February 2026 Student Newsletter |
Dear CCAS Graduate Students,
Can you believe that it's already February? We hope you are settling in to your Spring 2026 classes, and that you got to enjoy the snow last week!
This month's newsletter is full of important reminders and resources, including upcoming events, mental health resources for GW students, key dates for Spring 2026 graduates, and more!
Looking for past issues of our newsletter? Check out our revamped Student Newsletter page for the archives!
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Upcoming Graduate Student Events |
Friday, February 6, 2026 from 2:00 - 3:00 PM | Duquès Hall, Room 152
Genetic association analysis is the process of assigning mutations to specific traits observed in a population. Join us for a joint lecture by Angelica Walker focused on approaches used to discover meaningful insights by assigning these mutations to phenotypes of interest.
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National Hot Chocolate Day (Rescheduled) |
Thursday, February 12 from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Phillips Hall, Room 215
If all the snow and ice recently have had you feeling the winter blues, stop by the Student Services office for some sweet treats on Thursday, February 12 between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM!
Drop by our temporary location in Phillips Hall, Room 215 to enjoy free hot chocolate and fresh cookies!
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Monday, March 2 from 4:00 - 5:00 PM | Science & Engineering Hall, Room B1270
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. To assist students in their preparations for this year's CCAS Research Showcase, we will offer a workshop on abstract preparation in and across all disciplines on Monday, March 2nd from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m in the Lehman Auditorium (B1270) in the basement of the Science and Engineering Hall. Please register in advance for this workshop, and stay tuned for details regarding a later, hands-on poster development workshop.
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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Important Reminders & Resources |
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The University will be closed with no classes held on Monday, February 16, 2026 in observance of Presidents' Day.
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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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February 8: Last day to add a course using the RTF-EZ or drop a course using the RTF-EZ without academic penalty
Last day to drop a course on GWeb without academic penalty - Any courses that you remove from your schedule after February 8 will be assigned a grade of W (Withdrawn).
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In addition to key registration dates with academic impacts, you should also keep in mind the Tuition Refund Policy, which governs the proportion of your tuition that may be refunded based on when in the semester a course is dropped.
- From the second through the fifth week of classes, you will only be refunded a portion of the tuition you paid for any credits removed from your schedule.
- Beginning the sixth week of classes, no tuition refund will be given for any credits removed from your schedule.
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Information on course exchanges can be found in the Adding & Dropping Courses section of the Student Accounts Office website. Please reach out to us at ccasgradserv@gwu.edu for help completing a course exchange after the end of the 100% tuition refund period.
- More information on the Tuition Refund Policy 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.
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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. In spring, the $75 late fee is charged in March, and the 5% fee is charged in April.
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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.
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Resource Highlight: GW Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) |
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Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is available by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 202-994-5300. You can access CAPS in-person and virtually; check out their website for information on making an appointment. If additional services are needed, next steps will depend on the student’s needs and physical location.
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In addition to individual services, CAPS also offers group therapy as a valuable opportunity for self-discovery and addressing concerns in a supportive and collaborative environment. Group sessions typically consist of 4-10 students who meet weekly throughout the semester, all under the expert guidance of CAPS clinicians. Joining a group allows you to gain valuable insights into yourself and others, fostering personal growth and understanding in a nurturing setting. Please visit the CAPS Group Counseling & Support Spaces page for more information on this semester's groups and how to join.
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TimelyCare provides GW students with 24/7 access to virtual counseling, psychiatric, and medical care from anywhere in the United States at no cost. Students do not need insurance to access TimelyCare services, and they do not need to visit GW’s Student Health Center in-person to gain access to this telehealth platform. Visit the Student Health Center's TimelyCare page for more information.
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Student Outreach & Support |
We encourage all students, faculty, staff, and families who may be concerned about a student in need of additional support to reach out to the university’s CARE Team by submitting a CARE Referral. For more information, please contact the CARE Team at 202-994-6555 or gwcares@gwu.edu.
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1:1 Career Coaching Appointments |
Schedule an appointment with Erin Ahart and Dr. Ruffner-Ceaser 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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Professional Branding Bootcamp |
Friday, March 20, 2026 from 9:45am - 4:00pm | University Student Center, Room 402 (in-person)
The Professional Branding Bootcamp will prepare Columbian College graduate students to conduct a successful job search and secure employment post-graduation. Students will build their professional branding statement, get a FREE professional headshot, hear advice from successful GW alumni, and more! Sessions include but are not limited to:
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- Resume Alignment & Professional Branding
- Establishing Your LinkedIn Professional Presence
- CCAS Graduate Alumni Panel
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Graduate from GW feeling confident in your professional brand and prepared to thrive in the world of work!
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Spring Career Readiness Workshops |
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Spring 2026 ETD Reminders |
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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ETD Deadlines & Resources |
Save the date for our upcoming Ph.D. ETD formatting and copyright workshops! Students planning to defend in the Spring semester are strongly advised to attend at least the Ph.D. ETD workshop. Please visit our Graduate Student Events page to register for all ETD 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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Student Speaker Competition |
Members of the graduating Class of 2026 are invited to enter the Student Speaker Competition for the chance to address their classmates and other members of the GW community at the university-wide Commencement on the National Mall in May. The deadline to enter is Sunday, February 22 at 11:59 PM ET.
Ten applicants’ videos will be judged by GW students in an online public voting round that will run from March 30 to April 12. Be sure to check back in on the Student Speaker Competition page and support your classmates in March!
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Help Celebrate your CCAS Faculty! |
Each year, CCAS celebrates faculty members who have been exceptionally helpful and supportive to our students, whether in a formal or informal capacity. Tell us how your selected faculty member has shaped your academic experience at GW and why you think they should be honored. (Your recommendation should not exceed 250 words.)
To demonstrate the far-reaching effect of individual graduate mentors, we encourage you to work with your classmates to submit multiple nominations for the same faculty members. You do not need to be graduating this spring in order to nominate a faculty member.
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Master's students: please use this Mentor Award Nomination Form to nominate faculty for the Award for Excellence in the Mentoring of Master's Students. The chosen mentor will be recognized during the Master's Celebration.
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Doctoral students: please use this Mentor Award Nomination Form to nominate faculty for the Award for Excellence in the Mentoring of Doctoral Students. The chosen mentor will be recognized during the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony.
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Please note that you will need to be signed in through your GW email address to access the forms.
Nominations for both Mentor Awards are due no later than Monday, March 2, 2026. Please reach out to ccasgradserv@gwu.edu if you have any questions.
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Nominate a Faculty Speaker for the Master's Celebration |
We invite CCAS Master's Students to nominate a CCAS faculty member to address your graduating class at the CCAS Celebration of Master's Programs in May. Please use this Faculty Speaker Nomination form to tell us which CCAS faculty member you would like to hear speak at this year’s Celebration.
To demonstrate the popularity of potential faculty speakers, you may wish to work with your classmates to submit multiple nominations for the same faculty member.
Nominations for Faculty Speaker are due no later than Friday, February 27, 2026. Please reach out to ccasgradserv@gwu.edu if you have any questions.
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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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The GW Campus store welcomes upcoming graduates for its Winter Grad Fair, February 25-27 from 1:00 - 7:00 PM each day. The grad fair provides the chance to acquire all the information and items needed to celebrate this incredible milestone and academic achievement.
- Don't forget to order your regalia! Online sales will end Thurs, Apr 2, 2026.
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Make an appointment to take your Cherry Tree yearbook photo.
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Be sure to check out the list of Frequently Asked Questions on the Commencement website!
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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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