Student Services

Student Engagement & Access Team

Our mission is to attract and support the next generation of outstanding computer scientists and computer engineers who reflect the population of Washington state and the varying needs, backgrounds, and experiences of technology users around the world.

We do this through K-12 outreach and recruitment efforts aimed at broadening participation in computing and undergraduate retention efforts aimed at ensuring that students of all backgrounds feel like they can belong and thrive in the Allen School.

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K-12 Outreach

Allen School K-12 Programs:

• CS Education Week A series of events for K-12 students & teachers to learn more about computer science, usually the first or second week of December.
• K-12 Outreach List of Allen School K-12 education programs for high school students!
• Allen School Ambassadors Ambassadors are current UW students studying Computer Science or Computer Engineering who conduct K-12 outreach activities for primarily middle school and high school students. They travel to schools and youth-serving organizations in Washington as well as host field trips on the UW Seattle campus. Check out our ambassador page to learn more and request a visit!
• Changemakers in Computing During our CiC summer program, high school students develop coding skills, explore the Changemaking impact through technology, learn about post-high school pathways, and build community with other Changemakers.
• Field Trips & Computing Workshops We offer introductory opportunities for schools and community groups serving middle & high school students, especially students who do not have access to computing education. Invite us to visit you or schedule a field trip to come check out the Allen School!

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Recruitment

We provide support for Direct to Major (first-year) and transfer applicants who seek admissions to the Computer Science & Computer Engineering majors at the University of Washington’s Seattle campus. We work with students throughout the admissions pipeline by expanding access to information about the Allen School across Washington state, providing admissions advising and application support, advocating for holistic admissions policies, and supporting admitted students as they make their college decisions.

Core Programs & Webpages

• School Visits We attend college fairs and offer recruitment presentations to schools throughout Washington state, particularly in areas where students may have more limited access to computing college preparatory resources. Check out our school visits page to invite us to your school!
• Student Recruitment Representatives The Allen School Student Recruitment Representatives current Allen School students who aim to expand access to the Allen School by providing near-to-peer support for prospective students and sharing insights into their student experiences to inspire our future huskies!
• Events & Information Sessions We offer monthly Direct to Major (first-year) and transfer information sessions that help prospective students learn about our undergraduate program, what it is like to be a student at the UW, and how to apply. We also host a few additional events such as Transfer Student Preview Day and Junior Exploration to help prospective students determine if a computing major is right for them!
• Undergraduate Admissions This webpage serves as a first stop for prospective students to learn about the undergraduate admissions pathways into the Allen School and to learn about some of the resources we offer for prospective students. Our Direct to Major (first-year) and transfer admissions webpages are the best place to learn about pathway-specific resources such as admissions advising appointments for students who are dual enrolled in high school and a Washington state community college and Transfer Thursday Drop-In Advising.
• Admitted Student Day We participate each year in the Admitted Student Day event hosted by the Office of Admissions. Our sessions serve students who were directly admitted into an Allen School major.

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Retention

We believe that we need to actively work toward an inclusive community where all students – from all different backgrounds and experiences – feel like they belong, can succeed, and thrive in the Allen School. We provide opportunities and spaces for students to engage in intentional community building.

Core Programs & Webpages:

Allen School-Affiliated Student Organizations Currently there are 16 Allen School-Affiliated Student Organizations. These organizations fall under the following categories: Affinity, Career & Industry, Community, and Technical. Student Organizations provide departmental socials, networking events, community activities, mentorship programming, and much more!

Allen School Scholars Program The Allen School Scholars Program (Allen Scholars) is a one-year cohort-based program that focuses on supporting emerging leaders from first generation, low-income, and underserved communities from Washington state who are pursuing a degree in Computer Science or Computer Engineering. All Washington resident students who select Computer Science or Computer Engineering as their first-choice major on the UW first-year student application are considered for Allen Scholars by the Office of Admissions. Allen Scholars provides additional intensive academic skill-building and holistic support for students to build a strong first-year foundation in the Allen School and beyond.

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Student Engagement & Access Spaces

Student Engagement & Access Lounge (CSE1 202)

The Student Engagement & Access Lounge is located in Allen Center Room 202. The lounge is open to all Allen School undergraduate students but is particularly intended for students who are underrepresented in the computing field to feel less isolated and have a physical space to share and celebrate with other students with similar experiences. Students are welcome to use this space 24/7 to meet with other students, study, and relax.

Allen School Meditation Room (CSE1 027B)

The Meditation Room is located within the Allen School Undergraduate Student Lounge in Room CSE 027B. This is a dedicated community space for all Allen School students who seek a quiet place to reflect, meditate, or pray. Students seeking additional quiet spaces across campus can visit the HUB Meditation Room and the ECC Serenity Space.

Engagement & Access Spaces Guidelines

• The Meditation Room may only be used by Allen School community members with active Husky Cards.
• Use of the Meditation Room is on a first-come, first-served basis
• Please keep speaking, chanting, music, and other activities that might disturb others to a minimum.
• Only food or drinks for meditation/prayer purposes are permitted. General eating is not permitted.
• The burning of incense and candles is not permitted.
• General study, other than that related to reflection, meditation, or prayer is not permitted.

Questions or Concerns

If you have questions about our spaces and/or there are problems with the rooms, please reach out to our team at outreach(at)cs.washington.edu. Community members may also find the Allen School Feedback Mechanisms page helpful when concerns arise.

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Meet The Student Engagement & Access Team

The Student Engagement & Access (SEA) team at the Allen School is part of the Undergraduate Student Services Team (USST). All staff members on the Student Engagement & Access team have distinct roles that focus on different aspects of our mission.