongst the women in tech community. We hope to equip them with the skills required to excel in their college and early career phases of life.

The purpose of the CICS Graduate Student Organization is to facilitate and support activities that meet the academic, social, cultural and professional needs of graduate students in the CICS department.

HackHer413 is the first all-women and nonbinary student 24-hour hackathon in Western Massachusetts, which takes place annually at UMass Amherst. The student-organized and -run event welcomes over 300 participants from New England and beyond. Our mission is to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all women (cis and trans) and non-binary empowering students of all ethnic, gender, socioeconomic, and educational backgrounds and identities to come innovate, learn, and feel safe while doing so!

Sponsored by CICS, UMass Amherst's annual 36-hour hackathon HackUMass is organized and run entirely by students. Students from across campus come together to put on one of New England's largest events for makers—in 2016, over 600 hackers from the region participated. Be on the lookout for ways you can get involved. 

Innov8 is a CICS student organization that strives to serve as an incubator for budding technological innovations while empowering marginalized groups; the organization is open to all interested individuals. Currently, few student organizations support students’ personal projects (practical computer science applications) and entrepreneurial endeavors—that’s where Innov8 comes in.

The Mobile Development Club provides an environment for students interested in mobile application development to connect, build, and design mobile applications. We aim to give students interested in pursuing a career in mobile application development (or a similar field) a platform to develop professional technical and nontechnical skills.

The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)'s mission is to increase the number of culturally responsible Black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact the community.

Product Club at UMass Amherst (previously known as Product Management Club) ignites a fervent mission: to mold our members into thinkers with the insight of FAANG engineers. We're more than a club; we're a weekly think tank where passion meets product. Every week, we unravel case studies, dissect products, and spark discussions on the latest in tech.

The Public Interest Technology (PIT) Club’s mission is to bridge the gap between technology, policy, and the public good. Whether you're studying science, design, law, or anything else, technology impacts us all. We empower students from all majors to shape technology ethically through education, discussions, interactive workshops, and hands-on projects. We collaborate on smallest aspects like design inclusivity to advocating for privacy rights and digital inclusion, and strive to make an impact to make the tech work for social good.

The STARS Computing Corps is a national alliance with a mission to broaden participation of underrepresented groups in computing within institutions of higher education. In particular, STARS aims to increase computing persistence and promote career advancement for undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty, with a focus on addressing systemic and social barriers faced by those from underrepresented groups in computing.

The UMass Amherst Data Science Club strives to create a community for UMass Amherst undergraduates who share a common interest in data science. We aim to provide members with the experience they need to achieve their data science goals by conducting group projects, utilizing graduate school resources, providing career advice, and facilitating industry connections.

The UMass Cybersecurity Club aims to educate Members about the many fields of Cybersecurity in a way that enriches the school's curriculum. We aim to provide meaningful opportunities to students so they can succeed in the Cybersecurity Academic and Industry worlds. In pursuit of these goals, we also hope to create a rich, diverse, Cybersecurity-centric community on campus which welcomes all students equally.

The UMass Design Club is intended to be an inclusive community for creatives on campus. We are committed to providing meetings with a low barrier to entry where members can come without necessary needing any previous design experience. We host several workshops throughout the semester that are meant to teacher members various design programs and concepts in order to prepare their skills for contests we host later in the semester. These contests are often run in collaboration with other clubs or local startups, and give the members a good reason to come by providing a prize while also supporting the local community by providing them with new logos. Our goal is to be a pillar of creativity at UMass and provide members a place to both learn and collaborate on creative endeavors.

UMass Amherst's Machine Learning Club is a collaborative and educational environment for machine learning enthusiasts. We aim to foster a diverse and welcoming environment for all people that are interested in learning about the basic and advanced machine learning and related techniques. We host a beginner and advanced lecture series, as well as offer project advising.

The purpose of UMass Robotics is to educate and inform students who wish to pursue robotics, which shall be accomplished through competition, team events, and student outreach.

With Voices of Data Science, our mission is to provide a platform to amplify the voices of data scientists and foster a robust and inclusive community of individuals who share a vision for utilizing data science ethically. This year, our focus is on celebrating the achievements of data scientists who have contributed to the responsible use of AI. Join us for a networking event designed for aspiring data scientists, featuring engaging activities that go beyond traditional conferences—a gathering where learning, fun, and responsible AI converge to inspire the next generation of data science enthusiasts.

The Women in Cybersecurity at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment that uplifts and amplifies minority voices in the cybersecurity realm, with a particular focus on women and those who identify as women. Our mission is to cultivate a comfortable space for individuals of all experience levels, building a robust community where members forge lasting connections and support each other's journeys in the field. Through insightful workshops, including talks from professionals and skill-focused sessions, we aim to enhance the knowledge and capabilities of our members, providing a platform for both personal and professional development. Our ultimate goal is to empower individuals to thrive in the cybersecurity landscape while fostering a sense of camaraderie and friendship among members.

Women in Informatics and Computer Science at UMass Amherst (WiCS @ UMass Amherst) is a student organization run by undergraduate members of the College of Information and Computer Sciences. It was established as a complement to the graduate women in computing group and aims to foster a stronger bond between all female and non-binary members of the CICS community. Through bonding activities, workshops and various other activities, we create a safe space for minorities in computing to develop and grow together.