Hello Class of 2024,
This has been a challenging year for all of us in the GW community. I always imagined that my sophomore year would include things like exploring DC with new and old friends, going midnight monumenting, seeing amazing speakers at Lisner Auditorium, participating in internships, and cheering on GW’s sports teams. In fact, I never could have thought that I would spend part of my sophomore year sitting at home in Des Moines, Iowa, away from all that DC had to offer. In a similar vein, I can imagine that you didn't think your first year of college would be spent somewhere else other than Foggy Bottom or the Vern.
However, like many students at GW, I was fortunate enough to find alternative ways to make the most of my time during the virtual year. I had fun PowerPoint nights with my friends, took a class with a professor who is a former federal prosecutor and served as DC’s Chief of the Homicide Section in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, joined an alt-Greek service fraternity, and last but not least, saw Trevor Noah at a GW Program Board event! These experiences reminded me how strong the GW community is, especially in light of the pandemic.
As life gets back to normal, a team of us are going to be here to help re-orient, re-introduce, and remind you of a few important elements as you prepare for your sophomore year. This email newsletter will be in your inbox at the beginning of each month through August. It is your primary resource for updates from GW Orientation - Sophomore Edition. The newsletters will provide community updates and ways to connect with your peers via social media.
While I will be in DC over the summer helping with Orientation programming and taking a nice break from school, I can’t wait for this upcoming fall semester! I am excited to get more involved in service opportunities and to catch up with friends who I haven’t seen since the onset of the pandemic. I know many of you are also eager to come to campus and make memories that will last a lifetime. The GW community, myself included, is so thrilled to welcome you all to campus. We have exciting things planned to welcome you back and hope to celebrate YOU in a ‘monumental’ way this August!
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 is one of them. Thurston Hall may be empty this fall while renovations continue, but 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 a mini-doc about the iconic Thurston Hall
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 may not look like much on the outside and the inside may take you back a few years, however once you take a bite you'll understand why this is one of the best places around.
- WATCH the GW Deli documentary for yourself, and plan your first trip (and breakfast sandwich order) accordingly.
Coming Soon...
An email from [email protected] with instructions about uploading your GWorld card photo for your student ID. You will pick up your GWorld card at move-in.
It's official - we're on Tik Tok! With the help of some awesome student leaders, The Office of Student Life is officially on our way to becoming the next Tik Tok sensation Don't forget to follow us @StudentLifeatGW!
Upcoming Events
Throughout the summer, the O-Team will be hosting two series for new students via Instagram live - Real Talk GW, and Affinity Chats!
Real Talk GW is a podcast-like series with current GW students discussing topics related to the student experience in an unfiltered, informative live session through Instagram. Our first episode, #OnlyatGW, GW Culture, will be hosted June 2nd, 7pm ET on Instagram Live @StudentLifeAtGW!
For students seeking to explore campus life for specific affinity groups, Affinity Chats provides new students with opportunities to engage with affinity-based community groups across GW in an unfiltered, informative live session through Instagram. Our first Affinity Chats episode Black Student Experience at GW, will be hosted June 7th, 7pm ET on Instagram Live @StudentLifeAtGW!