Fall 2022 Next Stop GW #2 June Edition

Hello First-Years!

Seems like yesterday we were celebrating our own GW seniors at May's Commencement, but it's June already! We hope you are enjoying those last few high school celebrations and are able to enjoy a bit of summer while continuing to focus on your journey to GW!

Just like you, we experienced our own GW journey as we joined the GW community as staff members and one of us (Seth) walked in your shoes as a student. What we all found was that we were welcomed with open arms by students, faculty, and staff members ready to make us feel a part of the GW community – and our priority is to ensure the same for you.

Living on campus is one of the most rewarding times many students will experience during college - movie nights, study sessions, and talking until the sun comes up! By now, hopefully, you have registered for on-campus housing (Note! Deadline was earlier this week). Starting next week we will begin to pass out room assignments. Once you arrive on campus, our Campus Living & Residential Education (CLRE) team, led by our Community Coordinators, (CCs for short), who are staff members living in the halls, will support you in your residential experience. We know new places can be overwhelming to explore. Recognizing this and to help create pockets of community, residence halls are grouped into smaller "neighborhoods" by their location on campus. Through events and programming, our team, along with the student Residence Hall Association (RHA) and our Faculty in Residence, will facilitate opportunities to explore your new campus community and help you connect with fellow residents. We encourage you to visit our website for more information.

We know we can't replace "home," but our goal is to create a "home away from home" while you are at GW!

We can't wait to meet you in August. In the meantime, keep enjoying this special time in your life.

Raise High!
Seth Weinshel, Associate Vice President, Business Services
Stewart Robinette, Assistant Dean, Campus Living and Residential Education

ATTEND your virtual small group orientation meetings.
Throughout the month, Orientation Leaders (OLs) will meet virtually with students in small groups to get to know you and your peers. If you can't make one of the scheduled meetings, please reach out to your OL directly to learn what you missed. If you have not met with a small group yet, email us and we'll connect you with an OL. Small Groups are not required as a part of your Orientation Experience, but are highly encouraged.

DOWNLOAD the Buff & Blue Book (PDF) and start reviewing!
Pay close attention to Academics, Student Support Services, and Living On-Campus sections.

REGISTER for a Co-Curricular Program .
GW Pre-Orientation Programs help first-year students connect with peers around a shared identity, specialized topic, or common area of interest. Note: Students participating in other pre-orientation programs such as the SEAS Getaway, Women's Leadership, and University Honors are not able to participate in these other co-curricular activities as they are held at the same time. Adventure Bound , Lead GW and Founding Scholars are all open now!

*Note* ICL will return to being an upperclass program. Instead, Community Building Community will be available for first-year students. Community Building Community (CBC) is hosted by units across GW's Office for Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement (ODECE) and explores the intersections of community engagement and diversity, preparing students for their roles as leaders and engaging them in community and civic engagement both on campus and in the D.C. community. CBC will begin Sunday, Aug 21 at 5 pm and will continue through Aug 23. For questions, email [email protected] .

• First-year students in the following scholar cohorts should register for this program: Chicago Scholars, Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute, Civic House, District Scholars, IMPACT/Yes Prep, Posse, Say Yes to Education, Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, Politics and Values.

COMPLETE the Academic Support, Study Abroad, Student Support Services, and Living On-Campus sections of the Online Orientation by June 13.
Continue working on last month's Academic Advising & Class Registration sections if you have not yet completed them, as those sections are required to register for advising sessions.

IN FOCUS: ACADEMICS 

COMPLETE the GW First Year Academic Interest Survey by June 13.
The survey takes 5 minutes. Results of this survey will be used to assist in virtual advising sessions and connect you to various academic resources.

TAKE Placement Exams
If you plan to enroll in ECON , MATH , CHEM , or a language course, you must complete your placement exams.

SIGN-UP for a date/time to register for your fall courses * by July 1.
Your initial meeting with your academic advisor will be a virtual session. *Exception: first-year students in the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) are pre-registered for fall courses in mid-to-late July and you will not have a virtual session w/an advisor. See the online orientation module for more details.

REGISTER with Disability Support Services , if you would like additional support to accomodate a disability for your classes or living on campus. (optional)
The Office of Disability Support Services (DSS) will host virtual orientation sessions in July and August for students interested in accommodations for the fall. Students must attend one of the three orientations listed below to receive accommodations. To register and receive a link to the webinar, email [email protected] at least three business days prior to the event.

• Tuesday, July 12 at 1 p.m. EDT
• Tuesday, July 26 at 3 p.m. EDT
• Tuesday, August 9 at 1 p.m. EDT

TO DO BY JULY 1 

UPLOAD COVID-19 Vaccination Documentation to the Medical Portal
GW requires all members of our community to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including a booster shot, or have an exemption on file. To be fully vaccinated means completing your first booster five months after two doses of Pfizer or Moderna and two months after one dose of Johnson & Johnson. Students are not required to complete the second booster that is currently recommended for individuals over 50 or who are immunosuppressed. All new, incoming first-year students must upload their vaccine documentation by July 1. If you are not in compliance with GW's vaccine and booster requirement by July 1, you will not be able to move into your residence halls and will not be able to register for fall classes on your designated registration day.

SUBMIT Your Photo To Set-Up Your GWorld Card
Your GWorld Card (GW's official ID card) grants you access to campus including all academic buildings, the library and your residence hall. You will also "swipe or tap" your card to enter the dining halls to eat, unlock your residence hall door, and print your term papers at printing kiosks.

• Submit your own photo by July 1 so that your card can be generated and be ready to pick-up when you arrive for the fall semester. For more information see instructions emailed to you on May 24 from the GWorld Card Office or email [email protected] .

COMING SOON 

REVIEW Your Preliminary Invoice
Towards the end of the month, the Student Accounts Office will send you a preliminary/preview of your fall 2022 invoice for your tuition & fees and room & board (if applicable). The final bill will be sent in mid-to-late July and payment will be due by the first day of classes unless you sign-up for a payment plan. Discuss the invoice with a parent/family member who has permission to access your Student Account eBill and make payments on your behalf. You are the only one who can grant Authorized User access .

UPLOAD Other Required Immunizations
The District of Columbia Immunization Law requires that all students under the age of 26 enrolled at GW, provide proof of certain immunizations prior to registration, including tetanus, MMR, Varicella (chicken pox), Hepatitis B and Meningococcal vaccine, among others. Newly-admitted undergraduate students are required to provide proof of immunization by Aug. 1 or they will incur a registration hold on their student account.

REVIEW Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) & Waiver
All undergraduate students, medical, on-campus nursing, on-campus health science, and all international students holding a J1 or F1 visa are required to carry student health insurance while they study at GW. At the beginning of each academic year, these students are automatically enrolled in GW's Student Health Insurance Program, called GW SHIP. Students who want to opt-out of the university coverage because they are still covered by their parent's health domestic-based health insurance must complete the waiver process each year. The fall 2022 waiver and updated insurance plan information will be available here after August 1 . Note: the webpage is still active for spring/summer 2022 participants.

PAST DUE 

REGISTER to Live On-Campus in our Residence Halls.
The deadline to register to live-on campus this fall or request an exemption was June 6. Rooms are in the process of being assigned and students will be notified starting the week of June 13. If you missed the deadline, we urge you to reach out to [email protected] today to request help in completing the registration process.

REMINDERS 

 VIRTUAL OFFICE HOURS WITH OUR OLs – Starting Wednesday, June 8, we will be hosting weekly virtual office hours from 9 am -5pm EDT through Aug. 17. Each Wednesday our friendly Student Orientation Leaders will take turns being online to answer questions and help connect you to campus resources. To access our virtual office hours, log into Zoom using your GW student email. If your family member has questions, please log-on with them via your email. Click go.gwu.edu/OrientationOfficeHours to chat. Reminder, this link will only be active & open on Wednesdays .

It's easy to stay connected with us! Continue to check the Orientation website for the most up-to-date information.

Be resilient, and empower yourself and your community to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergency events and incidents! Stay informed of GW's safety and security efforts, while learning helpful safety tips and strategies in fun and engaging ways!