Thriving Not Surviving: Student Support Through UW’s Allen Scholars and STARS Programs

Abstract: At the University of Washington (UW), the number of engineering degrees conferred increased by 44% between 2015 and 2024, while computer science degrees rose by more than 168%. Historically, however, only 25% of low income or first-generation students, as well as those from less well served high schools in Washington State, have successfully earned an engineering or computer science degree. However, with comprehensive and holistic support, the student success rate for these populations rises to 78% or higher. In response to these disparities, the UW College of Engineering (COE) launched the two-year State Academic Redshirt Student (STARS) program in 2013, adding support specifically for students in the Computer Science and Engineering pathway in 2016. In 2017, the Paul G. Allen School for Computer Science & Engineering school (a division of COE) introduced a summer bridge program which expanded to a full one-year support program in 2022.

This talk will describe the core support components shared by these programs, which have contributed to the phenomenal gains in student retention and degree completion. It will also invite dialogue with other institutions, to identify the core components of successful models that contribute to student success in a college/university setting. The ultimate goal is to clarify what is required to sustain and scale these efforts as the landscape of computer science and engineering rapidly changes, and funding from national, state, and institutions themselves becomes increasingly uncertain.

Bio: Teacher, Facilitator, Teaching Professor — just call Lauren Bricker a “geek generator.” For 10 years, Bricker guided Computer Science students at Lakeside school in Seattle, WA before joining the faculty of the University of Washington at the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering in the Fall of 2017. Her primary focus is currently on teaching Computer Science (CS) and 3D Modeling and Printing to students (from Elementary school to Master’s level), designing makerspaces, as well as facilitating CS teacher trainings.

Prior to teaching, Bricker worked as a software engineer, consultant and manager for companies large and small. Her interests include Human Computer Interaction, Computer Supported Collaboration, and computer graphics. She was recognized as one of three GeekWire STEM Educators of the year in May, 2021, and was featured as Geekwire’s “Geek of the Week” in January, 2012. She has also been invited to give talks at Ignite Seattle, NerdNite, Fremont Women in Tech, and Maker Faire Seattle and is the president of the Puget Sound Computer Science Teacher’s Association, a chapter of ACM’s CSTA.

Bricker holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering from University of Washington and a B.S. in Math from the University of Michigan.

Co-sponsored with Michael Shindler, associate professor of teaching,  UC Irvine ICS Computer Science Department.