2021 Next Stop GW #1 - Welcome Transfers!

Congratulations to the newest member of our community! It's official! We can't wait to get to know you this summer and beyond. As a native DMV'er (ie: what us locals call the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area) I am excited for you to make D.C. your new home. I came "home" in 2015 when I accepted a role to work at GW. Prior to then, I had worked in Fraternity & Sorority Life and Residence Life, but still felt like I was looking for my niche in Student Affairs. Well, six years later and I think it's suffice to say I fell in love with Orientation and transition programs -- and found my niche! That is my hope for you, to find your niche while a student at GW and I have a very good feeling you will.

I don't know about you but this past year to me has felt like a roller coaster with all the loopty loops and twists. Through it all, my colleagues, the rest of the Orientation team, and I have been preparing for your arrival to campus and while we have a lot to do this summer, the fall can't come soon enough. Our roles are to help orient, connect, and support you through your transition. This transition may look different for each of you and that's okay. We will be here every step of the way - ready to guide you through this exciting next step in life.

This email newsletter will come to your inbox at the beginning of each month through August. It is your primary resource for communication from GW. The newsletters will provide monthly topics to focus on, action items to complete, community updates, and ways to connect with your peers via social media.

We hope this is one way you stay on track this summer and remain connected to your new community! See you online this summer and in person the week of August 22.

The first-year summer checklist is in your admitted student portal.

PRO TIP: write down your login information to the portal and keep it in a safe place - this is different from your netID (GW email). You will use both often.

• CLAIM your NetID and password. You need this to create your GW email.
• REGISTER for Transfer Fall Orientation
• APPLY to live on-campus in our Residence Halls.
  • Note: Applications will open June 10. Details will be sent to your GW email from Campus Living and Residential Education ([email protected]).
• COMPLETE Section 1: Academic Advising & Class Registration of the New Student Orientation (Fall 2021) online module.
  • Note: Please complete this step prior to signing up and attending an advising webinar, appointment, or drop-in hours. All incoming transfer students have access to register for classes upon deposit (except students in the School of Engineering and Applied Science). Complete these two tasks before registering for classes via BanWeb.
• REGISTER with Disability Support Services, if you would like additional support to accommodate a disability for your classes or living on campus.
• ATTEND your virtual Orientation small group meeting.
  You will receive an email from your Orientation Leader later this month with more information.

Mark Your Calendars

The Office of Disability Support Services (DSS) is hosting virtual Orientation sessions in July and August for students interested in accommodations for the fall.

• Tuesday, July 13 at 1 p.m. EDT
• Tuesday, July 27 at 3 p.m. EDT
• Tuesday, August 17 at 1 p.m. EDT

Links will be provided in the July newsletter.

**Students must attend an Orientation to receive accommodations.**

August 22-24: transfer student move-in
**You will select a move-in date and 3-hour timeslot later this summer. We encourage you to wait to book your flight/train until after your student has a confirmed date and time.

 August 25-28: transfer student Orientation activities
A mix of in-person and online activities, some required and others optional. Events include trips to museums, drop-in advising, D.C. excursions, an event on the National Mall and more. Continue to monitor your email this summer for updates.

Important Forms to Discuss with a Family Member, Partner or Spouse:

If someone other than you will be making payments to the university, you need to add them as an authorized user on the account. The student is the only one with the ability to grant access to the eBill system.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.

• Once enrolled at GW, you have the right to inspect and review your own education records, as well as designate who has access to your student records outside of GW. To grant access to others, complete the form at go.gwu.edu/ferpa.

As the newest members of our community, we want to ensure you stay up-to-date with campus and community happenings.

Health Update: Students who are in person this fall must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19

We are thrilled about the comprehensive on-campus experience we will offer our students, including in our classrooms, residence halls, laboratories, libraries and studios. We also know students will need options, and we will incorporate flexibility into our fall plans wherever possible to meet the varying in-person and remote needs of our community. As we continue to make progress this summer with our reopening plans, updates and information will be communicated and available at this website.

READ the university's vaccine requirement announcement and the FAQs, including a section for international students.

At last...D.C. is reopening!

Your new home-away-from-home is currently in Phase 2, and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has announced some changes lifting many pandemic restrictions that will go into effect starting May 21, like some museums and restaurants at full capacity. You can read more about the reopening updates online and get excited to explore the city in the fall!

Living at GW

There are some college memories that stick with you forever. Your first residence hall experience (on a new campus) is one of them. While Thurston Hall may be empty this fall as renovations continue, we are so excited that campus will be buzzing with the return of students in all the other residential buildings on Foggy Bottom and the Vern. While you're waiting for your housing assignment, be sure to check out the virtual hall tours.

WATCH the Thurston Hall Documentary

As one of the great, beloved landmarks of GW, Thurston Hall has not only been home to tens of thousands for more than half a century, but is also truly the house of a million memories.

We'll have a bacon, egg, avocado and cheese on an everything bagel, please.

Every GW student has an order for the GW Deli, a hole-in-the-wall, locally owned convenience store with some of the best food on campus. It doesn't look like much on the outside, but step inside, take a bite, and you'll know what all the buzz is about.

• WATCH the GW Deli documentary for yourself, and plan your first trip (and breakfast sandwich order) accordingly.