First Year Programs
May 13, 2024
UAA’s LeAnne Wiles receives Thorud Leadership Award
We are delighted to congratulate LeAnne Wiles on being named one of two recipients for the Thorud Leadership Award, the highest award for leadership at the University of Washington! Wiles is the executive director of First Year Programs and Strategic Initiatives in UAA’s Student Academic Services. Wiles began her UW career in First Year Programs in 2009, managing parent orientation, the First-year Interest Group program and other elements of First Year Programs. In the last 15 years, she has made an indelible mark on how new students are welcomed to campus and how they find a sense of belonging in their first year. To be effective in this work, Wiles and the First Year Programs team she leads reach out across campus, developing partnerships with academic and administrative units with the vision of creating a campus-wide welcome and culture of belonging for first-year students.
July 6, 2023
15 Seconds at a Time: First-Year Interest Groups [video]
In this video, Student Academic Services and First Year Programs executive director LeAnne Wiles takes on the challenge of explaining the First-year Interest Groups (FIGs) in less than 15 seconds at a time. “15 Seconds at a Time” is a series in which various Undergraduate Academic Affairs programs explain their work in bite-sized bursts.
September 22, 2022
Emily Kolby named director for First Year Curriculum and Engagement
Undergraduate Academic Affairs is pleased to welcome Emily Kolby to her new appointment as director of First Year Curriculum and Engagement. Kolby identifies First Year Programs’ guiding principles of intentionality, collaboration, equity and access as essential to the work of serving students. She believes that with continuing the work of intentionally connecting with each student, that the program can create full and holistic first year experiences.
November 10, 2021
Connecting, belonging, being well: Across UAA, programs welcome back students
Student well-being is top of mind as programs across Undergraduate Academic Affairs are welcoming back our students. This work involves building community so students feel connected and a sense of belonging. It’s recognizing and addressing the increased stresses students may be experiencing as a result of the pandemic and the transition back to in-person learning….
December 10, 2018
What my “yikes” moments taught me about leadership
I gripped the edges of my letter from the University of Washington. Waitlisted. I knew I was in over my head expecting myself to get into UW.
October 1, 2018
New Huskies kick off 2018 academic year – watch the video
This year’s entering class of undergraduates is the University of Washington’s largest group in history. Freshmen and transfer students arrive from all over Washington state, across the country and throughout the world. It may be their first time being away from home, taking college courses or living in the Pacific Northwest climate. Programs in Undergraduate…
April 24, 2018
First-year Interest Groups celebrate 30 years of shaping student experience
Among this year’s milestones for Undergraduate Academic Affairs is the 30th anniversary of First-Year Interest Groups, formerly known as Freshman Interest Groups. To mark the occasion, First Year Programs hosted an event marked by lively conversations between attendees led by FIG leaders, a faculty panel discussion and a presentation of a recent study that demonstrates…
September 30, 2016
One big Husky family
Students come from all across Washington state, the country and the world, but when they come here, they are all part of the same Husky family. Watch as they come together in one gigantic W. (Video)
July 24, 2015
Welcoming new undergrads to the UW
This summer, thousands of freshmen and transfer students — 8,000+ of them — will participate in summer Advising and Orientation. With this year’s record-breaking numbers of freshmen, advisers, faculty, First Year Programs’ staff, student orientation leaders and campus-wide partners are busier than ever helping our newest students transition to the UW so they are able…
May 12, 2015
Reflections and dreams of graduating seniors
An inspirational selection of graduating seniors share their memorable UW moments and their plans after June.
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