Updates

Spring Break for Faculty and Staff

We are pleased to announce that this year we will provide a two-day spring break for employees, which will take place Thursday, March 18, and Friday, March 19.

Update on Planning for Fall 2021

We remain confident that we will be in person to the fullest extent possible this fall. While we are focused on ensuring a successful spring and summer, we continue to take productive steps to prepare for the fall, including by ramping up our testing and other public health protocols; reviewing and updating our buildings, ventilation systems, and classroom configurations; and readying our residence halls. 

2021 Commencement Celebrations

Since our last Commencement update in early February, the university has engaged members of our community, particularly our graduating students and their families, in order to collect feedback and ideas and consider a range of scenarios for in-person graduation elements. The university now has announced plans for our 2021 Commencement celebrations.

Updates within the Office of the Vice Provost for Research

The Office of the Provost has officially announced the national search for a vice provost for research, run by a faculty-led committee chaired by Paul Wahlbeck, Dean of the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences. We also are pleased to announce that Sylvia Ezekilova has been promoted to Executive Director of the Office of Sponsored Projects.

Summer 2021 Update

Although we have determined that the Summer 2021 term will continue with a mainly virtual operating status, the success of our efforts to contain the spread of the virus on campus has enabled us to begin initiating phased reopening of on-campus activity in preparation for the fall, when we will be back in person to the fullest extent possible.

Update on Additional Coronavirus Relief Funding

As a result of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021, the federal government has allocated GW and other universities additional funding to address the ongoing financial impact of the pandemic.

New Transcript Notation for Undergraduate Research Experiences

We are proud to announce the launch of a new program that allows undergraduates to highlight non-credited research experiences on their official GW transcript.

Future Enrollment Planning Task Force Recommendations for New Student Class

GW's Future Enrollment Planning Task Force - faculty, staff, and students - has developed and endorsed target recommendations for the Fall 2021 new undergraduate class profile.

Pass/No Pass and Credit/No Credit Policies for Spring 2021

We are pleased to share information about the Spring 2021 pass/no pass and credit/no credit policies.

Update on 2021 Commencement Celebrations

While we continue to plan virtual university-wide Commencement and school celebrations, we also are exploring all options for any in-person component we may safely host.

Strengthening GW’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

In the wake of incidents of racist violence and systemic injustices across the country, our students, faculty, and staff have come together to share their personal experiences, research, and recommendations to improve our efforts.  In order to supplement these conversations and to gain additional insight, we will commission a comprehensive third-party diversity audit, the first in our university’s history.

Expansion of Religious Holiday Accommodations

The Faculty Senate resolved in November to update the university’s religious holiday policy, including significantly expanding the list of approved religious holidays and increasing the amount of time students have to inform professors of an upcoming absence for a holiday. The policy also includes a final examination provision, in which students observing a religious holiday during the final examination period are permitted to reschedule the examination that conflicts with their days of religious observance.

Update on Post-COVID Academic Innovation Task Force

Sixteen individuals have accepted formal invitations to serve on the task force. Our goal is to have a finalized list of academic innovation recommendations by late May.

Continued Suspension of Study Abroad and Non-Essential Student Travel in Summer 2021

In light of the vaccination rollout likely continuing through the summer, study abroad programs and other non-essential student travel will remain suspended for summer 2021.