NextGen Civic Leader Corps
The NextGen Civic Leader Corps, a tri-campus initiative at the University of Washington, encourages undergraduate students to consider careers in government, nonprofit, and social ventures.
Through hands-on learning, coursework, and networking, students strengthen their commitment to public service and community engagement. They gain essential skills for non-profit and government careers, build connections with UW Bothell and the broader community, and work toward a more just and equitable society. Open to students from all majors, the program invites participants to tackle today’s complex societal challenges.
Fall 2024 Opportunities
This election year, amid conflict and strife across the world, the NextGen Civic Leaders program offers students opportunities across the three campuses to learn about issues they care about and apply this knowledge to make a difference in their communities. Below are some unique opportunities to participate in:
2024: Dialogue, Disagreement and Democracy, a 1-credit, asynchronous, tri-campus also know as The Course. This class connects students with over a dozen leading scholars to learn what they are doing to meet the moment through their research, teaching, and service – inquiry with insight, action with impact. The Seattle course is 1-credit and asynchronous (which Bothell students can enroll in), and the Bothell course is hybrid. Learn more about The Course.
NextGen Legislative Networking Reception, Thursday, Oct 17, 7-8:30pm
Walker Ames Room (Kane Hall) on the Seattle campus.
Join us for an evening of conversation and connection with Husky lawmakers from Olympia to local government and committed public service practitioners. The event is a collaborative effort with UW Impact. Please RSVP to uwbocl@uw.edu We are encouraging students to attend in person for these events and we have funding to support UCAR rentals for a day.
Join or Die movie screening, Monday, October 21, 3:30-5:30pm
Discovery Hall Theater (DISC-061)
Join or Die is a documentary that delves into the importance of civic engagement in sustaining a thriving democracy. This event aims to inspire students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners to reflect on how we can all contribute to building stronger connections and a more engaged society. A community networking event with iUrbanTeen, Washington Bus, League of Women Voters, City of Bothell, 21 Acres and more! Learn more about Join or Die.
UW resources for navigating the 2024 election – this page managed by the Office of the Provost shares voting resources, tools, and other useful aids. View if If you’re looking for accurate information on democracy and elections.
Democracy in Focus: Navigating the 2024 Election – Lectures
The are many lectures through UW this quarter focusing on democracy and civic leadership. Democracy in Focus: Navigating the 2024 Election is one lecture series on Tuesdays, at Town Hall Seattle, with hybrid options or live streaming available for some sessions on the Bothell campus.
- Polarization, Persuasion, and Talking Across Difference at HUB South Ballroom, October 1, 4 pm, with Mark Smith
- I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times, October 2, 6:30 pm, with Mónica Guzmán
- We Keep Us Safe: Public Safety, Crime, and Elections, October 8, with speakers from ACLU
- Protecting Information Integrity: Election Rumor Research at the UW Center for an Informed Public at Guggenheim 220, October 8, 4 pm, with Emma S. Spiro, Kate Starbird, Mert Can Bayar, Zarine Kharazian, Rachel Moran-Prestridge and Joseph Schafer
- Zooming Out: 2024 Elections in Historical, Social, and Cultural Contexts at Denny Room in Oak hall, October 15, 4 pm, with Margaret O’Mara, Jessica Beyer, and Daniel Bessner
- Presidential Power at Denny Room in Oak hall, October 22, 4 pm, with Lisa Marshall Manheim, Liz Porter, Jeremiah Chin, and Danieli Evans
- American Democracy and the 2024 Election, October 24, with Dr. Jake Grumbach
- Who Votes and Why Voting Matters at Denny Room in Oak hall, October 29, 4 pm, with James Long and UW voices from across the three campuses
- Trust on the Ballot: Voting in Washington, Thursday, November 7, 6:30-8:30pm
This event is happening in Town Hall Seattle. Broadcast by TVW.
Watch party in the Truly House (Bothell) – from 6:30 to 7:30 with Pints and the Professor to start us off. Afterward viewing begins at 7:30pm.
Does your vote count? Can we trust that our elections are fair? Join three Washington Secretaries of State as they discuss the history and evolution of voting in Washington, from the various systems in place to the complex and polarized climate we now operate in. Current Secretary of State Steve Hobbs joins former Secretaries of State Kim Wyman and Sam Reed for a panel discussion convened by the University of Washington’s College of Arts & Sciences and the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance. This timely forum is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 pm at Town Hall Seattle, shortly after the Nov. 5, 2024, General Election. Free and open to the public.
Program Design
1. Public Policy and Leadership Coursework
NextGen Civic Leader Corps participants are required to take a minimum of one course in the Public Policy AND one Leadership course. This coursework provides an academic anchor for your public service career exploration, builds your understanding of theoretical frameworks, and can prepare you to talk about your community-engagement and leadership experiences in job interviews and/or graduate school applications.
Choose how to complete this requirement through the following course options:
Public Service/ Public Policy courses (5-credit)
- BIS 338 Political Institutions & Processes
- BISLEP 301 Law, Economics and Public Policy
- BISLEP 302 Introduction to Policy Analysis
- BIS 353 Human Rights in Theory and Practice
- BISSTA 304 Institutions and Social Change
- BIS 307 Environmental Justice
- B BUS 461 Business, Government, and Society
Leadership courses
- B LEAD 102 Leading with Purpose: Working in Teams
- B LEAD 103: Leading with Purpose: People Skills
- B LEAD 104: Leading with Purpose: Presentation Skills
- B LEAD 206 Learning to Lead: Collaboration in Diverse Contexts
- B LEAD 207 Learning to Lead: Leading Others
- B BUS 402 Managing Work Teams (5 credits)
- B BUS 473 Leadership and Decision Making (5 credits)
NextGen Civic Leader Corps participants are strongly encouraged to consider a minor in
Public Policy. If you have questions regarding the Public Policy Studies minor, please contact the IAS Advisors at IASadv@uw.edu.
2. Career Building Experiences
We ask program participants to engage in one non-profit or government career building opportunity. These career building experiences will connect participants with professionals in a field of interest, build personal and professional networks, and in many cases allow students to gain practical experience working in a nonprofit or government organization.
Choose how to complete this requirement:
A paid or unpaid public service internship/community-based learning
- List of Community-Engaged Learning and Research (CELR) courses
- Search Handshake listings through the UW Bothell Career Center
- Search Connected Huskies database
- Join Beta Alpha Psi accounting student club and fulfill the service hour requirements with public sectors
- Credited internships within your major (with non-profit or government)
- BIS 495 (IAS majors)
- BBUS 497 (Business)
- CSS 497 (CSSE)
- BHS 496 (Health Studies)
- CSS 397 and CSS 495 (Applied Computing)
- BIS 497, Political Internship in State Government
Career mentorship programs
- Huskies@Work (through the UW Alumni Association)
- Mentorship EDGE (for Business students, if matched with a mentor in the public sector)
- Latino Educational Training Institute (LETI)
For more information, talk to Ludmilla Kortchak, Connected Learning Advisor, to identify potential internships. Phone: (425)-352-3144 | Email: kortchak@uw.edu.
3. Signature Cohort Events
We ask student participants to attend at least two signature cohort events each academic year.
Signature cohort events allow NextGen Civic Leader Corps participants to build their networks, engage with new ideas, and consider how others approach pressing social issues and cultural conversations. Events span varied categories, including direct service, network building, and social/cultural events. Many signature events offer direct connections with notable community leaders, public policy practitioners, and/or elected officials.
- Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies – Social Justice Career Speaker Panel (every winter quarter)
- Career Conversation Circles at Pathway Event (every winter quarter)
- Yearly updated event list from Student Engagement and Activities
- Yearly updated event list from Diversity Center
- Alternative Spring Break (sponsored by Student Engagement Activities, March)
- Earth Week Service Project (sponsored by Sustainability Office, April)
- Annual Tax Ethics Conference (School of Business, for students who are thinking about public accounting)
Students are encouraged to attend events sponsored or approved by other tri-campus programs in
Seattle and Tacoma to complete this requirement.
All events will be posted on our events calendar – stay tuned!
How to Join
The NextGen program is open to all University of Washington undergraduate students. First-year and pre-major students, as well as students with a demonstrated history of work with underserved and underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to consider participation.
Contact Us
Get in touch with Ludmilla Kortchak, Connected Learning Advisor, at kortchak@uw.edu with questions or set up a time to chat via Zoom or in person.
Recent NextGen Corps News
NextGen Student Ambassador Builds Network around Public Service
NextGen Civic Leader Corps Ambassador showcases the inspirational trip to the annual NextGen Service Corps (NGSC) Leadership Conference at Arizona State University (ASU).
Learn more about NextGen Ambassadors engagement
My Story: Voting as a call to action for social change
NextGen Civic Leader Corps member writes about why voting matters and the importance of engaging young people in the process.
Learn more about NextGen members calling to action