Outreaching Grads Program

What is the OG Program?

GSEE is committed to enhancing equity and social progression to promote the recruitment and success of graduate students of color at our Bothell, Seattle and Tacoma campuses.

The Outreaching Grads (OG) Program is a comprehensive and collaborative outreach and recruitment program housed in GSEE of the Graduate School. The OG Program is a corps of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) graduate students who support GSEE, academic departments, and student organizations to enhance outreach and recruitment efforts for prospective and incoming underrepresented graduate students. The goal of the OG Program is to introduce underrepresented graduate students to numerous opportunities and resources that help build community and increase racial and ethnic diversity within the graduate student pipeline. *The OG Program attempts to serve UW Bothell and UW Tacoma as well as UW Seattle; however, UWT and UWB engagement depends on the availability and participation of UWT and UWB graduate students.

The OG Program focuses on three key tenets:

  • Proactive student of color outreach and recruitment efforts tied to building community and increasing the graduate student of color pipeline
  • Investment in professional development opportunities for OGs in the form of workshops and trainings
  • Strengthen tri-campus partnerships

What is the role of an OG?

OGs are trained to lead and support prospective, incoming, and current underrepresented graduate students in navigating the numerous aspects and phases of graduate school. They provide a personal lens as well as meaningful guidance on living in the Pacific Northwest, communicating in virtual spaces (as applicable), and finding academic and relevant resources. To aid in assessing graduate student needs and to cultivate an inclusive campus community, OGs can assist in the following ways:

  • Connect and share opportunities and resources with prospective underrepresented graduate students (virtually and/or in-person)
  • Participate in professional development seminars, leadership training, and social justice workshops
  • Share graduate opportunities with UW registered student organizations to help build the graduate student pipeline
  • Engage in graduate student panels, public speaking and recruitment events, and networking engagements

How can I become an OG?

Becoming an OG is a way to give back to our communities, create meaningful friendships across campus, and ensure graduate opportunities remain open to all. OGs will also benefit from:

  • Creating new friendships with prospective and current underrepresented graduate students
  • Gaining leadership strength, public speaking expertise, and other professional skill sets
  • Expanding social and professional networks
  • Building professional and community involvement skills that will enhance career goals

Our OG trainings typically occur during Fall Quarter of each academic year. Graduate students of color interested in becoming an OG may fill out the 2022–23 OG Interest Form or contact uwgsee@uw.edu.

How can a department request the assistance of an OG?

We are happy to send OGs to departmental functions or have them visit one-on-one with prospective students or groups. We do ask, however, that your request be submitted one week in advance. To request that an OG meet with or contact your prospective student(s), please complete the 2022–23 OG Departmental Request Form.