Orientation & Transition Programs

First-Generation Student Network

The First-Generation New Student Network at UW Bothell is a community in which information, support, and resources are provided for first-year and transfer students who self-identify as first-generation. At the University of Washington, a first-generation student is defined as a student whose parents did not obtain a bachelor’s degree and are the first in their immediate family to attend a college or university. Often first-generation students have little or no collegiate history within their family unit. If you’d like a community to help you navigate the academic, financial, career, and social aspects of UWB, we are here for you!

There are a number of resources available in the community and at the University of Washington Bothell for students who identify as first-gen. As part of your orientation process, you will have the chance to learn more and connect with this Network and its members.

UW Bothell’s Thriving Guide 

A booklet made by students and staff to guide you through the beginning of your journey here. 

Table of Contents

UW Lingo 

Academic Terminology 

  • Add/Drop Courses: You can add and drop classes from your schedule through the second week of the quarter- but if you add and drop after a class has started, talk with the instructor. 
  • Registration Hold: A registration hold blocks you from registering for classes. This can be due to any incomplete critical notices (found in my.uw.edu), an incomplete orientation, overdue fees, or more. 
  • Bachelor vs Major: A bachelor’s is an undergraduate degree, and a major is a field of study. So, you, an undergrad student, would be pursuing their bachelor’s degree in [insert your major here].  (An undergraduate is a student pursuing a degree at the first level of higher education.) 
  • FAFSA: FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This financial aid form must be filled each year, as your income in a prior year can affect your financial aid. Additionally, everyone’s amount and kind of financial aid looks different. 
  • FERPA: FERPA stands for Family Education Rights and Privacy Act. Your guardians’ access to your records changes in college, and through FERPA, you have control of your records and how much information is shared with them. 
  • Navigate: Navigate is an online website/app used to schedule appointments with academic advisors, career advisors, peer coaches, and more. (Tip: Download the EAB Navigate app on your phone for easy scheduling!) 
  • Syllabus: A syllabus is a summary outline of a class. It includes an overview of the topics covered, reading materials, assignments, tests, and other requirements. Essentially, it’s like a roadmap for what you’ll learn in a class! 
  • Meta major: A pathway designed to help you explore academic, co-curricular, and research opportunities based on their intended major or field of interest.  
  • Quarter system: The academic year is divided into quarters. There are three regular academic-year quarters: autumn, winter, and spring. Additionally, there’s a summer quarter if you wish to attend during that time. Courses typically last for one quarter, which is approximately 10 weeks plus finals. 
  • Pre-Major: Being a pre-major at the University of Washington Bothell (UWB) means that you are in your first or second year and have not yet declared a specific major. Remember that you’ll need to declare a major by the time you’ve accumulated around 105 credits. 
  • Hybrid Classes: Selecting a hybrid class means that you are registering for a class that might be both in person and online. You will need to check the syllabus to confirm which classes are in person. 
  • Canvas: Canvas is a site that most of your professors will use to upload readings, classwork, and assignments.  You can find your grade here and messages from your classmates or professors. 
  • Faculty/Professor: Every class you take will be instructed by a teacher typically called a faculty, professor, or instructor in a college setting. Tip: Check with your instructor to see what they want to be called. 

Husky Terminology 

  • Dubs: Dubs is the 14th official live mascot of the UW! He is an Alaskan Malamute, adopted into a family of UW Alumni.  
  • Holly the Husky: Holly the Husky is the official mascot in costume of UW Bothell. Fun fact: Harry the Husky is UW Seattle’s official mascot, and Hendrix the Husky is UW Tacoma’s official mascot. 
  • Husky Principles: The Husky Principles are a set of guidelines created by students for students to follow during their time at UWB. The principles are: 
    • Practice high standards of honesty and integrity  
    • Respect the dignity and rights of all persons 
    • Support freedom of thought and expression 
    • Pursue ongoing intellectual and personal development 
    • Engage in critical thinking and discovery 
    • Improve our university community and the world  
  • UWB: UW is an acronym for the University of Washington, and UWB is an acronym for the University of Washington Bothell. Many people say “U-’dub’-B” or “U-’dub’-Bothell” instead of “U-” double-u”-B” because it’s shorter. 
  • Resident Advisor (RA): A student leader who lives in residential life. RAs oversee creating community, putting on programming on their floor, and making sure that students that live on campus are following the rules and guidelines. 
  • Peer Coach (PC): A student leader who supports you if you are a first-year student. They offer one-on-one coaching sessions that help you set goals for your first quarter at UWB. Think of them as a built-in buddy for your first quarter! 
  • First Generation student: A first-generation student is any student at UWB that is the first in their family to pursue a college degree. First generation events are held to celebrate and provide resources for students throughout the year including National First-Generation Celebration Day (November 8th).  
  • Commencement: Commencement is also known as graduation. A ceremony to recognize students that completed their degree.  
  • Convocation: Convocation at UWB occurs every year before the first week of classes to kick off the start of the school year. Check the UWB website to see the exact date. 
  • Welcome Week: Welcome week is a 1-2 weeklong series of events that happens at the very start of Autumn quarter to kick off the school year. Check out the Welcome Week website for more information! 

UWB Resource Acronyms 

Academic Learning Commons (ALC): This space (located in UW2-030) has many different academic support resources like tutoring and coaching. The ALC is home to the Academic Susses Coaches, Quantitative Skills Center, and the Writing and Communication Center. 

  • Academic Success Coach (ASC): Professional staff who can help you learn skills to be a better student (time management, study tips, note taking, etc. Located in the ALC (see above). 
  • Quantitative Skills Center (QSC): Tutoring center to help you develop skills with all things’ numbers, math, CSS, physics, chemistry, etc. Located in the ALC (see above). 
  • Writing and Communication Center (WaCC): A tutoring center that will help you with writing and presentation skills. Located in the ALC (see above). 

Activities and Recreation Center (ARC): The ARC has study spaces, a gym, fitness classes, and is home to many clubs and organizations. The ARC holds the Outdoor Wellness Leaders, the Health and Wellness Resource Center, and the Health Educators Reaching Out. 

Student Diversity Center (DC): A space (UW1- 173) that centers inclusivity and community. They host programs and ceremonies and have rooms you can reserve for studying or having group meetings.

Myths Busted

Academics and Career 

Career Services is mainly for students who are graduating soon or students looking for internships.  

You should Visit Career Services early and often to explore majors aligned with your interests, connect with employers through career fairs, practice building your resume and interview skills, and more! Career Services is available throughout your time here at UWB and 3 years after you graduate. 

My major determines my career. 

Some majors can lead to specific jobs, but many majors can prepare you for a variety of careers. Academics are equally as important as gaining experiences from campus jobs or club positions. 

Once I add classes to my plan in MyPlan, I’m good to go for the quarter. 

Planned classes in MyPlan (myplan.uw.edu) need to be added to your schedule. Click “Send to Registration” once your registration date opens to officially register for those planned classes.  

You only fill out FAFSA once during your time in college. 

You must file your FAFSA form every year to receive financial aid. FAFSA forms are filled during your winter or spring quarter of this year, to receive aid for next year. 

Work Study means you get paid to study. 

Depending on your FAFSA eligibility, you may be eligible for Work Study, and not all jobs are Work Study eligible. The benefit of Work Study is that the wages you earn through Work Study won’t affect your FAFSA for the next year. 

Professor office hours are only mandatory if I am doing badly in a class. 

Office hours are times each week that professors hold open to speak with students who drop-in. You can talk about the course or non-course related topics during this time.  

Dean’s List means you have perfect grades. 

The Dean’s List is a list of student’s names who have attained a quarterly GPA of 3.50 in the final grades for at least 12 graded credits. Those who qualify for the Dean’s List have this achievement written on their permanent academic record. 

Recreational 

The library only has books. 

Our library has many resources beyond just books, including DVD’s, comics, and video games. A variety of equipment is also available for check out such as chargers, calculators, and light therapy lamps. 

The Collaboratory is only for STEM students. 

The Collaboratory is open to all current UWB students of any major. And if you don’t know how to use any of the machines in the space, the Collaboratory staff can show you how. 

Clubs are exclusive to join. 

You can join clubs as a casual member, and it’s a way to make friends and feel more comfortable on campus. You can find clubs on the gather website or through social media platforms like Instagram or Discord. 

If I have a job or a full course load, I should not join a club.

While everybody’s time management is different, we encourage all students to join a club or organization. Clubs are not only a great way to meet people, but they can help you navigate the campus, network, and help you feel more connected. Visit www.uwb.edu/sea/clubs for more information.

Who for What?

Academics and More 

Academic Advisors 

What they do: 

  • Class planning 
  • Class registration 
  • Add/drop classes 
  • Declaring your major 

What they don’t do: 

  • Tell you which professor to take 
  • Tell you which career path or major to pursue 
Academic Learning Commons 

What they do: 

  • Tutoring 
  • Proof-reading 
  • Success coaching 
  • Conversation partners 

What they don’t do: 

  • Provide answers to homework 
  • Check homework for correctness 
Peer Coach (for first years only) 

What they do: 

  • 1-1 meetings focused on goal setting 
  • Answers general questions 
  • Referrals to resources 

What they don’t do: 

  • Academic advising 
  • Personal counseling 
Professor or TA (Teaching Assistant) 

What they do: 

  • Teach class material 
  • Answer questions about the class 

What they don’t do: 

  • Advise students on what classes to take 
Disability Resources Services 

What they do: 

  • Help students get accommodations 
  • Alternative testing services 

What they don’t do: 

  • Provide accommodations that alter the course curriculum 
Career Coaches 

What they do: 

  • Mock interviews 
  • Resume and cover letter assistance 
  • Career exploration 

What they don’t do: 

  • Apply for jobs for you 
  • Cannot help you register for classes 

Finances and Basic Needs 

Financial Aid 

What they do: 

  • FAFSA/WAFSA application support 
  • Helps finalize financial aid awards 

What they don’t do: 

  • Account transactions 
  • Late payment fees 
Student Fiscal Services 

What they do: 

  • Handles miscellaneous payments 

What they don’t do: 

  • Provide financial aid support 
Emergency Aid 

What they do: 

  • Covers expenses for unplanned costs (e.g. emergency medical costs, fire/water damage) 

What they don’t do: 

  • Cover expenses for anticipated costs (e.g. tuition, car payments, rent) 
Husky Pantry 

What they do: 

  • Provides non-perishable food and toiletry items for students facing food insecurity 

What they don’t do: 

  • Impact your financial aid 
  • Provide fruit, meat, and other perishable items 
Hopelink Mobile Market 

What they do: 

  • Provides pantry staples, fresh produce, and meat/dairy items on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month from 11am – 12pm 

What they don’t do: 

  • Impact your financial aid 

Finance Tips

Earning: Your paychecks might be smaller than you expected them to be since taxes are taken out first. The W-4 form that is filled out when starting a job determines the amount of taxes that are taken out of a paycheck.  

Saving: A good rule of thumb is to save 10% of your earnings if you are able to. Having a savings account is helpful in the case of an emergency. You can also save for bigger purchases such as buying a car, but don’t forget the other expenses that come with bigger purchases (e.g. gas, insurance, maintenance) 

Planning: You can save for short-term or long-term goals. An example of a short-term goal would be for something you want in the next 1 or 2 years like a gaming console. A long-term goal is something more than 5 years away, like buying a house. 

Shopping/Buying Food: Impulse buying is easy! However, make sure to take your budget and other expenses into account when making purchases. Think about how often you are planning on buying meals. Plan ahead and food prep if you are trying to save money. 

Credit: Your credit score will stay with you. It’s important to make sure you pay off your credit card balance on time each month so your score isn’t negatively affected. Your credit isn’t free money, but rather money that you are borrowing. 

Tip: Looking for a job? There are many on campus (and off campus jobs) available on HuskyHires. HuskyHires is a job and internship site to help students find opportunities. 

Monthly Budgeting Template 

What’s on this template? 

  • Customizable budgeting template to suit your needs 
  • Change the amounts under “Projected Cost” and “Actual Cost” to fit your lifestyle 
  • Add, delete, or edit the categories to accommodate for what you spend on 
  • *Must be logged in with your UW NetID 
  • Download a copy of the template and save to your own computer 

Template: https://tinyurl.com/3xhbfxvu  

Basic Needs Resources 

At UWB we want to make sure you have the resources you need to succeed in college. This includes providing resources for basic needs including resources for food, transportation, financial resources (like the ones above), and more! Visit this site for more information provided by the Health and Wellness Resource Center (HaWRC).  

Basic Needs Resources: https://tinyurl.com/48dcwv9x  

Important Dates

Registration 

Last day to add/drop classes or make course changes without $20 fee: 

  • Autumn: October 1, 2024 
  • Winter: January 12, 2025 
  • Spring: April 6, 2025 

Last day to add a course through MyUW: 

  • Autumn: October 15, 2024 
  • Winter: January 26, 2025 
  • Spring: April 20, 2025 

Last day to drop a course: 

  • Autumn: December 6, 2024 
  • Winter: March 14, 2025 
  • Spring: June 16, 2025 

Registration Period I (specific day is dependent on class standing: 

  • Autumn: May 3 – June 16, 2024 
  • Winter: November 1 – 17, 2024 
  • Spring: February 14 – March 2, 2025 

Dates of Instruction 

Autumn Quarter: 

  • Dates of Instruction: September 25, 2024 – December 6, 2024 
  • Final Exam Week: December 7 – 13, 2024 
  • Holidays (no school): November 11, November 28-29, December 25 

Winter Quarter: 

  • Dates of Instruction: January 6, 2025 – March 14, 2025 
  • Final Exam Week: March 15 – 21, 2025 
  • Holidays (no school): January 1, January 20, February 17 

Spring Quarter: 

  • Dates of Instruction: March 31, 2025 – June 6, 2025 
  • Final Exam Week: June 7 – 13, 2025 
  • Holidays (no school): May 26 

Tuition 

First day tuition and fee balance is available: 

  • Autumn: August 26, 2024 
  • Spring: March 27, 2025 
  • Winter: January 2, 2025 

Tuition due: 

  • Autumn: October 11, 2024 
  • Winter: January 24, 2025 
  • Spring: April 18, 2025 

U-Pass 

Deadline to register for classes to ensure advance U-PASS activation: 

  • Autumn: September 15, 2024 
  • Winter: December 27, 2024 
  • Spring: March 21, 2025 

Advance U-PASS activation: 

  • Autumn: September 17, 2024 
  • Winter: December 29, 2024 
  • Spring: March 23, 2025 

U-PASS activation for students registered after deadline: 

  • All quarters: 2 days after you registered for classes 

Deadline to pay U-PASS fee: 

  • Autumn: October 11, 2024 
  • Spring: April 18, 2025 
  • Winter: January 24, 2025 

Last day to register for upcoming quarter to keep continuous service: 

  • Autumn: October 11, 2024 
  • Winter: January 24, 2025 
  • Spring: April 18, 2025 

Follow Us!

Many departments on UWB’s campus use Instagram to keep students updated on upcoming events or about various information. Here are some accounts we recommend you follow to keep up with UWB. 

Orientation & Transition Programs (@uwbotp): Keep up to date on orientation programs, peer coach events, and their annual hiring events. 

UW (@uofwa): Official University of Washington Instagram. 

UWB (@uw_bothell): Official University of Washington Bothell Instagram. 

ASUWB (@asuwbothell): Associated Students of UWB working for the students of UWB. 

UWB SEA (@uwb_sea): UWB Student Engagement and Activities (SEA) oversees all student clubs and most programs. 

UWB Diversity Center (@uwb_diversity): Keep up to date with Diversity Center (DC) programs, resources, and events. 

Career Services (@uwb_career): Keep up to date on programs, resources, and their career fairs. 

UWB Residential Life (@uwbreslife): Keep up to date with programs and events is residential life. 

UWB Counseling Center (@uwbcounseling): Follow to learn more about the confidential resources available to you. 

HaWRC (@hawrc_uwbcc): Follow the Health and Wellness Resource Center (HaWRC) to keep up to date on their events and programs. 

Interested in a specific club? Look for them and follow them on Instagram to see when they meet and how to get involved.

On-Campus

  • Diversity Center (UW1-173): You will find tons of resources and more importantly a support group here. The husky pantry is also located here, so if you need help with food or any other basic needs this is where you can go collect them with no questions asked.
  • Financial Aid Office (Husky Hall): You can get help with FAFSA or scholarships here. It’s a very popular office, so make sure you book an appointment so you can avoid the wait time.
  • Health & Wellness Resource Center (HaWRC): Through a partnership with the United Way Benefits Hub, we provide students with resource connections, financial coaching, and public benefits enrollment. We are located in the Activities & Resource Center (ARC) building.
  • Career Services: Here you can find on and off campus jobs. If you want someone to read over your resume or have a practice (“mock”) interview this is a place to go.
  • Academic Support Programs: This includes the QSC (Quantitative Skills Center), WaCC (Writing and Communication Center) and the Academic Success Coaching, which provide help for free.
  • The Campus Library: The library lets you check out almost any equipment you need for classes for free. The UW Bothell Information Technology department is located inside the library buildings and also provides technology for students available for checkout for free.
  • Need help registering for classes or creating a schedule or other academic advising assistance? If you aren’t enrolled in a major, visit the First Year & Pre-major Program (FYPP) website more information. If you have already been accepted into your major, reach out to your school advisors directly.

Local

Online Resources

  • Scholarship: There are multiple scholarships available concentrated just at first gen students, this is just a place to start.
  • FAFSA/WAFSA: Always apply for FAFSA/WAFSA every year. You might be eligible for aid which is pretty much like a scholarship.
  • First Generation College Student Guide: Starting college as a first generation student has its share of challenges. This guide is designed to help students overcome those challenges and succeed in college.