Navigating the college experience online can be challenging — something many of us got a taste of as a result of the pandemic. It can be difficult to build relationships the same way you would by attending classes on campus.
CodeDevils is working to bridge the gap at Arizona State University as one of the university’s first online-only student organizations, building a sense of community among both in-person and online students through coding projects and networking opportunities with industry experts.
Founded in 2016, the organization affords its nearly 2,200 registered members flexibility with study halls, club meetings, coding projects, networking opportunities with CodeDevils alumni and hackathon competitions. All opportunities are held virtually, with students connecting on several platforms including Discord and Slack channels.
According to Ruben Acuna, CodeDevils’ faculty advisor and a teaching assistant professor for software engineering in the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, the organization gives students opportunities to build their skills in addition to a supportive community.
“CodeDevils manages several ongoing programming projects that are open to students who are interested in practicing their skills and experiencing working in a group setting on an applied project,” he says. “The projects are often mentored by alumni, giving students exposure to real-world practices and helping distinguish their resumes.”
Full Circle talked with CodeDevils student officers — President Rhett Harrison, Vice President Navya Gangrade and Treasurer Jordan Yee — to learn more about what it’s like to be part of the organization.
Harrison is an ASU Online senior majoring in software engineering and
works full-time as a software developer. Gangrade is a junior and Yee
is a sophomore, both majoring in computer science. They all say that
their involvement in CodeDevils has helped shape their college
experiences, building friendships and making connections without relying
on in-person opportunities.
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