Programs & Initiatives

Through drop-in, multidisciplinary tutoring at the Center for Learning and Undergraduate Enrichment, academic achievement courses, and one-on-one tutor-mentor relationships, Academic Support programs provide high-level academic support for the full range of UW undergraduates, from those who are academically disadvantaged to those who are advanced.

The Carlson Leadership & Public Service Center engages undergraduates in community-based learning such as service learning and internships, volunteer opportunities, and community events. Center staff also work with faculty, students, and community partners to develop academic connections between the classroom and community.

Programs in the Center for Experiential Learning connect UW undergraduates with opportunities to participate in research with faculty, to engage in community-based learning and leadership, and to compete for local, national, and international scholarships. These programs include the Carlson Leadership and Public Service Center, Global Opportunities, Jumpstart, Mary Gates Endowment for Students, Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards, Pipeline Project and the Undergraduate Research Program.

Classroom Support Services is the premier provider of media and technical support services to students, faculty and staff at the University of Washington Seattle. The department continues to be an innovator and a national leader for incorporating new technology into learning environments.

The Center for Learning and Undergraduate Enrichment (CLUE) is a late-night academic center designed to support all UW undergraduates, with a strong emphasis on freshmen and transfer students who are enrolled in many of the UW's crucial lower-division courses.

Curriculum Planning & Special Programs use collaboration and deep knowledge of UW procedures, faculty, and staff to help students move smoothly through the requirements for a degree and to facilitate the development and administration of programs and services that advance UAA's commitment to undergraduates and their learning.

The Diversity Working Group raises awareness of diversity issues and facilitates ongoing access to UAA resources and programs for all UAA constituents.

The Dream Project assists low-income and first-generation high school students in attaining higher education and raises awareness among university students about the issues of educational opportunity and social mobility. A student-initiated high school outreach program, the Dream Project partners UW students with first-generation and low-income students in Seattle area high schools to assist in the college admissions process, including SAT preparation, applications, writing essays, applying for financial aid, and finding scholarships.

First Year Programs empowers entering students to become engaged and confident learners by facilitating supportive communities and creating educational experiences. This program assists new freshmen, transfer students, and families as they establish and enrich their relationship with the UW community throughout their first year of enrollment. Activities of First Year Programs include quarterly advising and orientation sessions, Dawg Daze, Freshman Interest Groups (FIGS), and Transfer Student Interest Groups (TRIGS).

Programs in the Gateway Center help students successfully transition to the University and immerse themselves in its vast world of learning opportunities. At the Gateway Center, students find academic advising, orientation programs for new students, and freshmen and transfer student learning communities. These programs include Academic Support Programs, First Year Programs and Undergraduate Advising.

A collaboration with International Programs and Exchanges and the Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity, Global Opportunities advisers connect students to study abroad opportunities through advising and financial resources.

Part of a leading national nonprofit organization, Jumpstart at the University of Washington connects UW undergraduates with low-income Seattle preschoolers to help these children build the language, literacy, and social skills necessary for later academic and life success.

The University's largest endowment for undergraduate scholarships, the Mary Gates Endowment invests in undergraduate students engaged in research and leadership projects, encouraging student learning inside and beyond the classroom.

The Office of Educational Assessment improves educational practice through assessment of teaching and learning and through evaluation and support of educational programs and services. The Office of Educational Assessment provides a variety of assessment services to the UW campus and external agencies including course evaluations, classroom test scoring, test administration, program evaluation, survey research, and assessment of undergraduate learning.

The Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards (OMSFA) helps UW undergraduates develop the tools and personal insights necessary to match their goals with local and national merit-based scholarship opportunities. National scholarship opportunities include the Fulbright, Goldwater, Marshall, Rhodes, Truman, and many others.

The Pipeline Project is a K-12 outreach program that connects undergraduate students from the University of Washington with educational and service opportunities in local and regional schools and community organizations through tutoring and mentoring.

The Robinson Center for Young Scholars is a pioneer and an international leader in recognizing and serving the needs of gifted young pre-college and college students by providing academic programs and information to gifted students, particularly students entering the UW after 7th, 8th, or 10th grade.

The UW Teaching Academy offers UW faculty opportunities to enhance their teaching capabilities through workshops and conferences that foster intellectual discovery and transformative experience, a welcoming and inclusive campus climate, clear articulation of learning goals, manifestation of learning outcomes through exposition and evaluation, and emphasize active learning. The Teaching Academy also sponsors the Distinguished Teaching Awards, Excellence in Teaching Awards, the James D. Clowes Award for the Advancement of Learning Communities, and the S. Sterling Munro Public Service Teaching Award.

Undergraduate Advising helps students design an overall curriculum, drawing from the programs and opportunities across the entire University. In addition to helping students choose a major and plan their course schedules, advisers work with students to clarify academic and personal goals. As educators, advisers emphasize the core skills of critical thinking, decision-making, and the value of broad exposure to a diversity of perspectives. Advisers also provide pre-professional advising in a number of areas such as pre-medicine and pre-law.

The Undergraduate Academic Advising Council is a University of Washington-Seattle advisory committee convened by the Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs, in response to the recommendation of the Provost's Committee on the Organization of Colleges and Schools. The Council is chaired by the Vice Provost/Dean and is composed of undergraduate academic advisers from a broad spectrum of advising units.

The Undergraduate Research Program facilitates research experiences for undergraduates with UW faculty members across departments and disciplines. Since 1997, it has produced the Undergraduate Research Symposium, during which hundreds of undergraduates present their research to the campus and community. It is among the largest symposia for undergraduates in the nation.

The University Honors Program integrates challenging courses and diverse learning experiences for academically motivated students in a close community of faculty, staff, and peers. The core curriculum offers a broad liberal education, while departmental honors programs provide a deep disciplinary education. The program asks students to take intellectual risks; to seek an understanding of the interdependence of all branches of knowledge; to take leadership roles in confronting global change; to see the complexities of race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, and nationality; and to value a life of continuous learning and personal growth.

The UW Common Book introduces and engages freshmen in the University's academic community. Each year, UW freshmen receive the same book at summer orientation and are expected to read it prior to fall quarter. Through this shared intellectual experience, students are challenged to examine important subjects and build community around significant issues. It is one way we welcome students to their new academic home and delve into intellectual inquiry.