A Note to our Community
We want to take a moment to acknowledge and reflect on recent racial incidents in the U.S. involving black Americans. As fellow GW students and student leaders, we reject any and all forms of racism and are committed to educating one another and elevating the voices of the Black community.
To our Black students - current and incoming - we see you, we stand with you, and we support you. As an Orientation team, we promise to dedicate our time and energy into listening and learning and to engage in thoughtful change. We will be advocates for and with you. Our efforts are focused on creating an inclusive, diverse, empathetic, and engaged student community.
Here are some GW resources:
- A message from Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity, and Community Engagement, Caroline Laguerre-Brown, JD
- Counseling and Psychological Services
- GW Listens
- Tools for Faculty & Staff to Create an Inclusive Campus
- Reflections on the Past Week: GW Faculty & Administrators
- Form: Community Reflections
Be well and continue to Raise High,
Alex, Asher, Foon and the 2020 Orientation Team
Welcome!
Congratulations to the newest member of our community! We are excited to welcome you to campus soon. We know you are probably feeling a range of emotions - excitement and nervousness for transferring to a new college and learning how to navigate a new normal with COVID-19. While we may not have all the answers nor can we predict what the next year will look like, we can assure you that we are here to guide and support you through this transition!
This email newsletter will come to your email inbox from now until the start of the fall semester and serves as a primary resource for communication from GW to you. The newsletters provide timely and relevant information, dates, and deadlines required to complete over the summer, before, and upon arrival to GW. In addition, this frequent summer communication provides an introduction to important campus resources, campus living and learning, and overall student life.
Here's what you can expect in this edition...
- Overview of summer to-dos and communication
- A welcome message from the Dean of Students
- Housing - the transfer application opens on June 11!
- Dining and food options at GW
- Spotlight: The Store, GW's student-run food pantry
- Real Talk GW - an intro to a new podcast-like series by students, for students
Back to Campus Initiative: the President recently released an update about fall operations. With this news, please keep in mind that there is still much to be determined around move-in and Orientation schedules. Please do not make travel plans until you receive an update on move-in. Continue to check our website for program updates and campus advisories for university updates.
Summer 2020 Preview
As summer progresses, we will utilize email and our website to provide updates regarding upcoming events, such as move-in and Orientation. This will be in alignment with any university updates shared as we all plan for the fall semester. We are in this together and we're looking forward to engaging with you this summer leading up to the fall. Encourage your family members or members of your support network to sign-up to receive university communication through our Family Listserv.
It's easy to stay connected with us! Continue to check the Orientation website for the most up-to-date information, and join us for our weekly webinar series, Tuesday Talks. Engage with us on social media for a glimpse of life at GW, to hear from current students and for fun giveaways!
Welcome From the Dean of Students
M.L. "Cissy" Petty
Hello new students!
I am excited to be among the first to welcome you to our community as an official GW student! The Division for Student Affairs is a team of professionals who you will get to know this summer and during your time on campus. They will guide you through the various phases of your GW journey like student involvement, support, and your health and well-being. We can't wait to get to know you!
As your Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, I'd like to offer a few tips for success. First, be your authentic self. Demonstrate in word and deed who you are and who you aspire to be. Live with integrity. Second, reach out to others to make friends and you'll find your community. Your fellow peers are going through similar experiences you are, with similar feelings. Share with each other and you'll discover similarities and differences, likes and dislikes. Third, embrace diversity. You'll meet all sorts of interesting people at GW from all walks of life. Our diversity is our strength. Break out of your comfort zone to meet new friends. Learn from fellow upperclass students. All of this will help you find your place and will also help you understand what makes GW special. We will be here to support you in this work virtually over the summer and will expand upon it in person during the fall semester.
I can't wait to meet all of you. When we do connect, you will find I am always in "learning mode," asking lots of questions to find out more about your GW experience. This summer, I encourage you to be in learning mode, too. Through our continued outreach we will introduce you and invite you to discover the many offices and people here at GW who are eager to support you. We encourage you to become familiar with the services that our campus offers. That way by the time you arrive on campus, some of that nervousness will be behind you. Remember too, if at any point during the academic year you are missing your furry friend back home and are in need of a pick-me-up, my dog Jazz often visits campus. He loves meeting new students just as much as I do.
Our student experience is built upon a foundation that is inclusive, welcoming, informative, and fun. The orientation experience may look and feel a little different in the coming months as we navigate these unprecedented times together. Remember: we are here to support each other as a GW community. I encourage you to get engaged with our campus community through our various social media channels. Follow our Student Affairs on Twitter at @StudentLifeatGW and check out my feed @cissypetty.
I look forward to seeing you all soon! Until then...
Raise High,
Dean Petty
Home at GW
We are excited to introduce you to the diverse array of living options at GW. Our two campuses, as well as the varied housing experiences we offer will help you find your home away from home. We have several residence halls that offer unique experiences and opportunities.
Our Foggy Bottom campus offers the excitement of living in the urban environment of Washington, D.C. Most dining options on the Foggy Bottom campus are offered through vendors that have partnered with GW. Within walking distance or a short Metro ride, the Foggy Bottom campus offers opportunities for students to explore many museums, parks, and attractions.
Our Mount Vernon campus offers a retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life within a close knit community. You will find a more traditional dining option of Pelham Commons and amenities such as Eckles Library, a black box theater, a gym, and multiple classroom and laboratory spaces. Additionally, it is home to many open green spaces, other outdoor spaces including tennis courts, soccer/lacrosse fields, and an outdoor pool!
We also encourage you to start making your packing list for move-in. Keep in mind there are items you should bring and others you should leave at home. Later on this summer you will receive a complete Move-In Guide.
Live-In Residential Staff
No matter which campus you will call home, one thing that remains consistent are the caring staff in our halls! Our live-in team, which consists of undergraduate Resident Advisors (RAs), full-time Community Directors (CDs), Area Coordinators (ACs), Faculty in Residence (FiR) and Faculty Guides (FG) are here to help support your transition now and throughout your years living on-campus. Your new home away from home will also offer you the opportunity to find community through future roommates and hall mates – some of whom will become your close friends or maybe even a mentor who helps you discover your best potential at GW!
Housing Application - How It Works
The transfer housing application opens on Thursday, June 11 and will continue on a rolling basis. During this period you can update and change information on your application an unlimited amount of times. The application asks you questions about your lifestyle preferences (bed time, study hours, cleanliness, etc.). Visit our website for more information.
The housing placement process occurs on a rolling basis. It is not first-come, first-serve, but rather generated randomly with preferences for lifestyle questions taken into consideration. For questions please email [email protected].
Finding a Roommate
If you are looking for a roommate or would like to be matched with a roommate you can use RoomSync. Using RoomSync isn't required and only about 40% of students have or will preference a roommate. You can learn more about how Roomsync works on our website.
We know that this is an exciting time as you begin to imagine what your residential experience will be.
Off-Campus Living
GW has an on-campus residency requirement for all first-, second-, and third-year students, unless you qualify for an exemption. If you qualify for an exemption and are interested in living off-campus, then check out Off-Campus Student Affairs.
We look forward to being part of this first step of your GW living experience! Keep your eye on your email inbox for reminders from [email protected] about the application.
Best,
Seth Weinshel, Assistant Dean of Students for Campus Living and Residential Education
Stewart Robinette, Assistant Dean of Students for Campus Living and Residential Education
Explore from Home
Take a video tour of GW's Foggy Bottom campus. Before they departed campus in March, our tour guides covered the highlights so you can see what life is like at GW.
Explore our virtual tour. This interactive map will show you our Foggy Bottom campus in downtown D.C. and our Mount Vernon campus in northwest D.C.
Don't forget to continue to check the university's COVID-19 website for relevant and timely updates.
Dining at GW
We know how crucial a role dining plays in your overall college experience and GW Dining wants to make sure you have all the tools, resources, and knowledge to make the most out of your dining experience. Our open dining plan gives you the access to eat at a variety of dining partners, easily accessible on campus or close by in the surrounding neighborhoods. Our dining partner network includes 105+ vendors that you can shop, dine, and eat. With options ranging from table service to delivery, and dining partners ranging from food trucks to regional cuisines and grocery stores, you'll always have easy access to food that meets your tastes and needs.
Included in our dining partner network is SAGE Dining Services, our dining partner on the Mount Vernon campus (MVC). SAGE manages Pelham Commons and Higher Grounds Cafe on the MVC. Pelham Commons is our all-you-care-to eat dining hall that offers daily lunch and dinner, and weekly Sunday brunch. Higher Grounds Cafe offers freshly brewed coffee, pastries, bagels, grab-and-go items and more. In addition, located in Higher Grounds Cafe is the MVC Convenience Store, offering students a wide range of hygiene products, basic over the counter medicines, frozen meals, pantry staples and more.
The GW Dining plan is administered through a declining-balance account. Purchases are made with a swipe of your GWorld Card using Dining Cash. Students can either manage their account online or through the dining-dedicated GET App, which can also be used to find dining locations, order food delivery from select dining partners, check account balances and add Dining or Colonial Cash funds. With the freedom and flexibility of our open dining plan, students are responsible for independently managing their dining funds. We encourage you to download the GW Dining Budgeting App to easily budget your funds for the semester. GW Dining also offers a wide range of programming to help you maximize your funds and get the most out of your dining plan! From meal deals and discounts, to meal prep guides and cookbooks, events such as Supermarket Sundays and RHA Cooking Classes, and direct shuttle service from the Mount Vernon Campus to the Georgetown Safeway; we ensure that you are well equipped to navigate dining at GW with ease and great success.
Follow us on our social media pages Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to stay in touch and to stay up-to-date on new vendors, events on campus, dining tips and more! If you have specific questions regarding dining at GW, we encourage you to consult our webpage for more information or send your questions to [email protected].
Best,
Karen Zinn
Associate Vice President, Business Services
The Store GW's Food Pantry
The Store is a student-run food pantry at GW that is managed by the Store student organization and the Division for Student Affairs. The Store's mission is to alleviate food insecurity at GW and provide other resources for students to thrive. We understand the adverse effects of not having access to essential items and the impact that this can have on a person's life.
The Store provides dried goods, meats, fresh produce, dairy, vegan options, and more to ensure access to things all students might need. Aside from food, the Store also rents out laptops and iClickers to students per semester and provides laundry and printing cards, gently used business attire, household items, toiletries, and menstrual hygiene products.
The Store recently expanded operations in Spring 2020 to the Mount Vernon campus and hopes to be open to students when campus re-opens. This past academic year, the Store had 875 shoppers including students, both undergraduate and graduate, faculty, and staff.
For more information or to sign-up to either access the Store or volunteer, visit https://studentlife.gwu.edu/store.
Real Talk GW
Student driven and designed, Real Talk GW, is a podcast-like series with current GW students discussing topics related to the student experience. Tune in every Wednesday at 7 p.m. EST on Instagram to hear students with diverse experiences discuss all things college!
Upcoming episodes:
- June 17: Work-life balance
- June 24: Smarter, not harder!
*Special episode* airing on Monday, June 8 at 7 p.m. EST on Instagram, Understanding the Black Experience, with current members of GW's Black Student Union and Black Men's Initiative. They will share their experiences as Black students at GW. Please join us for this important conversation.