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
Welcome home, GW! The Office of Student Life is excited to host our annual First Night event, which celebrates the first Saturday that all GW undergraduate students are on campus. This year, the event will feature a wide array of attractions, giveaways, food trucks, performances, AND MORE!
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!
Org Fair Fridays
Find your place among GW's thriving community of 500+ student organizations at the org fair! Each week will spotlight new orgs, so there's always something to look forward to!
Schedule of Events
August 27th - September 30th
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 Tik Tok to get connected to the GW community, and for all the latest event updates.
- Week 1 (August 27th - September 3rd)
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Welcome Day of Service and Convocation
August 27th | 11 AM | Smith Center
Join the GW tradition of community and civic engagement! Come to Convocation where you will be welcomed to GW by President Wrighton, Provost Bracey, and all of the deans, then grab your lunch and head out to get to know your DC neighbors through service across DC and the region!
First Night
August 27th | 7 PM | University Yard
First Night is an annual community carnival event, with inflatables, food, giveaways, and lots of fun!
Adjustment and Transition Virtual Workshop
August 31st | 4 PM | Virtual
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is happy to offer our Adjustment and Transition Workshop! This 60 minute drop-in virtual workshop is designed to equip incoming students with effective, tangible skills and strategies to set them up for success as they navigate the transition to George Washington University. To join workshops, follow the link on the CAPS homepage.
Student Performance Showcase
September 1st | 7:30 PM | Lisner Auditorium
The Student Performance Showcase is a tradition started by GW Class Council to celebrate the diversity of talent within our performing student organizations. Its purpose is to kick off the beginning of the year with a thrilling showcase to get the student body excited about what these organizations have to show throughout the year. The Showcase is also followed by a mini performance org-fair, so that interested students can talk to the members about joining their organizations
Movie Night - Hosted by Program Board
September 1st | 8-10 PM | U-Yard
Join Program Board in U-Yard for our annual move night tradition! More information to come.
Adjustment and Transition Virtual Workshop
September 2nd | 1 PM | Virtual
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is happy to offer our Adjustment and Transition Workshop! This 60 minute drop-in virtual workshop is designed to equip incoming students with effective, tangible skills and strategies to set them up for success as they navigate the transition to George Washington University. To join workshops, follow the link on the CAPS homepage.
Org Fair Friday
September 2nd | 4 PM | University Yard
Org Fair Fridays will showcase hundreds of student organizations throughout Weeks of Welcome. Each fair will introduce new and returning students to our vibrant community of organizations and student leaders. The Org Fair Fridays series will kick off on September 2nd with the 18th annual MSSC Block Party, a campus tradition that showcases multicultural, LGBTQIA, and faith-based student organizations and performance groups.
MSSC Block Party
September 2nd | 4 PM | University Yard
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. The purpose of the Block Party is for new students to meet, mix and mingle with returning students, student organization leaders, faculty, staff and alumni.
- Week 2 (September 4th - 10th)
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Resiliency and Growth Mindset Virtual Workshop
September 6th | 4 PM | Virtual
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is happy to offer our Resiliency and Growth Mindset Workshop! This 60-minute drop-in virtual workshop is designed to promote student resiliency through a growth mindset lens. Students will leave with tangible skills and effective strategies to promote resilience throughout their time at George Washington University. To join workshops, follow the link on the CAPS homepage.
Meet the Greeks
September 7th | 5 PM | University Yard
Meet the Greeks is an opportunity for every chapter in all four councils to interact with each other and prospective new members.
Sustainability at GW
September 7th | 6 PM | GroW Garden
Want to get involved with sustainability at GW? 'Dig In' to a delicious plant-based meal at the GroW Garden with the sustainability community at GW. Learn about student organizations, internship opportunities, courses, and more. Join us at the GroW Garden on H St NW between 23rd and 24th Streets.
Dinner and Dialogue Series
September 7th | 7 PM | Mount Vernon Campus Post Hall
MVC residents will have the opportunity to join Vice Provost & Dean of Students, Colette Coleman, and a special guest for a delicious dinner and lively conversation. Vern residents, keep an eye on your inbox for a special invitation!
Resiliency and Growth Mindset Virtual Workshop
September 9th | 1 PM | Virtual
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is happy to offer our Resiliency and Growth Mindset Workshop! This 60-minute drop-in virtual workshop is designed to promote student resiliency through a growth mindset lens. Students will leave with tangible skills and effective strategies to promote resilience throughout their time at George Washington University. To join workshops, follow the link on the CAPS homepage.
Org Fair Friday
September 9th | 4 PM | University Yard
Org Fair Fridays will showcase hundreds of student organizations throughout Weeks of Welcome. Each fair will introduce new and returning students to our vibrant community of organizations and student leaders. This campus tradition showcases multicultural, LGBTQIA, and faith-based student organizations and performance groups.
First Friday Dinner
September 9th | 7 PM | Mount Vernon Campus Post Hall
First Friday Dinners are a tradition for the GW first-generation community. They offer a casual setting for first-generation students to connect and build relationships with other first-generation students at GW, as well as learn about important resources on campus. Join us as we kick off the year on the Vern!
RHA Tye Dye Day
September 10th | 2pm | Anniversary Park
Come and customize your free RHA shirt to show off your Buff and Blue pride!
- Week 3 (September 11th - 17th)
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Org Fair Friday
September 16th | 4 PM | University Yard
Org Fair Fridays will showcase hundreds of student organizations throughout Weeks of Welcome. Each fair will introduce new and returning students to our vibrant community of organizations and student leaders. This campus tradition showcases multicultural, LGBTQIA, and faith-based student organizations and performance groups.
RHA Movie Night
September 16th | 7pm | Corcoran 101
Come by and enjoy a movie night with free snacks!
- Week 4 (September 18th - 24th)
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National Voter Registration Fair
September 20th | 10 AM | Kogan Plaza & Mount Vernon Campus Post Hall
National Voter Registration Day is a nonpartisan civic holiday celebrating our democracy. Celebrated every September, National Voter Registration Day involves volunteers and organizations from all over the country hitting the streets in a single day of coordinated field, technology and media efforts. National Voter Registration Day seeks to create broad awareness of voter registration opportunities to reach tens of thousands of voters who may not register otherwise. At GW, GW Votes will be registering student voters in Kogan Plaza from 10-3 P.M. and will be giving away free food, voting swag, and helpful resources on how to be an active participant in democracy while at GW!
GW Late Night: Silent Disco
September 22nd | 9 PM | Mount Vernon Campus Hand Chapel
Kick off your weekend with a Silent Disco hosted by the Office of Student Life! The Silent Disco will feature live music through a silent headphone experience. Join us in Hand Chapel on the Vern for music, snacks, and prizes!
WRGW Fall Gig
September 23rd | 7:30 PM | Square 80
WRGW Fall Gig is an outdoor mini concert that showcases local GW musicians and artists. It will be a great night of art and entertainment for new students and the GW community as a whole!
Org Fair Friday
September 23rd | 4 PM | University Yard
Org Fair Fridays will showcase hundreds of student organizations throughout Weeks of Welcome. Each fair will introduce new and returning students to our vibrant community of organizations and student leaders. This campus tradition that showcases multicultural, LGBTQIA, and faith-based student organizations and performance groups.
Fall Gig (WRGW District Radio Mini-Concert)
September 23rd | 7:30 | Square 80
WRGW Fall Gig is an outdoor mini concert that showcases local GW musicians and artists. It will be a great night of art and entertainment for new students and the GW community as a whole!
"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
We encourage student organizations and campus partners who are hosting events during Weeks of Welcome to share their WoW events with the community. We look forward to hearing about your WoW events for Fall 2022 - more information about WoW events will be available this summer!
Adding Events in Engage
This option is recommended for student organizations. You can add your events directly to Engage. Be sure to use the "Weeks of Welcome" category for your events. If you need assistance with adding your events to Engage, please contact Org Help.
Adding Events to the University Calendar
The University Calendar is a great tool, and one that we use to create the automatic feed of upcoming events. You can submit your event online. In order for your event to populate on our Weeks of Welcome events feed, you must add "Weeks of Welcome" as a Tag in the event submission webform.
Sharing Events on Social Media
Follow @StudentLifeatGW on Instagram for weekly event spotlights, and be sure to tag us in your posts and stories so that we share your WoW events too! Events that are added to Engage and/or the University Calendar will be prioritized for promotion on our accounts.
Contact Student Life
If you need support troubleshooting Engage or the University Calendar, please contact Student Life and we will be happy to assist!