June 2, 2021
Q&A for UW/Seattle Colleges partnership
Overview
The University of Washington is excited to build upon the success of Seattle Promise to connect Seattle Colleges students to a baccalaureate degree at the UW. Historically, transfer students have had success at the UW, but there are still barriers. Prospective students need better information about options for majors and how to prepare for them. Newly admitted transfer students often need up-front academic support in order to transition to a research university. Investment in this partnership will provide information and support to ensure that Seattle Promise students can reach their academic goals.
A Seattle Promise student’s journey with this partnership
Year one of the student’s journey
Q. Who is eligible to participate in this opportunity?
Seattle Promise students who have completed their first year at Seattle Colleges.
Q. What happens in the first year of the partnership program?
Year one of the partnership program is designed to help students understand what academics at the UW are like, to support their academic planning and career preparation, and to introduce them to opportunities that are unique to a research university. It helps them learn how to take advantage of the supports that exist at different institutions so they can have a successful transfer experience.
Details:
Academic preparation
From late-August to mid-September, Seattle Promise students who have completed their first year at a Seattle College take a three-week course focused on a subject that relates to what they are interested in majoring in.
- Course is taught by a UW faculty member.
- Student will earn credit that will apply to their Seattle College AA degree.
Major and career exploration
The UW is proud to offer more than 180 undergraduate majors and recognizes that some are better known than others. Part of our goal with this partnership is to support students’ exploration of majors that are both well-known and those that tend to fly under the radar but would still support students’ academic and career goals. To that end, this partnership will support students’:
- Academic planning for multiple majors.
- Mapping academic and experiential learning opportunities to their career interests.
Research university opportunities
As one of the country’s leading research universities, we are excited to ensure Seattle Promise students are aware of the benefits and opportunities that exist at the UW. Students who earn their bachelor’s degree from a different institution still benefit from a deeper understanding of how a research university in their backyard connects to their lives.
Year two of a student’s journey
Q. Who is eligible to participate in the second year of this partnership?
Seattle Promise students who have been admitted to the UW for autumn quarter. Some, but not necessarily all, will have participated in the first year of the program.
Q. What happens in the second year of the partnership program?
Year two of the partnership program will delve into preparing specifically for entering the UW’s Seattle campus.
Details:
Academic preparation
From late-August to mid-September, Seattle Promise students admitted to the UW for autumn quarter take an intensive, four-week course focused on writing and research.
- Course is taught by a UW faculty member.
- Students will learn about academic resources such as libraries, writing centers, tutoring centers.
Grounding and belonging
Research tells us that students who feel grounded and find a sense of belonging are more likely to persist through college and earn their degree. The unique circumstances and lived experiences of transfer students, coupled with their shorter time on campus can make it more difficult for them to find those points of connection and community. Year two of this partnership aims to lessen those difficulties in these ways:
- Develop a cohort of Seattle Promise students who are new to the UW
- Build community among other new transfer students
- Connect this cohort with current UW students who have already experienced what it’s like to transfer to the UW
- Orient Seattle Promise transfer students to campus resources and opportunities before the beginning of autumn quarter
Operational details
Q. How many students will this partnership support?
We’ll know how many students we will be able to support once all the details of the funding are known. That said, and while it depends on the final funding, we’re hopeful that we’d be able to serve 100 Seattle Promise students to start.
Q. How will this partnership be staffed?
A UW adviser will be dedicated to this partnership and will work closely with Seattle Colleges and Seattle Promise students on admissions requirements, exploring majors and being academically prepared. Additionally, this adviser will be able to show how academics at Seattle Colleges specifically map to different majors at the UW and they’ll be able to connect students with financial aid and other student resources for Seattle Promise students who transfer to the UW.
Q. What kind of financial aid is available to students to participate in the program?
The programs will be free for Seattle Promise students — all course costs will be covered by this investment in the partnership. Seattle Promise students who are admitted to the UW as transfer students will be eligible for financial aid. Many of the current Seattle Promise students who are from low-income backgrounds will be eligible for the Husky Promise (which covers tuition and standard fees at the UW).
Q. What does the program cost to students? Will students have to pay tuition for the three- and four-week courses?
There is no charge to Seattle Promise students to participate in this program or the three- and four-week programs.
Q. What happens after 2023, when the federal funding runs out? Will the program continue?
While we don’t want to speculate about funding sources after 2023, we know that the UW’s commitment to continuing to build upon and improve partnerships to benefit transfer students will remain strong.
Q. Where can students learn more about and sign up for this program?
We’re glad you’re interested! We are working out those details with our partners at the Seattle Colleges. Please stay tuned and check back.
Q. Does this guarantee admission to the UW for Seattle Promise students?
This partnership does not guarantee UW admission for Seattle Promise students. We do anticipate that students who participate in the program beginning after their first year in a Seattle College will be well-positioned to be admitted.
Q. For participating students admitted to the UW, does this guarantee admission into the major of their choice?
This partnership does not guarantee admission into particular majors for Seattle Promise students. We do anticipate that students who participate in the program will be well-informed about their major options.
For more information about this partnership, please contact Michaelann Jundt, associate dean, Undergraduate Academic Affairs.