Weeks of Welcome
Weeks of Welcome at the George Washington University provides opportunities for students to connect, build relationships, learn about resources, and build a community at GW as they start a new semester. Welcome events showcase the many resources GW has to offer for academic success and student support, opportunities for involvement, and more.
Signature Events
First Night x Org Fair
Welcome home, GW! The Office of Student Life is thrilled to bring you a huge celebration to kick off the semester, featuring the annual First Night and the Org Fair! Join us for an unforgettable evening on the first Saturday when all GW undergraduate students are on campus. Discover your place in our vibrant community of 500+ student organizations, enjoy a wide array of attractions, giveaways, food trucks, performances, and so much more. Don’t miss out on this incredible event that showcases the best of what GW has to offer!
MSSC Block Party
Since 2004, the George Washington University’s (GW) Multicultural Student Services Center (MSSC) hosts the MSSC Block Party.
Faculty, staff and students who celebrate diversity join us for food, music and information sharing. More than 60 diverse student organizations and 10 departments participate. Student performance groups, music and structured dancing round out the day!
Schedule of Events
Welcome to GW! Events are added all the time, so bookmark this page and check back often to see what events we're adding to the schedule. Be sure to follow @StudentLifeatGW on Instagram and TikTok to get connected to the GW community, and for all the latest event updates.
- Week 1
- Buff and Blue Kickoff | Aug 18: Bring your Buff & Blue spirit and learn GW traditions at this high-energy kickoff event!
- USC Takeover | Aug 20 | 9 PM: Experience the best of DC at the University Student Center with local food, concert ticket giveaways, go-go music, and arts & crafts.
- National Mall Kickback | Aug 21 | 5 PM: Celebrate the new year at GW with food, lawn games, and community-building on the National Mall.
- Happy First Day | Aug 22 | 11 AM: Start the First Day of Classes with treats to boost your day!
- First Night x Org Fair | Aug 24 | 7 PM: Kick off the new year with a carnival, student organizations, and a secret attraction at this iconic GW event.
- Week 2
- IKEA Event | Aug 28 | 6 PM: Enjoy free transportation, exclusive discounts, and fun giveaways at a shopping event at IKEA.
- Week 3
- Vern Votes | Sep 5 | 10 AM: Join GW Votes on the Vern for voting information, swag, and snacks!
- Week 4
- Ballots & Basics | Sep 17 | 2 PM: Celebrate Constitution Day with a voting fair featuring go-go music, trivia, fair treats, and voting resources.
- Chat with the Dean - Sep 19 | 12 PM: Share your experiences and connect with other GW students in a relaxed conversation with the Dean.
- Week 5
- ResFest | Sep 22 | 9 AM: Celebrate residential life with a day of fun activities, community bonding, and campus pride.
- Mental Health Day | Sep 28 | 12 PM: Participate in activities and resources focused on promoting mental health and wellbeing.
- Camp Wellbeing | Sep 28 - Oct 4: Join Active Minds and others for a week-long series dedicated to student wellbeing, starting with a kickoff fair.
- Week 6
- Camp Wellbeing | Sep 28 - Oct 4: Camp Wellbeing continues and wraps up Weeks of Welcome!
"Go to all of the Welcome Week events! My first year I went to the Comedy Show which was hosted by Program Board and that inspired me to want to join Program Board to be part of creating events for the student body.”
Savannah DeLullo
Class of 2021
Share Your WoW Events
Adding Events in Engage
Student organizations can directly add events to Engage. Use the "Weeks of Welcome" category. Need help? Contact Org Help.
Promote on Social Media
Follow @StudentLifeatGW on Instagram for weekly spotlights. Tag us in your posts and stories so we can share your WoW events! Events added to Engage or the University Calendar will be prioritized for promotion.