April 2026 Student Newsletter |
Dear CCAS Graduate Students,
Spring weather is finally here, and summer will be upon us before we know it! We hope that your semester is wrapping up smoothly.
This month's newsletter is full of important reminders and resources, including Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week, Gelman Library resources to help you breeze through finals, and more!
Looking for past issues of our newsletter? Check out our Student Newsletter page for the archives!
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Upcoming Graduate Student Events |
Bhangra Blowout Competition |
Saturday, April 5, 2026 | 5:00 - 10:00 PM | Lisner Auditorium
Bhangra Blowout is officially back in the heart of the nation’s capital! Bhangra is a type of South Asian folk dance that originated in Punjab. Here for its 32nd year, Bhangra Blowout is an intercollegiate dance competition that invites the best universities from around the nation to attend and compete for the collegiate championship. This year we are hosting MSU Jawani, Wolverine Bhangra, VT Bhangra, Virginia Di Shaan, Spartan Bhangra, Bluejay Bhangra, Maryland Bhangra, and Gator Bhangra. Alongside these incredible teams we will have performances from GW Bhangra, GW Raas, GW Chamak, GW Garmi, DC Metro Bhangra, and Rutgers Katha!
Tickets are required to attend. There is currently a flash sale on tickets, so make sure to purchase yours while supplies last!
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Wednesday, April 15 from 12:00 - 3:00 PM | University Student Center, Room 308
CCAS and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion would like to invite students to participate in our upcoming Art Healing Circle. This event will be facilitated by faculty member and art therapist Sone-Seere Burrell.
Snacks will be provided, and you are welcome to bring a friend! Please register in advance to attend.
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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.
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The Academic Job Market - Advice from Alumni |
Friday, April 17 from 3:00 - 4:30 PM | Virtual (Please register for link)
Join us for a Q&A with our path-breaking alumni on preparing for the academic job market! This panel, moderated by Dr. Kavita Daiya and doctoral candidate Leenu Sugathan, will give you a chance to ask all your burning questions about starting a career in academia. Please visit the Academic Job Market event page to learn more about the panelists and register to attend!
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Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week (GPSAW) |
Various Events | Monday, April 20 - Friday, April 24, 2026
It will soon be Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week (GPSAW)! GPSAW is an annual, campus-wide celebration recognizing the contributions, resilience, and impact of GW’s graduate and professional students. CCAS Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) and Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs (OGPA) will be hosting a number of events for students during GPSAW. Check out the OGPA website now for an overview of the GPSAW events that office is hosting, and keep an eye on your inbox for CCAS' GPSAW events!
It is also time to vote in the Graduate Student Sticker Design Contest! The chosen sticker will represent the graduate student community and will be produced for distribution at upcoming events.
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| Important Reminders & Resources |
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We need your help to answer one of history's greatest mysteries; is CCAS pronounced 'C-C-A-S' or 'C-CAS'? Cast your vote on this divisive issue!
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- What are your plans for the summer?
- Registration for the 2026 Summer Sessions is open! Please visit the Registrar's Office Summer Sessions page for a full list of key registration dates.
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Enrollment in the Monthly Payment Plan for Summer 2026 courses is now open - please review the Student Accounts Office's Monthly Payment Plan page for more information and enrollment deadlines.
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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.
- As a reminder, Fall 2026 registration is now open via GWeb!
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All CCAS graduate students are required to register continuously each fall and spring semester until the completion of their program.
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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.
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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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Students can register for most courses online via GWeb. When a student cannot self-register online, we use a registration form - either the RTF or the RTF-EZ - to help them register. Please note that these forms also differ in how they are submitted:
- RTF-EZ: submit to the Registrar’s Office
registrar@gwu.edu or in-person at the USC Student Services Hub
*Please note that the Registrar's Office will not accept the RTF-EZ for Fall 2026 courses until April 6, 2026. - RTF Classic: submit to Graduate Student Services
ccasgradserv@gwu.edu
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If you have a hold that prevents registration, you will need to complete the action listed in the hold message before the hold can be removed. Don't forget - a hold may only be removed by the office that placed the hold.
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If you started your program of study in the Spring 2026 semester, please make sure that you have turned in all official documents and transcripts required as part of the admissions process. If you have not submitted your transcripts, you will notice a hold on your account and will be unable to register for Fall 2026 courses. If you have a transcript hold, please reach out to our Admissions team at askccas@gwu.edu.
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General information on common holds can be found on the Registrar’s Office website; information on financial holds can be found on the Student Accounts Office website.
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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 5% late fee will be charged on Wednesday, April 15, 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: Gelman Library Study Spaces & Technology |
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| As we head into the end of the spring semester, here are some lesser-known Gelman Library resources to help you prepare for exams, complete your final projects, and finish the semester off strong.
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The Graduate Student Study Room is a quiet study space on the fifth floor of Gelman Library, accessible via a tap of your GWorld card. The Global Resources Center on Gelman's seventh floor is open exclusively to graduate students outside of its staffed hours, also via your GWorld card.
In addition, students may reserve group study rooms and closed study carrels. If you really need to focus, consider reserving a closed study carrel on the 4th or 5th floors - closed study carrels are available for reservation by graduate students only, so you will not have to compete with undergraduate students to claim your spot.
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Books aren’t the only thing you can check out from the library! As a GW student, you can borrow audiovisual equipment including cameras, mics, tripods and lights, and more by submitting an equipment request. Students may keep borrowed equipment for up to one week at a time, and there is no fee.
Within Gelman Library’s CREATE Digital Studio, you can also use high-powered, multimedia editing computer workstations (both Mac and Windows), which are equipped with the full Adobe Creative Cloud suite of applications. If your editing or coding project is pushing your personal computer to its limits, consider stopping by the CREATE Digital Studio on the first floor of Gelman.
Giving a poster presentation? Need to print a custom part? You can also request large-format and 3D printing through Gelman.
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Professional Branding Bootcamp |
Image: CCAS Graduate Career Counselors and Professional Branding Bootcamp participants. Erin Ahart is second from the left, and Dr. Johnette Ruffner-Ceaser is farthest to the right.
On Friday, March 20, the CCAS Graduate Career Services team hosted its inaugural Professional Branding Bootcamp. Attendees received a dynamic crash course in the essential tools needed to stand out in today’s competitive job market and left equipped to launch their post-graduation job search with confidence and clarity.
CCAS Graduate Career Counselors, Erin Ahart and Dr. Johnette Ruffner-Ceaser, led engaging sessions on resume alignment and professional branding, building a strong presence on LinkedIn, and navigating the mental and emotional aspects of professional growth—including overcoming imposter syndrome.
Participants also gained valuable insights from RaShonda Riley, Assistant Director of Counseling Outreach, and an esteemed CCAS alumni panel featuring Dr. Carrie Singer (PsyD, Clinical Psychology) and Christine Sonnabend (MA, Museum Studies). In addition, students had the opportunity to take free, professional-quality headshots using the new Professional Headshot Booth at the Center for Career Services. The CCAS Graduate Career Services team also secured a generous donation of 30 vouchers from JCPenney Catalysts Brands Philanthropy, ensuring all participants received high-resolution digital headshots through JCPenney Portraits by Lifetouch.
We extend our sincere gratitude to RaShonda Riley, Assistant Director of Counseling Outreach; Alexandra Washington, Executive Director of Constituent Engagement; Anita Ponchione, Executive Director of Alumni Engagement and JCPenney for their support in this impactful event. Specials thanks to our graduate student attendees for their enthusiastic participation and engagement.
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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 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. Eligible Summer 2026 graduates who are planning to participate in May 2026 Commencement should pay attention to the graduation application deadlines for Commencement participation.
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Vote for Your Commencement Student Speaker! |
It’s time to vote in the second round of the Commencement Student Speaker Competition. Schools have selected semifinalists, and their audition videos have been posted online. Make your voice heard and vote for the candidate you believe should proceed to the final round for the chance to represent your graduating class at Commencement on the National Mall.
The five videos with the most votes will be auditioned in front of a panel of judges from the GW community.
Voting ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 12.
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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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