By Douglas Esser, photos by Marc Studer
The pace of the coming school year quickened Friday as about 300 students moved into 90 Husky Village and 20 Campus View apartments at the University of Washington Bothell.
This was the seventh move-in day since the University purchased the Husky Village complex in 2011. It’s the largest group ever, because of an increase to 37 “triples” — units with three roommates.
Residents picked up their keys from staff under the supervision of Katie Horowitz, left, the director of residential life and student conduct, who says her team's mission is to help students build community and to foster a sense of belonging at UW Bothell.
Mentoring the students with academic and social advice are 10 trained student residential advisers who live on-site plus three live-in professional residential directors. The RA’s stood out on move-in day in their neon yellow T-shirts.
About 60 percent of residents live within commuting distance but choose campus housing for the short walk to classes and to enhance their college experience. About a third are first-year students, and the rest are returning residents; 26 are international students.
More than 30 of the residents also chose "living learning communities," either the science and technology community or the economics and environment group. In the LLC housing model, students with shared academic interests live in proximity and are given special opportunities to connect with faculty and explore majors. The LLC program is a partnership with the UW Bothell First Year and Pre-Major Program, with required Discovery Core courses.
Photo: Jeffrey Leung helps residents move in.
Move-in day is one of the most visible events of Welcome Week. Other important events are convocation on Sunday and UW Basics on Monday. Fall quarter classes start Wednesday.
Two students who coincidentally both live in Issaquah chose to live on campus for the college experience.
“I definitely like the apartment, much better than a traditional dorm,” said Max Philippo, left. The Liberty High School grad who earned an associate degree as a Running Start student at Bellevue College plans to major in law, economics and public policy at UW Bothell.
Philippo also was attracted by the University’s smaller class sizes and the opportunities for more interactions with teachers and peers.
“I’m really excited for him because I think living on a campus is a great experience,“ said Philippo’s mother, Catharyn Philippo, as she watched the check-in process.
“I’m feeling very loved on this campus already. The greeting service is great,” Catharyn Philippo said.
Ava Karami graduated from Skyline High School and is thinking about a double major in global studies and in law, economics and public policy.
Karami already has a couple of friends at UW Bothell who like receiving more personalized attention from faculty and staff. Karami wanted a college experience and did not want to commute from Issaquah. “I-405 is tough in the morning, so I wanted to avoid that.”
Photo: Matthew Cooley, left, helps Ava Karami as mother Shiva looks on.
As a mother, Shiva Karami is glad Ava is close to home at UW Bothell.
“It’s going to be handy to support her in any way. I’m so happy she got in,” Shiva Karami said.
