NextGen Ushers Second Year with Innovative Programming

NextGen Civic Leader Corps Co-President Ashley Ramirez penned a mission statement at the top of a large sheet of poster paper:

Fellow NextGen Student Officers Eamon Challinor and Moira Kelley pitched ideas with Ramirez and former NextGen Student Ambassador Jannat Musawi, who joined the team via Zoom from British Columbia, Canada, where she is completing her Fulbright Scholar program.

Taking advantage of the Husky Hour, the hour-long gap before afternoon classes, these highly invested students huddled in a Global Innovation and Design (GID) Lab classroom to strategize their first NextGen Civic Leader Corps Signature Event of the year, ‘The NextGen Social.’ Working through the design thinking cycle, the Officers brainstormed inclusive and exciting ways to convey the purpose and many benefits of the NextGen Program to prospective students.

Now in its second year under the Institute for Innovation and Global Engagement (IIGE) at the University of Washington (UW) Tacoma, the NextGen Civic Leader Corps is a tri-campus initiative with the UW Seattle Evans School of Public Policy and Governance and UW Bothell Office of Community Partnerships. Founded by the Volcker Alliance, the NextGen program comprises a national network of over twenty universities that introduce undergraduates to public service values and connect them to career opportunities through experiential learning and professional networking.

Students in the NextGen program at UW Tacoma complete a microcredential and receive a NextGen Civic Leader Corps Digital Badge. The microcredential comprises of one of 18 five-credit courses with a civic engagement focus, one five-credit experiential learning course, and participation in at least three NextGen Signature events which connect them to students across all three UW campuses. The NextGen Executive Committee of faculty and staff review and approve courses and signature events. The digital badge can be shared on platforms like LinkedIn, allowing employers to view a summary of the student’s experience and skills. Not only does the micro-credential enhance the value of a UW Tacoma undergraduate degree, it also gives students a significant advantage in finding meaningful employment through the professional network they cultivate as NextGen students.

The hard work of the NextGen Student Officers paid off. The NextGen Social was a huge success, attracting students from various backgrounds and majors across campus. Challinor was delighted to share the interdisciplinary benefits of the program, which empowers students to become proactive leaders. The program currently has over 30 students enrolled.

NextGen Tri Campus Community of Practice at UW Seattle Features Volcker Alliance 

Over 30 faculty, staff, and students across all three UW campuses gathered on October 10, 2024 in the Ethnic Cultural Center at UW Seattle to share insights and coordinate our activities for 2024-25. The 3.5 hours gathering included a session with Volcker Alliance members who noted the UW was a clear leader in this nationwide program. 

UW Tacoma was represented by Dr. Divya McMillin, Dr. Michael Forman, and NextGen Student Officers Co-President, Ashley Ramirez. The IIGE will host the next Tri Campus Community of Practice on April 10, 2025. NextGen Executive Committee members and students will spend Winter quarter planning for the event, which will include a share out of the first year experience at UW Tacoma based on a user research project completed by GID Lab interns.