Pre-Collegiate Programs

Pre-College Programs was formally launched in 2013, with the purpose of supporting a college and career-ready culture in the South Puget Sound. Our philosophy is guided by understanding the priorities and strengths in local communities, developing deep partnerships with diverse stakeholders, and by applying a community-based participatory approach.

Our major program initiatives include:

Contact Us

Email: pre-collegiateuwt@uw.edu

Live Chat: Available Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Office Location: UWT Mattress Factory 106

Math-Science-Leadership Program (MSL)

Program Overview

Since 2003, the Math-Science-Leadership Program (MSL) has been creating positive educational experiences that enhance academic success and access to career pathways in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). MSL serves youth in 8^th - 11^th grade that are historically underrepresented in STEM (low-income, minority, female, and potential first-generation college students).

MSL brings together youth with students and faculty from UW Tacoma for an engaging three-week summer program and community-building monthly events throughout the school year. MSL develops supportive cohorts that build positive science-linked identities, academic and leadership skills over four years and creates capacity for community-serving institutions to collaboratively increase youths’ ability to participate in the economies of the future.

By bringing together the ideas and needs of community groups that serve youth, post-secondary institutions of learning and industry, MSL fosters these long-term impacts:

Reducing achievement gaps for students in science and mathematics compared to peers who have not participated in MSL
Increasing diversity of students who enroll in and complete STEM college degrees
Increase Tacoma community engagement in youth STEM informal education efforts

MSL applications are currently closed except for students who are part of MDC Upward Bound. This includes students in grades 9-11 who attend one of the following districts: Tacoma Public Schools, Franklin Pierce School District or Bethel School District. If you attend one of these districts and would like to become a part of MDC, please fill out the application at this link.

Check out the MSL Newsletter to find out updates about monthly connections and upcoming events.

2022-2023 UW Tacoma MSL Program Interest Form

Designing Rich Experiences Around Majors (DREAM Kits)

Designing Rich Experiences Around Majors, or DREAM Kits, are presentations where groups engage in academic based activities that relate to a certain college major. In the presentation, our specially trained Access Ambassadors will be ready to answer questions regarding post-secondary options, choosing a major, and support students in learning about their options after high school. DREAM Kit presentations can be scheduled for middle school, high school, after-school, or community college groups.

Our current DREAM Kit Workshops can be focused on the following majors:

If you are interested in requesting a DREAM Kit presentation, please fill out an interest form. We will do our best to accommodate your request.

DREAM Kit Interest Form

If your group is ready to take the next step in expanding your college education possibilities and would like to request a DREAM Kit in addition to your UW Tacoma group tour, please contact Admissions at visituwt@uw.edu.

Cascade Middle School

Pathways to Promise

What is Pathways to Promise?

What does your future hold? How can you access college? How can a university education unlock your potential and help strengthen local communities?

The University of Washington Tacoma is dedicated to helping South Puget Sound residents answer these questions. By establishing deep partnerships with school districts, community and military partners, we are creating clear pathways to access the promise of a bright future through a university education.

Resources for K-12 Students

For our participating school districts, specific resources are available to help evaluate career and higher-education options. We work with guidance professionals within each district to support college and career-ready programing, conversations and planning. We tailor our interactions with each school based on the needs of the building and district.

The following school districts are participating in Pathways to Promise: Auburn, Bethel, Chief Leschi, Federal Way, Fife, Franklin Pierce, Kent, Puyallup, Steilacoom, Tacoma and Tahoma.

For more information on admission requirements, students can visit the UW Tacoma Pathways to Promise Admissions web page.

Resources Through Community

As an urban-serving institution, our goal is to support partners who are developing a college and career-ready culture in the South Puget Sound. These partnerships ensure that potential students, and the organizations that serve them, understand how to prepare for and access post-secondary educational opportunities.

Boys and Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound
College Success Foundation

Husky Futures Program

Partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound (BGCSPS)

The University of Washington Tacoma and the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound (BGCSPS) have partnered together to create the Husky Futures Scholars program. A program of the Starnes Family Great Futures Initiative, this was originally called the Great Futures Scholarship.

Our Vision

Together, we want all BGCSPS youth to graduate from college or complete post-secondary credentials. We want all South Sound young people to experience fulfilling careers. As wealth and opportunity gaps increase, BGCSPS and UW Tacoma are committed to continuing to level the playing field and to ensure that all youth have access to high quality education and the support needed to access the careers of the future.

Husky Futures leverages relationships and positive development already present in Club culture, and enhances it with the college-going culture expertise of UW Tacoma. BGCSPS kids will be supported with high expectations, strong role models and mentoring from the time they join the Club, to the time they enter college or a viable post-secondary experience, to graduation or completion, to their first job and then as alumni returning to mentor kids in the Clubs and serve on the BGCSPS board.

This is the vision. Communities will flourish as college graduates become professionals who have an ethos to serve and give back.

I. ELEMENTARY & MIDDLE SCHOOL

Create culture of expectations for a great future

Pledging and re-pledging by youth to live their own great future
Pledging by BGCSPS/UWT to support youth
Infusing college-talk into Clubs

Nurture exploration and big dreams

Career-connected learning experiences
Exposure to college campuses and college students
Create supportive peer cohorts
Provide excellent mentoring and near-peer role models

Leverage family strengths

Build skills for families to advocate for their kids in schools
Help families identify strategies to support college aspirations

II. HIGH SCHOOL

Foster intergenerational mentoring

Student-led conference
College students are part of the BGC staff
Prepare youth to engage in good work
Career-connected learning opportunities
Experience as junior staff

Fully support transition to post-secondary

College coaching to include guidance for application completion and financial aid education
Cohort participation
College Signing Days participation
Ongoing Family Nights

III. COLLEGE AND BEYOND

Provide critical resources that ensure students persist through college graduation

Collaborative student check-ins and joint mentoring of UW Tacoma Husky Futures students
Paid working experiences and internships available during school year and summer; volunteer experiences also available
Scholarships and housing supports
Book and summer conference stipends for student leaders
Career-connected learning opportunities
Mid-year retreat and ongoing connection to Family Nights and peer-to-peer mentoring

Resources

Coloring Sheets

We're happy to share coloring sheets that can be downloaded and used by families and educators to introduce and encourage conversations about college and careers with elementary-age children. Designed by a first-generation college graduate and artist, Cisco Sandoval.

Download the UW Tacoma Coloring Book Here

Meet the Team

Marie Perez

Pathways to Promise Programs Specialist

Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education

While I am originally from Wisconsin, I have called the Pacific Northwest home for over twenty years. I have a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, with a Minor in Spanish. The first half of my career was spent in the public school classroom. Over the years I taught grades 6-8, in a middle school setting, focused in the content areas of Reading, Writing, History, and Spanish 1. I am so excited to be a part of the University of Washington family. I look forward to applying my past classroom experience into assisting young, first-generation college students in their preparation of higher education.

Olivia Arnaud

STEM Youth Outreach Coordinator

Junior in Biomedical Sciences

I am a first-generation transfer student at UW Tacoma, and my prospective major is biomedical sciences. After graduating from UW Tacoma, I intend to complete an MD/Ph.D. program. I am passionate about medicine and science, and I am excited to combine those to positively impact the world around me. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, traveling, photography, playing with my dog, and watching movies.