Becoming a part of the community at the Information School is an important aspect of your student experience. Student organizations offer a variety of benefits that promote the development of personal and professional goals. Active engagement with organizations helps students build leadership and team skills, network with professionals, improve communication, develop critical thinking, promote student wellness, and create relationships with peers.  

Students at the Information School are fortunate to have several student-managed organizations that fall into at least one of the following areas:

• Program: The focus of these organizations is to support an iSchool academic degree program. They host activities to promote community and serve as advocacy liaisons to program and school administration.  

• Community Building/Social: A primary focus of these organizations is to support student engagement, build community within the iSchool, and enhance the general well-being of the student body.

• Diversity, Ethnic, Accessibility and Sovereignty: Groups focus on affinity needs of iSchool students and build community within subgroups of the student population and enhance the experience of those populations.  

• Careers, Organization and Industry: These organizations focus on preparing students for careers in specific roles within the information field.  

Information School Student Organizations 

The primary focus of these organizations is to support iSchool students and support the mission of the iSchool through student engagement. Student leadership in these organizations are all iSchool students. 

Association for Information Management Students (AIMS)

AIMS serves Early-Career and Mid-Career students in the Master of Science in Information Management (MSIM) program. Its goal is to improve academic, career and social experiences for both current students and alumni. Throughout the year, AIMS hosts a variety of events such as happy hours and skill-building sessions, and it advocates and addresses issues on behalf of the MSIM student body during the MSIM Program Committee, iSchool Student Leadership Council, and Graduate Student Senate meetings.

Association of Library and Information Science Students (ALISS)

ALISS organizes a variety of events, including a quarterly town hall to provide voice to students who want to express concerns with iSchool administrators; social events such as hikes; coffee in the iLounge; and professional events that feature guest speakers working in the field. 

Black in Informatics (BINFO)

Black in Informatics is a community-driven organization dedicated to fostering the professional, academic, and personal development of Black students within the Informatics program. Its mission is to amplify the presence and successes of Black students in Informatics, guiding them throughout their journey at UW with resources, mentorship, and specialized learning experiences.

Doctoral Student Association (DSA)

The DSA provides a supportive community for Ph.D. students by providing official channels for communications between students and the faculty/administration of the Information School, as well as organizing opportunities for social, cultural and professional activities for students. 

Informatics Undergraduate Association (IUGA)

IUGA is a great place for students to gain campus leadership because it operates as the student government for the Informatics undergraduate program, advocating for the interests of current and prospective Informatics students. IUGA also hosts fun, community-building events as well as programming that focuses on professional development.

iQueeries

iQueeries provides a safe, positive, and nurturing space for LGBTQIA+ and supportive ally students in the Information School. It works to foster a strong, supportive queer community within the iSchool as well as UW at large, and to promote positive change and social justice within the field of information sciences. iQueeries is intersectional: all identities and experiences are welcome and encouraged to share their voices. iQueeries is on Instagram and Discord.

American Library Association, UW Student Chapter (sALA)

sALA organizes a variety of programs and activities throughout the year to encourage networking, highlight trends and issues in the library profession, promote advocacy, and assist students in course and conference planning.

Students of Color in LIS (SoCLIS)

Students of Color in LIS (SoCLIS) supports students of color pursuing careers in library and information science, building professional and personal connections between underrepresented practitioners of color.

Women in Informatics (Winfo)

Women in Informatics supports ways to empower women to thrive as producers of technology. Winfo is a supportive network of women in technology fields who provide students with mentorship, resources and support toward career development and academic pursuits. This group organizes various activities and events such as hackathons, Diversity Power Hour, company tours at tech companies such as Indeed.com, networking nights and more.   

Affiliate UW Registered Student Organizations 

In addition to the Information School student organizations, students may find a community connection with our affiliate UW organizations. These are campus-wide organizations that focus on areas related to the interests of Information School students.  

UW Registered Student Organization interested in becoming an affiliate organization with the Information School can apply by submitting the Information School Student Organization Application form. The application deadline is the last day of winter quarter. To be considered, organizations must be: 

• Registered Student Organization in good standing 

• Focus on an area of interest to iSchool students including technology, information access, data, affinity groups, etc. 

Applied Analytics Club at UW

DubHacks

DubHacks is a tech and entrepreneurship nonprofit that hosts the largest hackathon in the Pacific Northwest at the University of Washington. It brings together students of all backgrounds to tackle the issues they are most passionate about. DubHacks Next is the entrepreneurship branch of DubHacks with the mission to empower and educate student builders on campus. 

DubsTech

DubsTech UW is for any student who wants to join a supportive community that focuses on providing hands-on opportunities that help students improve their tech skills. This group does this by organizing a variety of free, open-to-all workshops, competitions and talks every year. Each workshop involves students directly interacting with technology and completing a project they can use as a showcase in their portfolio. Dubstech UW hosts guest speakers from various tech companies such as Google, Amazon and Facebook.

ISACA

ISACA aims to engage students who are interested in learning about information security and risk. This student group accomplishes this by hosting workshops and events that teach students about basic information security procedures and best practices. 

Not seeing an organization that matches your interests? Search the UW Registered Student Organization database to find a group that fits your goals. 

Student Leadership Council (SLC)

This board serves as an advisory council to the deans and other iSchool administration. It is composed of representatives from each of the Information School’s degree program student organizations (AIMS, ALISS, DSA, IUGA, WINFO and Museology). The council meets 2 to 3 times a quarter with various members of the iSchool faculty and staff.  

If you have questions about iSchool Organizations, please contact iorghelp@uw.edu.