Welcome to GW: Your Journey Begins Now!
To our newest GW Revolutionaries - welcome!
My name is Colette Coleman and I serve as the Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students. Throughout your time here at GW, I hope you will find me to be your ally and advocate—someone who aims to guide you through challenges, uplift your successes, and ensure you feel a sense of belonging within this dynamic community. The Division for Student Affairs (DSA) team and I will be with you on every step of your journey.
I’m proud that year after year, driven, creative, extraordinary students like you choose to make GW home. Just yesterday, the Class of 2024 celebrated their academic accomplishments with GW’s iconic Commencement ceremony on the National Mall. It is the culmination of many #OnlyAtGW experiences that will make your time here truly unique. But I must also acknowledge that the path to get there will come with challenges. Along with your academic successes, budding friendships and newfound passions, it is likely you will also experience failures, disappointment and stress from classes, relationships, and the weight of the world’s many issues. But you are not alone, and we will all be here to help one another.
Your ability to do well as a student is in many ways a direct reflection of your ability to stay well in body and mind. As part of your preparation to join us in August, it is important that you become familiar with the tools accessible to you. This edition of Next Stop, GW is a guide through the various wellbeing resources available to help you thrive here.
I can’t wait to meet you soon. Until then, get ready for the Revolutionary journey of a lifetime.
Raise High!
Colette Coleman
Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
Follow Dean Coleman on Instagram!
Wellbeing at GW
At GW, your holistic wellness is a priority and a contributing factor to success and resilience. There are many offices and people dedicated to your wellbeing and its many facets. In this edition of Next Stop, GW!, we will highlight some of the many wellbeing support services and resources available to you. Be on the lookout in each of our future newsletters for the Wellbeing at GW corner where we’ll continue to highlight the people and spaces who are dedicated to your overall wellness!
Wellbeing: Body and Mind
There are many resources to support both physical and mental wellbeing at GW. To take care of medical needs, the Student Health Center (SHC) offers multidisciplinary, integrated, student-focused healthcare services provided in an outpatient setting that is confidential, accessible, safe, culturally sensitive, and supportive. The SHC provides primary care to GW students as well as immunizations and injections, gynecological services, LGBTQIA+ and sexual healthcare, and seasonal vaccinations. Many primary care visits can be scheduled via your Student Health Center student portal.
To address mental and emotional wellbeing, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) counselors provide a safe, non-judgmental and confidential environment for students to discuss their concerns. CAPS offers same-day hours daily 12-4 p.m. with no appointment needed! There are many ways CAPS provides care to the GW community including group support, workshops, and prevention and education programming. Learn more about the resources CAPS offers!
Along with in-person services provided by CAPS, GW offers TimelyCare, a free, 24/7 virtual health and wellbeing service to meet all of your needs on your schedule. You can sign up for TimelyCare as soon as you’ve claimed your GW email. From health coaching to 24/7 on-demand mental wellbeing support, TimelyCare is available to you 365 days a year.
To round out your physical wellbeing, explore all that the Lerner Health and Wellness Center has to offer. From group fitness classes and personal training to intramural and club sports programs, you have access to plenty of ways to keep your body moving.
An important note about Student Health Insurance: GW mandates that all students must have medical health insurance coverage while enrolled. Students are automatically enrolled in a comprehensive Student Healthcare Insurance Plan (SHIP). If you are covered by your parent or guardian’s qualifying medical health plan, you may waive GW SHIP coverage. The waiver period will be August 1 - September 12. Students will receive more information in August about how to waive coverage.
New Student Checklist
Located in your admitted student portal, the New Student Checklist is a guide of important to-do items to complete prior to joining us on campus in August for New Student Orientation (NSO). The following due dates are coming up:
- Have you claimed your GW identity yet? The deadline was May 15, so if you haven’t claimed your GW identity, do so here.
- Registration for First-Year Housing opened on May 14. You will need your GW credentials to log-in to the GW Home Portal.
- The GW First-Year Academic Interest Survey is due May 20 (today)! If you haven’t already, take 5 minutes to fill out this survey so your academic advisor knows how to best support you during your session.
- Mandatory Immunizations forms are due to the Student Health Center by June 15. You will need to log into the student portal using your GW credentials to submit those. Learn more on the Immunization webpage.
- Don’t forget to register for New Student Orientation by June 15! If you’re interested in participating in a pre-orientation or co-curricular program, you can learn more about program offerings here and be sure to take note of their registration deadlines!
- The Pre-Orientation Online Module (POOM) Part I is now available! Complete Part I by June 15.
The Buff & Blue Book
The Buff and Blue Book is published! You can access it on the orientation website or at this direct link to the book. This online resource includes important deadlines and information to note as you make your way to campus in August. It also introduces you to the campus resources and services that will support you in your transition to life at GW.
Questions? Email us at [email protected]
Follow us on Instagram at @studentlifeatgw
Check out our website go.gwu.edu/orientation