Explore Programs

Community Engaged Courses  –   engage@uw.edu

Community Engaged Courses combine service in the community with structured preparation and reflection opportunities. Service opportunities with local nonprofit organizations, schools, and government entities are tied to academic coursework and address concerns that are identified and articulated by the community. Through community-engaged learning courses, students realize the context in which service is provided, the connection between their service and their coursework, and their roles as community members. Each quarter, faculty and instructors from numerous disciplines across campus elect to integrate a community engagement component into their courses.

Community Engagement and Leadership Education (CELE) Fellowships  –  engage@uw.edu

Several CELE fellowships support and recognize student service and leadership. Designed for incoming students, Ellis Civic Fellows are selected on the basis of financial need, dedication towards service, personal growth, and leadership development, and the ability to make a 4-year commitment toward fulfilling Fellowship expectations. In addition, CELE Summer Fellowships provide undergraduates with the opportunity to deepen their commitment to community engagement and leadership. CELE Summer Fellows are selected based on the strength of a community project proposed in collaboration with a public sector (nonprofit or governmental) organization.

The UW Dream Project is a community engagement and leadership education program that connects UW undergraduate students with local middle and high school students to support post-secondary planning and college access. There are two main components of the program: weekly mentorship through our service-learning courses (EDUC 260, 360 & 369) and College & Career Readiness Assistants (CCRAs), stipended interns who support local middle and high schools in their district and school identified college & career readiness initiatives.

Through cross-campus collaboration, the Husky Leadership Initiative catalyzes student leadership education opportunities at the UW both in and outside the classroom. HLI cultivates the knowledge, skills, and attitudes students need to be effective change agents and contributing members in their communities. Husky Leadership Initiative programs provide a variety of ways for students to explore leadership concepts and reflect on their leadership development as they discover and develop their own leadership philosophies and practice.

Jumpstart  –  jstart@uw.edu

Jumpstart is an early literacy program that connects UW students as tutors and mentors with 3-5 year old, low-income preschool children. College students read stories, sing songs and play games that support young children’s school readiness skills. Work on a team of 5-8 UW students in local Seattle preschools. Benefits Include: Earn work-study funds, earn a $1,175 scholarship for serving 300 hours, earn academic credit, gain valuable skills and experience, meet other UW students, and make a difference in the life of a child!

Through the Riverways Education Partnership, UW undergraduates tutor, mentor, and support K-12 students in Seattle schools, as well as rural and tribal communities across the state.  Our project transforms the learning and inspires the growth of both UW and K-12 students while addressing inequities in public education in Washington State. In addition to tutoring opportunities, the Riverways Education Partnership offers educational seminars where students earn credit through seminars on a variety of educational topics in addition to their tutoring. Students can also participate in an Alternative Spring Break project that connects UW undergraduates with K-8 schools in rural and tribal communities of Washington to work on literacy arts, science, and environmental education projects.

Undergraduate Community-Based Internships (UCBI) is a paid internship program that places undergraduates in nonprofit and public sector organizations. Students interested in public service get the chance to explore, contribute, and grow as they work in, with, and for local communities.  Students work on-site with their host organizations 10 hours per week. Students spend an additional two hours each week with program staff and fellow interns through one-on-one mentorship and cohort meetings. This cohort-based model allows students to learn in-depth about social issues and reflect on power, privilege, identity, and systems of oppression.

Mary Gates Endowment for Students   –   mgates@uw.edu

The Mary Gates Endowment for Students provides financial support to UW undergraduates from all disciplines that have exceptional promise in the areas of scholarship, research or leadership. Students may apply for scholarships to support their involvement in intensive research activities and in self-initiated projects through which they are experiencing personal growth and a greater understanding of themselves as leaders. Students awarded scholarships are named Mary Gates Scholars.

Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards   – scholarq@uw.edu

The Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards helps UW undergraduates develop the skills and personal insights necessary to pursue scholarships appropriate to their goals. OMSFA provides information and resources to increase student awareness of the scholar­ship search and application process via workshops, events, online resources, and individual advising. We also prepare students to compete for locally and nationally competitive scholarships including the Fulbright, Goldwater, Marshall, Rhodes, Truman scholarships and many others.

Undergraduate Research Program  –  urp@uw.edu

The Undergraduate Research Program (URP) facilitates research experiences for undergraduates with UW faculty members in all disciplines. URP staff assists students in planning for an undergraduate research experience, identifying faculty mentors and projects, defining research goals, presenting and publishing research findings, and seeking funding for their research. URP maintains a listing of current UW research opportunities and related national programs. The Annual UW Undergraduate Research Symposium provides a forum for students to present their work to the university community and the public.

Early Identification Program   –  eip@uw.edu

The Early Identification Program (EIP) encourages and assists undergraduate students from educationally and economically disadvantaged backgrounds to enter graduate or professional school. EIP offers a variety of services and resources designed to enable students to enhance their undergraduate experience, explore various career options at the graduate level, and prepare for successful admission to and completion of graduate or professional school. EIP emphasizes undergraduate research and offers students the opportunity to present their own research at the annual conference.

The Ronald E. McNair Program prepares low-income and first-generation or underrepresented students for doctoral study and whose goals are to teach and research at the college level.  McNair Scholars are involved in a number of scholarly activities which include undergraduate research, GRE Test preparation, annual conference participation, and the graduate school application process.  McNair aims to produce highly competitive graduate school applicants who have the skills and experiences necessary to obtain admission and secure funding to their choice graduate programs.