Amazon recently announced a $3 million donation to Bellevue College and Seattle Colleges to fund affordable, four-year degree programs in computer science (CS) for Puget Sound residents.
Both schools will receive $1.5 million to expand CS higher education opportunities for local students from backgrounds and communities that are historically underrepresented in tech. The programs will help create and support a pathway for students to build a career in tech.
With support from Amazon, the Washington State Legislature passed a bill to enable community and technical colleges in the state to offer four-year CS degrees. With Amazon’s contribution, Seattle Colleges and Bellevue College will launch or expand these programs by hiring more teachers and increasing capacity to graduate even more students from the region.
According to Victor Reinoso, global director of Amazon’s philanthropic education initiatives, the donation exemplifies Amazon’s commitment to a diverse tech student demographics, and to bring about inclusion in this in-demand career path.
“Engineering and computer science are two of the most in-demand career fields in the U.S., and it is essential that there are enough skilled workers who represent our diverse communities to fill these roles,” said Reinoso. “We are committed to creating a diverse pipeline of tech students in the Puget Sound region and hiring this homegrown talent to help keep this region strong in the years to come.”
Amazon’s funding will support the following efforts:
• Bellevue College will use Amazon’s $1.5 million donation to help expand the capacity of its existing computer science program to serve 60% more students. The grant will also support students with financial or technical assistance, particularly those from underrepresented populations.
• Seattle Colleges will use Amazon’s $1.5 million grant to help hire faculty, double the program’s capacity to serve local students interested in computer science, and recruit local high school students. This investment is in addition to Amazon’s $1 million donation in 2021 to help launch the bachelor’s degree program in computer science at North Seattle College, one of Seattle Colleges three campuses.
“Since we first launched the bachelor’s in computer science degree in 2017, it’s proved to be a tremendously successful pathway for our diverse communities to gain the skills and experience for this high-wage, high-demand field,” said Gary Locke, Bellevue College’s interim president. “Expanding our computer science program, including more financial support for enrollees and outreach to K-12 students, means great opportunities for even more students. We’re so grateful to Amazon for making this substantial contribution to their success.”
Seattle Colleges has a long history in advocating for the region’s workforce. With Amazon being one of the leading tech companies in the world, their commitment to enhancing the areas colleges and universities in technology is only fitting.
“Seattle Colleges has played an important role in training and developing our region’s workforce for decades. As an institution that serves this technology-driven community, we understand the value of computer science and STEM education. It’s only fitting that a leading technology company like Amazon would invest in its own backyard,” said Dr. Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap, interim chancellor of Seattle Colleges. “We are grateful for Amazon’s commitment to our students and faculty, and we are proud to be their partner.”
According to Code.org, there are more than 21,000 open computing jobs exist across Washington state, with an average salary of $112,000. Additionally, in 2021, the number of job openings that required STEM credentials was about three times higher than the number of prepared graduates in the state. Even though computer science is a rapidly growing field, opportunities for learning foundational CS skills are inequitable. For example, of the 1,883 computer science degrees awarded in Washington state during the 2018-19 academic year, only 3.8% were awarded to Black students, 5.6% to Latino students, and less than 1% to Native American students.
In addition to its support for Seattle and Bellevue Colleges, Amazon is also donating $5 million to the University of Washington to help construct a new Interdisciplinary Engineering Building on its Seattle campus. The new facility will help the college keep up with the increasing demand for engineering degrees and provide support services for engineering students from historically underrepresented communities. Since 2009, the university has nearly doubled the number of engineering degrees granted to undergraduate and graduate students.
