March 2026 Student Newsletter |
Dear CCAS Graduate Students,
We are about halfway through the Spring 2026 semester - we hope you are finding moments to relax and take care of yourselves, even as your schedules become more hectic.
This month's newsletter is full of important reminders and resources, including Summer and Fall 2026 registration information, free tax prep resources for GW students (including international students), and more!
Looking for past issues of our newsletter? Check out our Student Newsletter page for the archives!
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Celebrate your CCAS Classmates! |
Congratulations to the CCAS 3MT Participants! |
(Photo: CCAS / IBS students who participated in the 2026 3MT, with Dean Tony López)
Congratulations to CCAS Biological Sciences student Ashley Bastin (1st from the right) for her first place and people's choice awards at the 2026 Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) event! Nine CCAS / IBS students participated; you can see their research topics on the OGSAF website.
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Congratulations to our GW Bouchet Honor Society Nominees! |
(Photo: 2026 GW Bouchet Honor Society Nominees, with Dean Tony López and Dean Paul Wahlbeck)
This year's nominees to GW's chapter of the Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society were recognized at a university-wide ceremony on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Of this year's nine nominees, three were CCAS students:
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Alana Rule (Clinical Psychology)
Vicky Ho (Clinical Psychology)
Yingjie (Frank) Huo (Physics)
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Please join the CCAS Office of Graduate Studies in congratulating this year's nominees! We are especially grateful to our CCAS doctoral students for continuing to share their impactful research and represent CCAS within this prestigious organization.
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Upcoming Graduate Student Events |
Students for Mental Health Action Hill Day |
Friday, March 27, 2026
After a successful first Hill Day that mobilized over 60 students and secured meetings with 41 congressional offices across party lines, Students for Mental Health Action (SMHA) is returning on Friday, March 27th for our second Hill Day.
Students from GW and universities across the D.C. area will once again meet with congressional offices to advance bipartisan mental health legislation, strengthen suicide prevention efforts, and expand access to care nationwide. With partners across campuses and national organizations, we are building a sustained, student-led movement to make mental health a national priority.
What’s required: A brief training and one scheduled meeting with a congressional staffer
Interested students are invited to complete SMHA's Nonpartisan Mental Health Advocacy Interest Form.
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People-Based Medicine Conference at VCU |
Presenter Registration Deadline: Thursday, March 5, 2026
Saturday, March 28, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM | VCU's McGlothlin Medical Education Center, 2nd Floor Rm 2200
Join the Bioethics 4 Students, Philosophy of Medicine, and Medical Ethics Clubs at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and the School of Medicine for a joint conference focusing on health inequity as a critical disease in the U.S.--and preventative care as its cure.
This conference is a one-day event on Saturday, March 28th, at the McGlothlin Medical Education Center on VCU School of Medicine's campus, and will feature speakers, networking opportunities, and student research presentations. Registration is completely free, and we are inviting students to present research in any relevant field, including many subjects of the humanities and sciences. We are anticipating 70+ attendees, including undergraduate and graduate students, researchers, professors, healthcare workers, community leaders, and more.
Students interested in attending or presenting at the conference should complete the People-Based Medicine Conference registration form.
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Save the Date: CCAS Research Showcase |
Abstracts due: March 20, 2026 by 12:00 PM
Wednesday, April 15 from 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM | University Student Center, 3rd Floor Ballrooms
The CCAS Research Showcase is an opportunity for all postdocs and graduate and undergraduate students in all CCAS programs to present their work to the broader CCAS community in a poster session. Students, staff, and faculty are encouraged to come to the Research Showcase, interact with our early-career researchers, and learn more about the diverse and impactful work of our postdocs, students, and their research mentors.
If you are interested in participating in this year's CCAS Research Showcase, please review the CCAS Research Showcase website for information on required application materials and deadlines. Mark your calendars for the CCAS Research Showcase on April 15, 2026 from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM, and plan to spend some time in the University Student Center ballrooms learning about your fellow classmates' research!
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Save the Date: Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week (GPSAW) |
Various Events | Monday, April 6 - Friday, April 10, 2026
The George Washington University will be celebrating Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week (GPSAW) during the first full week of April (April 6 - 10, 2026) with a variety of free events for graduate students to unwind, connect with each other and celebrate their accomplishments. Mark your calendar and keep an eye on your inbox to ensure you don't miss any of this year's GPSAW events!
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Important Reminders & Resources |
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There will be no classes held between March 9 - March 14, 2026 in observance of GW's Spring Break!
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Please review the Registrar’s Office Fall/ Spring Schedule page for a full list of Spring 2026 registration deadlines. Here are some key dates to keep in mind this month:
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March 22: Last day to withdraw from a course with a grade of 'W' on GWeb
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Please keep in mind that receiving a grade of ‘W’ may impact Satisfactory Academic Progress for student loan purposes. If you receive student loans and are considering withdrawing from a course at this point in the semester, we strongly encourage you to review the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy and reach out to the Office of Student Financial Assistance (finaid@gwu.edu) with any questions.
- What are your plans for the summer?
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Registration for the 2026 Summer Sessions will open on Monday, March 16. Please visit the Registrar's Office Summer Sessions page for a full list of key registration dates.
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As a reminder, you are not required to register in Summer Sessions to maintain enrollment unless specifically directed to do so by your program.
- Plan ahead now to ensure your registration for Fall 2026 courses goes smoothly!
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All CCAS graduate students are required to register continuously each fall and spring semester until the completion of their program.
- Registration for Fall 2026 courses will open in GWeb at 9:00 AM on Thursday, March 26.
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For instructions on class registration via GWeb, please visit the Registrar’s Office’s How to Register page or watch our How to Register for Classes video. You may consider using the Plan Ahead tool to pre-load your registration before GWeb registration opens.
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If you are unsure which classes to take, please reach out to your Director of Graduate Studies. If you experience technical difficulties with GWeb registration, feel free to contact our office at ccasgradserv@gwu.edu.
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Be sure to check your Student Accounts eBill to see if you have an outstanding balance due. Per GW’s Student Accounts Past-Due Policy, payment of all tuition charges and other applicable fees is due by the first day of the semester, unless you are actively participating in a GW monthly payment plan.
- Any outstanding balance on your Student Account after the start of the semester may be subject to a late payment fee.
- The Student Accounts Office charges late fees for each semester in two rounds: a flat, $75 fee earlier in the semester, and a 5% fee based on the total amount owed later in the semester.
- For Spring 2026, the $75 late fee will be charged on Friday, March 13, 2026.
- More information on the late fee policy, as well as the full fee schedule, can be found in the Late Payments section of the Student Accounts Office website.
- If you will be completing your thesis or dissertation in Spring 2026, please continue to be mindful of ETD clearance deadlines for both Ph.D. students and for Master’s students completing a thesis.
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Resource Highlight: Free Tax Help |
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| As the days get warmer and the flowers start to bloom, we know the last thing you want to do is sit inside and work on your taxes! Luckily, there are a few free resources available to GW students to help make completing your taxes easier.
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Every Saturday and Sunday between Feb 15, 2026 and Apr 12, 2026 (9:30am - 3:30pm), IRS-certified volunteers from the GW Law School and GW School of Business will be on the Foggy Bottom campus to help you prepare your tax returns at no cost! Please call (202) 994-9316 to hear the eligibility requirements and request an appointment. The GW site will be in Duques Hall (2201 G St NW), room 150.
For more information on free tax preparation (and a list of other sites), please visit the IRS website’s “Free tax return preparation” page. The location and hours for the GW site can be found by entering 20052 as the zip code in the VITA/ TCE Locator Tool. Please review the IRS checklist to ensure you have all required documents for tax preparation. International students should also plan to bring their GW-provided Sprintax software.
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International Students: Sprintax Nonresident Tax Workshops |
The GW Tax Department hosts a number of webinars each year to help international students ensure that they prepare their taxes accurately. Please review the Tax Department’s Sprintax Returns page to register for an upcoming webinar.
Please note that these webinars (and the Sprintax software) are not hosted by the CCAS Office of Graduate Studies - if you have any questions about taxes for international students, please reach out to ISO (iso@gwu.edu) and the GW Tax Department (tax@gwu.edu).
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1:1 Career Coaching Appointments |
Schedule an individual career advising appointment on Handshake! Career counselors are available to support a wide range of career-related topics, including resumes and cover letters, managing job search anxiety, and building a professional brand. Visit our website or email CCAS_careers@gwu.edu for more information.
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Spring Career Readiness Workshops |
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Spring 2026 Graduation Reminders |
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Students completing their final program requirements in Spring 2026 must submit an online graduation application for Spring 2026 in order to graduate and receive their diplomas (or certificates).
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In addition to GW’s Commencement on the National Mall on Sunday, May 17, 2026, the Dean and Faculty of the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences (CCAS) invite graduates and their guests to attend CCAS' annual graduation Celebration events.
CCAS Hooding Celebration: Thursday, May 14, 2026 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Lisner Auditorium
CCAS Master's Celebration: Friday, May 15, 2026 from 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. | Smith Center
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Key Application Deadlines for Spring 2026 Grads |
Please visit the Registrar's Office Application Deadlines page for a full list of graduation application deadlines. If you need to review your graduation application to check your diploma name or mailing address, please log in to GWeb and select "View Graduation Application."
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Notice for Summer 2026 Graduates |
Some students who will complete their degree requirements over the summer will still be eligible to participate in May 2026 Commencement. If you will complete your degree requirements in the summer but wish to participate in May 2026 Commencement, please register for Summer 2026 courses when registration opens on March 16, and then submit the online graduation application for Summer 2026. Please be sure that you do not apply for Spring 2026 graduation, as this will cause delays with your graduation clearance.
If you plan to complete your degree in Summer 2026 and are unsure whether you are eligible to participate in May 2026 Commencement, please review our Attending Commencement Week Events page or reach out to us at ccasgradserv@gwu.edu.
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Other Important Reminders |
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Funding, Fellowships, Internships, & Employment Opportunities |
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Please feel free to reach out to us at ccasgradserv@gwu.edu if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
The Student Services Team
Office of Graduate Studies
Columbian College of Arts and Sciences
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