September 2026 Student Newsletter |
Dear CCAS Graduate Students,
We hope your first week of Fall 2026 classes went smoothly!
This month's newsletter is full of important tips and resources, including deadlines for dropping courses and waiving GW SHIP, fun events around campus, resources for finding funding and employment, and more!
Looking for past issues of our newsletter? Check out our Student Newsletter page for the archives!
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Thank you for attending our Ice Cream Social! |
Assorted photos of students and staff from our Graduate Student Ice Cream Social.
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We would like to thank you all for stopping by our Graduate Student Ice Cream Social! We had a wonderful time meeting our new students and chatting with returning students. We hope you all had as much fun as we did, and look forward to seeing you at the rest of our events throughout the year!
We would also like to extend our gratitude to Sustainable GW and the Multicultural Student Services Center (MSSC) for partnering with us to hand out goodies!
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Important Reminders & Updates |
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Got forms? Put them in Box!
As a reminder, beginning October 1, we will no longer accept CCAS graduate student forms via email.
Instead, all CCAS graduate student forms should be uploaded directly using the submission link on our Graduate Student Forms page.
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- Check out the Registrar's Office Fall/ Spring Schedule page for a full list of key registration dates. This month, we recommend marking your calendars for:
- THIS SUNDAY, September 6: Last day to add a course on GWeb;
Last day of the 100% tuition refund period for dropped classes - September 20: Last day to add a course using the RTF-EZ;
Last day to drop a course without academic penalty** using GWeb or the RTF-EZ
** Courses removed using the RTF-EZ or GWeb after September 20 will be automatically assigned a grade of 'W' (Withdrawn).
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GW will be closed with no classes held on Monday, September 7, 2026 in observance of Labor Day. Please review the Academic Calendar for a full list of days on which classes will not be held.
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All GW students enrolled in classes on the Foggy Bottom, Mount Vernon, VSTC, and Corcoran campuses, as well as all international students on a J1 or F1 visa, are required to have health insurance while they study at GW. These students will be automatically enrolled in GW’s Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP).
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If you have existing coverage under a health insurance plan other than GW SHIP, you may want to waive SHIP coverage.
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Please check to see whether your existing insurance plan meets the waiver criteria before submitting the SHIP waiver form.
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The deadline to waive SHIP coverage for Fall 2026 - Spring 2027 will be September 12, 2026.
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For more information on GW SHIP, including coverage dates, cost, and deadlines, please visit the University Health Plans website. Questions should be directed to the appropriate contact listed at the bottom of the GW SHIP page.
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Please familiarize yourself with all CCAS and University policies. Students are responsible for adhering to all policies and procedures relevant to the pursuit of their graduate degree, including those published in the University Bulletin, the CCAS Bulletin, and in the CCAS Graduate Student Handbook.
- If you started your program of study in the Fall 2026 semester, please make sure that you have turned in all official documents and transcripts required as part of the admissions process.
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If you have not submitted your transcripts, you will notice a hold on your account and will be unable to register for Spring 2027 courses.
- If you have a transcript hold, please reach out to our Admissions team at askccas@gwu.edu. They will work with you to ensure you have turned in all required documents.
- More information on holds can be found on the Registrar’s Office website.
- If you will be completing your thesis or dissertation in Fall 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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Activities & Opportunities Across GW |
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| Looking for things to do or ways to meet people around GW? Keep reading for a rundown on some exciting activities and opportunities you can try this month!
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- Drop by the Biological Sciences department's Fall Greenhouse Plant Sale!
- The greenhouse sale will have plants of all types and sizes, plus terrariums, orchids, cacti & succulents, carnivorous plants, and pottery.
- Proceeds directly fund student research in the greenhouse!
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The greenhouse sale takes place tomorrow, September 4 between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM in SEH 8750.
- Donate your gently used professional clothing to The Loop!
- The Loop is GW’s free clothing exchange store, where students can exchange gently used clothing at no cost. In partnership with the GW Office of Sustainability, The Loop helps students access clothing in a more sustainable and affordable way.
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Do you have gently used professional clothing you’re ready to pass along? The Loop would love your donation! Items such as blazers, dress pants, dresses, skirts, button-downs, and other professional attire are welcome.
- Donations can be dropped off in the collection box on the 5th Floor of the USC, near the photo booth, by 4:00 PM on Wednesday, September 9.
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Need to revamp your professional wardrobe? As part of “Prepare for the Fair Night: RESUMANIA, Mocktail Mixer, and Dress for Success” on Wednesday, September 9, from 5:00–7:00 PM, The Loop will host a free pop-up shop where you can select professional clothing to help you feel confident and career-ready for the Expo!
- Attend a GW Weeks of Welcome event!
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GW's Weeks of Welcome events provide opportunities for students to connect, build relationships, learn about resources, and build a community at GW as they start a new semester.
- Weeks of Welcome events will run through the end of September; check out the schedule of events for a full list.
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Be sure to mark your calendars for the Multicultural Student Services Center (MSSC) block party on September 18! The MSSC block party will be held starting at 4:00 PM in the MSSC space on the 3rd floor of the University Student Center. Come find your people, discover new communities, and celebrate everything that makes GW's community so vibrant. Whether you're looking to join an org, make new friends, or just soak in the energy, be in the room where it all happens!
- Join the Fall 2026 Global Residency in Mexico, offered through the GW College of Professional Studies.
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Under the theme of Politics, Leadership, and Statecraft, this course will explore Mexico as the US’s close neighbor and major trading and security partner.
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The four-week asynchronous course (November 9 – December 12, 2026) will familiarize you with the history, politics, and policies of this strategically important country. The one-week program in Mexico City (December 13 - 19, 2026) will extend your professional network through meetings with VIPs from government, NGOs, media, business, security, and PR firms. You will also enjoy visiting the oldest city in the Americas and one of the world's most exuberant cultural hubs.
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If you are interested in taking this course, check with your Director of Graduate Studies before submitting the application. The deadline to apply to participate in this course is September 20, 2026.
- Check out the Foggy Bottom Farmer's Market!
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The Foggy Bottom Farmer's Market is set up next to the Foggy Bottom Metro each Wednesday and runs year-round. It is open from 3:00 - 7:00 PM during the regular season and from 2:00 - 6:00 PM during the winter.
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The Farmer's Market offers a selection of produce as well as hand-made farm products such as candles and soaps, prepared foods, flowers, bread and pastries, cheese, and more!
- The Farmer's Market accepts GWorld and offers matching for SNAP/ EBT, WIC, and SFMNP benefits.
- Join the AI Policy Accelerator Organizing Team.
- The Alexander Hamilton Society at GW is now accepting applications for the Artificial Intelligence Policy Accelerator Organizing Team for the 2026–2027 academic year.
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As AI rapidly transforms society, governments need more people who understand the technology and can help shape responsible policy. The AI Policy Accelerator aims to help launch students' AI policy careers while building the next generation of AI policymakers.
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Interested applicants should closely read the information on this Google Form before submitting their applications. Questions should be directed to isel.neira@gwu.edu.
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Welcome to the 2026-27 academic year! Whether you're returning or brand new to GW, your Career Services team - Dr. Johnette Ruffner-Ceaser and Dr. Erica Walls - can help bridge your academic knowledge with your professional aspirations!
For 1:1 support, schedule a session through Handshake — GW's career platform. Log in with your GW email then click on Career Services > Appointments.
And register today for our Career Readiness Workshops to strengthen your career development strategy, plan, and skills:
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Resource Highlight: Funding & Employment Opportunities |
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Whether you're looking for an on-campus job, starting your career search, or seeking fellowship funding, GW has funding and employment resources to help set you up for success!
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You can think of Handshake as your gateway to career readiness at GW. In addition to allowing you to book appointments with our CCAS Graduate Career Counselors, Handshake is an amazing tool for networking and finding new opportunities.
The job search function allows you to browse full- and part-time jobs and internships (including paid and unpaid internships), and temporary and short-term positions. Your Handshake account is linked to GW, so any positions you see on Handshake were posted specifically for GW students and alumni. Handshake also allows you to personalize your recommendations based on interests, skills, major, location preferences, and search history. You can set it to notify you when a relevant job is posted.
Handshake is also a great resource for networking! Browse their events to find employer information sessions, networking events, career and internship fairs, and more.
You can access Handshake using your GW single sign-on credentials. Sign in today to peruse the resources, and be sure to bookmark it for easy access to Career Services appointments!
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Every year, hundreds of GW students work for the University as student employees. These student employee positions are temporary, part-time positions in which students earn an hourly wage. Student employment jobs are excellent ways to gain professional experience and learn workplace skills useful for future internships or employment.
These opportunities include (1) all Federal Work Study (FWS) positions that are with an on-campus department or pre-approved off-campus organization and (2) non-FWS positions within GW departments. To be eligible for student positions, an individual must be an active student at the university. International students attending GW on an F-1 visa should consult ISO (iso@gwu.edu) before accepting any offer of employment.
The GW Student Employment team provides students with the resources necessary to locate a position, helps them through the hiring process, and supports them after they are hired. All student employment opportunities are posted on the Student Employment Talent Management System. For more information, visit the Student Employment website.
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Office of Graduate Student Assistantships & Fellowships |
Did you know that GW has an entire office dedicated to helping graduate students find and apply for additional funding? The Office of Graduate Student Assistantships & Fellowships (OGSAF) has an abundance of information regarding internal and external fellowships, tips for finding an assistantship within your department, and a breakdown of other potential funding sources.
Need additional funding but not sure where to start? Check out OGSAF's page for current students to review their steps for finding funding, browse the funding search, and then drop by OGSAF's virtual office hours to chat with a member of their team!
In addition to their advising services and funding search tool, OGSAF also hosts both general, educational webinars and specific fellowship advising sessions. Students planning to apply for the NSEP Boren Fellowship, Fulbright U.S. Student Program, and/ or the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Award are encouraged to attend an advising session or book an appointment for 1:1 advising with OGSAF staff.
Questions about OGSAF's services should be directed to gradfell@gwu.edu. Please note that OGSAF is unable to provide specific information about school and department-level funding. Students interested in obtaining department-level awards should contact their department directly to inquire about funding availability.
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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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