New UW program clears way to 3-year degree

A new University of Washington program will clear the way to a three-year undergraduate degree for students who arrive on campus with 45 credits, but the university has no plans to hurry students who would prefer to take four years to complete their bachelor's degree.

The Husky Advantage program is designed for students who earn Advanced Placement or Running Start credits in high school and are motivated to finish quickly, either because they have plans for graduate school or because they are motivated to enter the work world as soon as possible, said Ed Taylor, dean and vice provost of undergraduate academic affairs.

"Our goal isn't to speed students through," Taylor said.

The 500 or so freshmen who come to UW each year with 45 credits have always been allowed to earn a degree in three years but now the university wants to make that path easier, by giving these students more personalized advising.

"We don't think enough attention has been paid to those students who earn AP or Running Start credit once they come to us," UW President Mark Emmert said in a statement.

With the right guidance and fewer impediments, these students can save their parents a year of undergraduate tuition, which was $7,400 this year.

Most majors that will accommodate the Husky Advantage program are in the College of Arts and Sciences. Taylor said there isn't a list of majors that would fit with the new program, but some would be easier to work with than others.

"This is to tailor an opportunity for students who have a particular focus," Taylor said.

The majority of students will likely continue to take four years to complete their undergraduate degree, he said.