Dear Colleagues,
As the fall semester comes to a close, it is rewarding to look back on many highlights and great achievements and to look ahead to exciting possibilities in 2026. GW climbed to our highest U.S. News and World Report best colleges ranking in eight years; we launched our community-driven Strategic Framework that will guide our path to preeminence; in November, we proudly installed Kelly A. Gebo as the Michael and Lori Milken Dean of the Milken Institute School of Public Health, and announced Elliott School alumnus Andrew Tomusiak ‘24 as the third GW student to receive a Rhodes Scholarship; and just a few weeks ago, we launched a university-wide AI strategic mapping exercise that will be led by Professor Zoe Szajnfarber. In the midst of this exciting momentum, we redoubled our commitment to each other, working to ensure that every member of our community feels included and has an opportunity to thrive, including a commitment to civil discourse and constructive dialogue—which better enables us to achieve our individual aspirations as scholars and educators and our collective pursuit of mission-driven excellence.
Please see the bottom of this message for a few notes and reminders before the winter break. I encourage you all to take some well-deserved rest with family and loved ones, and I look forward to welcoming you back to GW in the Spring 2026 semester. Thank you for all you do for GW!
Sincerely,
John Lach
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Opportunity Within the Office of the Provost
At the beginning of the 2025-2026 academic year, Professor Emily Hammond graciously agreed to serve as the interim vice provost for faculty affairs upon Professor Rumana Riffat’s return to the School of Engineering and Applied Science. It is now time to launch our search for the permanent role.
In the coming days, we will begin forming the search committee, which will be chaired by Forrest Maltzman and will include faculty members nominated by the Faculty Senate. After the search committee and position description are finalized, we will formally launch an internal call for applications next month.
You likely are familiar with the vice provost for faculty affairs role, which oversees the needs and well-being of faculty from recruitment and hiring through promotion (and tenure where appropriate) and retirement. The vice provost works with faculty, the provost, deans, the Office of the General Counsel, and other campus leaders to build an academic culture of excellence rooted in the accomplishments of our faculty members. The appointee will understand and enforce the Faculty Code in all matters pertaining to expectations for faculty and their relationship with the university. This role is open to tenured faculty applicants at the rank of full professor, and I encourage all interested faculty who meet the requirements to consider applying.
Final Grades
Faculty are required to submit final grades within five (5) business days after the final exam or after the final class meeting if no exam is given. Final grades should be submitted no later than Friday, December 26. It is critical that faculty submit grades in a timely manner to avoid potentially impacting student financial aid in future semesters.
Clarifying Grade Designations for Undergraduate and Graduate Courses
You all should have received last week’s message clarifying grade designations for undergraduate and graduate courses and impacting how faculty for these courses award grades. Please continue to familiarize yourself with this information. We have posted FAQs on the Office of the Registrar site to address any questions that may arise. The university will continue to disseminate this information moving forward so that faculty and students are aware of these designations and the potential impact on student financial aid awards.