Dear Friends of Engineering,
Spring has arrived, and student activity is in high gear. Student teams like Formula SAE, EcoCAR, Concrete Canoe and Husky Robotics are preparing for and participating in national competitions. Many of these groups came out in force to welcome nearly 10,000 middle and high school students to campus at our annual Discovery Days in April.
As graduation nears, many of our students receive support from our Career Center @ Engineering. In 2016 — the center’s first full year of operation — over 4,400 students were served and close to 500 companies were hosted on campus.
As a first-generation college graduate, I understand how access to higher education transforms lives. The demand for engineering education continues to soar, and the College is doing its part to meet the needs of Washington state. Recently we have taken significant steps to expand our student support programs and educational offerings. And, in this issue, you’ll read about revisions to the admission process that will allow freshmen to receive direct admission to engineering programs. This Direct to College admission policy will go into effect for the freshman class of 2018, providing incoming students with the certainty that they can pursue a UW engineering degree.
Though we’re excited about a revised admission process, this policy change will not open more seats to qualified and interested students — that will require state investment. This spring I had the opportunity to present to the Senate Higher Education Committee in Olympia about the demand for engineering education. I look forward to continuing to partner with the state to address this demand.
Investment in engineering education is in our region’s best interest, and someone who understands this well is computing pioneer Paul G. Allen. This March, we were thrilled to announce the establishment of the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering. In this issue, you’ll read more about this significant development that will propel the UW to the forefront of computer science education and innovation.
All of these initiatives promise to positively impact the UW Engineering student experience. I’m excited about the future. Thank you for reading Washington Engineer.
Michael B. Bragg
Frank & Julie Jungers Dean of Engineering