IMPACT REPORT

2022

AFTER BEGINNING TO RETURN FROM THE PANDEMIC, A REFLECTION ON CONTINUUM'S MOST SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF 2022, OPPORTUNITIES FOR INNOVATION AND THE ORGANIZATION'S IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.

Making an Impact

Looking back at 2022, it’s hard to narrow down to just one thing that stands out as UW Continuum College’s biggest accomplishment. The first thing that comes to mind is that in the past year we reached close to 50,000 learners worldwide and had 120,000 course enrollments. Having an impact on that many people, many of whom would not have come to the University of Washington through traditional channels, is one of our biggest success stories of the year.

I am also so proud of our staff’s incredible resilience and innovation. We’re a very nimble higher education institution, and we put these abilities to use this past year as we collaborated with campus partners to create a brand-new service model that will give units throughout the university more choice in how they partner with us to offer self-sustaining programs. We’ve also begun a multi-year project to redevelop our technological infrastructure that will really help us to be more versatile.

Another important collaboration that launched in 2022 has been with the head of Microsoft's autonomous AI unit. Together, we’re building a very low-cost massive open online specialization that has the potential to reach hundreds of thousands of learners, with little to no experience in the field, who want to explore the possibilities of autonomous artificial intelligence. That’s just one example of how we’re refining our view of equity in higher education and how we create more access for traditionally underrepresented students.

For more than 110 years, we’ve had an impact on so many individuals and communities, and everyone we serve has a tremendous individual story. The stories ahead highlight how our programs affect people’s lives at every stage. And as we move into 2023, I am genuinely excited to explore more ways Continuum can create programs for learners of all backgrounds and bring our organization even closer to educational equity.

Rovy F. Branon III
Vice Provost, University of Washington
Continuum College

Fostering Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

At Continuum College, we believe everyone deserves education to thrive in our ever-changing world. And we believe diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are fundamental to our mission. From the students we serve to the staff and instructors we employ, we are committed to creating a diverse community where each person feels welcome, included, accepted and on equal ground with one another.

Addressing systemic inequity takes each of us — and all of us. Each person brings visible and invisible qualities and a unique perspective and experience that, together, open new possibilities and give our work new meaning. Education has the power to change lives and promote positive change toward an antiracist society that is grounded in social equity. We embrace working together to generate positive social impact and to ensure the communities we serve attain the education they need to create new opportunities.

We acknowledge that we live and work on the land of the Duwamish and Coast Salish people, land which touches the shared waters of all tribes and bands within the Suquamish, Tulalip and Muckleshoot nations.

“The world cannot be understood without numbers.
But the world cannot be understood with numbers alone.”

— Hans Rosling

Fast Facts

42

Courses Offered Year-Round by UW Youth & Teen Programs

102

Washington Schools Participated in UW in the High School

3,515

Academic Credits Earned Through Early Fall Start

64

Partnerships Across the Globe with International & English Language Programs

2,283

Degrees Awarded From UW Degree Programs

1,928

Courses Offered by UW Summer Sessions

90%

of Certificate Program Graduates Learned Skills to Grow Professionally

24

Remote Lectures Featuring UW Faculty Offered by Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the UW

Our Programs

By offering programs for all education levels and generations, UW Continuum College makes education possible for everyone. Explore the stories below to see how our diverse programs impact students’ lives at every stage.

UW Youth & Teen Programs

University of Washington Youth & Teen Programs offers year-round learning through camps and courses for students in grades 4–12. Renna Orr shares how the camps and courses gave her a taste of topics she wanted to learn more about and a way to make new friends.

UW in the High School

UW in the High School (UWHS) lets ambitious high school students take University of Washington courses in their own classroom, with their own teachers who are trained and mentored by UW faculty. UWHS alum and current UWHS teacher Kayla Hoffman explains how UWHS offers a challenge and a chance to earn UW credit.

Early Fall Start

Early Fall Start (EFS) allows incoming first-year students to enroll in a University of Washington course about a month before the start of the autumn quarter. Out-of-state and in-state students Theo Llewelyn and Rachel Lundeen share how the opportunity to get a head start on classes allowed them to make a smooth transition to life at the UW.

International & English Language Programs

Continuum College offers one of the most prestigious International and English Language Programs (IELP) in the United States. Alum Eréndira Ramos Vázquez describes how IELP’s Graduate School Preparation Program helped improve her English skills and gave her the confidence to succeed in graduate school.

UW Degree Programs

For those interested in taking their career to new heights, UW Continuum College teams up with campus partners to offer a range of unique undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Alum Omid Bagheri Garakani shares how his master’s program was a ticket to expanded possibilities and helped him land a job working to advance an entire community.

UW Summer Sessions

Summer Sessions at the University of Washington is open to everyone and offers something for all students. Marysia Koltonowska explains how the flexible options for taking credit courses allowed her to make the most of her summer and get a head start on credits for the following year.

UW Professional & Continuing Education

UW Professional & Continuing Education makes it possible for busy professionals to keep learning at the University of Washington, allowing them to update their skills or delve into a new field. Alum David Jackson shares how his certificate even led him to his dream job.

OSHER Lifelong Learning Institute at UW

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the UW (OLLI-UW) provides the opportunity for adults over the age of 50 to engage in thought-provoking courses and talks by local experts. Alex Suarez describes how the flexibility of the program’s online courses enabled her to learn and have community from the comfort of home.

46,994

Total Students Served

campus partner programs 7158, campus partner special programs 14687, continuum professional programs 4181

continuum special programs 8457, extended partner programs 9126, international and english language programs 492

We served an additional 2,893 students enrolled in other programs, such as Shared Access, Quarter Start Online Courses, ASF, UWHS Teacher Training and Tuition Exemption Summer Quarter Students.

Download the full enrollment chart

Opening the Door to Opportunity

While the Pacific Northwest has seen a decade of economic boom, many local people are struggling due to inequities and rising living costs. The UW Certificate Scholarship exists to break down barriers for Washington adults living on low incomes, by providing access to in-demand skills and career opportunities. With help from funding partners, we can now offer need-based aid for many UW Certificate programs, covering at least 80% of program fees.

Meet one of our 2021 scholarship recipients, Corine Rigby, who used the UW Scholarship and UW Certificate in Digital Marketing to gain the skills she needed to step back into the workforce with confidence.

Read Corine's Story

170

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICANTS

38

SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED

Make A Gift

Now more than ever continual learning is critical for professional success. With your support, we can make education a reality for even more students. Join the many donors who make our scholarships possible, including our generous funding partners, members of our team, alumni and the greater community.

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