Who We Are
The Washington Student Engagement Networks (WA-SEN) is the student arm of the College Promise Coalition. Founded in 2017, the primary function of WA-SEN is to regularly recruit, train, and connect college students with policymakers at the district level, and annually during the legislative session in Olympia. This contact with elected officials and policy makers provides a student-centered perspective on access to higher education in Washington state.
Why It Matters
Washington Student Engagement Networks (WA-SEN) brings together students on private and public, 2-year and 4-year campuses to engage and educate legislators about the importance of higher education for all Washingtonians. We also partner with aspiring college students through the College Success Foundation. Recruiting a diverse and inclusive student network is an essential component of WA-SEN’s commitment to advance equity, leading through the lens of race. Our network includes the 34 community and technical colleges, the six public baccalaureate universities, and the 10 private not-for-profit colleges across the state of Washington.
As the student voice of the College Promise Coalition, WA-SEN believes systemic racism permeates every institution in our country. We believe it should not stay that way. Our work strives to create more equitable and increased access to higher education for Black, Indigenous, students of color, low-income students, and other historically marginalized students. Visit our Priorities page to learn more.
How We Do It
WA-SEN holds an annual Student Summit in the fall with speakers and workshops to improve engagement, organizing, and speaking skills. WA-SEN sponsors advocacy days during the legislative session, typically during February, and local or regionally based appointments with elected officials, where student advocates can have their voices heard and educate elected officials about the needs of students and the importance of funding college and education opportunities beyond high school.
WA-SEN is administered by Independent Colleges of Washington and privately funded through a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.