ALVA is a college internship program for first-year freshman applicants who are Engineering Undeclared or Computer Engineering majors, or second-year STARS students. Such students are encouraged to connect with the College of Engineering early during their initial year at UW. Students can connect by meeting with an engineering adviser, attending an ALVA presentation, enrolling in Academic Workshops, or emailing MSEP.

About ALVA

Open to all students, the ALVA intern program targets students who have connected with the College of Engineering's Pathways for Inclusive Excellence during their first year and are pursuing studies in engineering. ALVA is a partnership between industry and the College of Engineering that seeks to significantly increase the retention-to-graduation rate in engineering for students from underrepresented minority communities.

During the intern portion, ALVA students work with professionals so they can better visualize themselves as future engineers.  Students gain valuable professional mentors who can support them throughout their engineering schooling and career.  The intern portion of ALVA begins mid to late June and runs for 9 to 12 weeks, depending on the host site which for 2023 includes:

• The Boeing Company (12 weeks)
• University of Washington's Clean Energy Institute (9 weeks)
• University of Washington's Molecular Engineering Materials Center (9 weeks)

In addition to the hands-on engineering experience, ALVA students will be engaged with the College of Engineering and other ALVA students to develop their academic and interpersonal skills prior to and during the internship. Students selected for ALVA will enroll in ENGR 202 in the spring quarter before the summer internship. ENGR 202 will provide professional development as recommended by host sites and allow students to build their ALVA cohort. During the summer, students participate in 3 to 4 ALVA-sponsored weekend events. At the internship's conclusion, students present at their host site on their overall ALVA experience. This robust, hands-on experience in engineering strongly supports student persistence/retention to earn their engineering degree.

ALVA application process

The 2022-23 ALVA application process for Boeing ALVA is being conducted by The Boeing Company.  The application should open in mid-December with a deadline to apply in early January.  The url-link to access The Boeing Company's requisition to submit a Boeing ALVA application will be shared with prospects once it becomes available. Email MSEP for the Boeing ALVA application requirements, Boeing requisition link, and up-to-date information.

The UW Clean Energy Institute (CEI) and Molecular Engineering Materials Center (MEM-C) will be on- campus hosts for MSEP ALVA for 2022-23.  To apply to MSEP CEI/MEM-C ALVA, use the online MSEP ALVA Application. The 2022-23 application deadline for CEI/MEM-C ALVA is January 31, 2023.  

Applicants to the ALVA program must satisfy the following for the current academic year:

• Have matriculated to the UW as a first-year freshman applicant as an engineering undeclared or computer engineering major, or a second-year STARS student.
• Maintain their status as an engineering undeclared, computer engineering or STARS student, or receive placement in an engineering major.
• Persist in engineering curriculum or computer engineering curriculum throughout the year.