Transfer & Exchange Bear Bulletin
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Division of Student Affairs
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Dear Student,
Welcome to WashU! I am Anna Gonzalez, vice chancellor for student affairs. Students know me as “Dr. G.” My team and I are ready to provide you with an unforgettable experience!
Our staff in the Division of Student Affairs will guide you through your experiences at WashU outside of the classroom! It is very important to us that you feel connected and understand that you are part of a supportive community.
We have a vast number of resources that you will learn more about soon. Until then, the new students website has information designed to aid in your transition. It’s also a time to start checking your @wustl.edu email address. The Bear Bulletin newsletters will be delivered monthly to that inbox and will include important tasks for you to complete to prepare for your arrival at WashU.
Be sure to become familiar with Winter Welcome which will outline information you need to know about arriving at WashU. Winter Welcome offers services like airport shuttles and extra time to acclimate to campus and make friends.
During Winter Welcome, you will also meet staff from the Office for International Student Engagement (OISE) and the Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS) to learn about the resources available on campus. If you have questions, my OISE team can help. Call or email them at 314-935-0985 or at OISE@wustl.edu.
My team and I are looking forward to personally connecting with you during your time on campus. We cannot wait!
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Anna “Dr. G” Gonzalez
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
@akgonzal327
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Student Transitions & Engagement (STAE) supports new students through their academic and social transition into the WashU community. On behalf of all of us in the Division of Student Affairs, welcome to WashU!
Each transfer student is assigned a WashU Student Associate (WUSA), an orientation leader and peer mentor employed by our office. These peer mentors will lead small groups during Winter Welcome and serve as a resource to you throughout the spring semester.
To learn more about our office and what we do, please visit our website. Follow us on Instagram to connect with your peers and the WashU community!
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Enter the following Spring 2026 dates into your planners and calendars:
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January 7: Spring 2026 Transfer & Exchange students arrive
- January 7- 11: Winter Welcome
- January 12: First day of classes for the spring semester
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January 19: Martin Luther King Holiday - no classes
- January 22: Last day to add/wait/change or drop with a "D" for Spring regular session classes
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January 23: Spring regualr session classes dropped on or after this date are assigned a "withdrawal" W
- March 8-16: Spring Break - no classes
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March 16: Classes resume
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Before You Arrive Checklist |
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- Activate your WashU Key.
- Your WashU Key is the set of login credentials (login ID and password) you’ll use to access Workday Student and many other WashU online services.
- Visit the WashU Key How-To webpage for more information
- Enroll in DUO two-factor authentication and Duo Mobile to easily access WashU systems securely.
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Activate your WashU email account; all communication from the university will be sent here, check it regularly.
- Select the “Log in to Office 365” button.
- Please note that you must create your WashU Key before you can activate your WashU email.
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For email and calendaring assistance, contact IT Support or call 314-933-3333.
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| Complete your Student Health Center requirements"
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| Complete your Student Health Center requirements:
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International student arrival |
The Office for International Student Engagement is excited to welcome you to campus! We will be offering free airport shuttle service on January 7th for international students moving into WashU housing. Shuttles will run from 8:30am to 4:30pm. To reserve your spot, simply complete the registration form and let us know you’ll be using the service. We look forward to greeting you soon!
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The WashU housing portal for the Spring 2026 semester is currently open for students to apply for housing. To access it, students must first have their WashU Key activated* and can then log in to the portal to complete the application, sign the contract, and submit their preferences.
*Please note, that you will have access to the housing portal within 24 hours of your WashU Key being activation on weekdays.
How to apply for housing:
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- Log in: Go to the WashU Housing Portal and sign in with your WashU Key.
- Submit the application: Complete the Spring Semester Housing Application on the portal.
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Complete the application steps: This includes reading the terms and conditions, completing your information, selecting housing preferences, and filling out the roommate questionnaire.
- Sign the contract: Agree to the housing contract to finalize your application.
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Students will be added to a Canvas course that will walk them through the College of Arts & Sciences registration process and what the academic transition to WashU will entail. With any questions, contact admissions@wustl.edu
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| Bearprints for Success: GENST 1100 |
We hope you will consider taking Bearprints for Success, a one-credit, seven-week course designed to help you make a successful academic and personal transition to WashU. Over the seven weeks of the course, you will be introduced to campus resources that will support you during your time at WashU. Discuss Bearprints for Success with your advisor when registering for courses. Email Lauren McCoy, Instructional Specialist, for more information.
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Move-in Day & Winter Welcome |
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Winter Welcome, the orientation program to welcome new transfer and exchange students to campus before the spring semester, will take place from Jan. 7-11.
Transfer and exchange students will move-in on Wednesday, Jan. 7. Students living in Residential Life-managed housing can move-in to their residence halls between 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. All new transfer and exchange students must arrive on campus by 5 p.m. on Wed., Jan. 7.
For more information about move-in, please reference the Residential Life website.
During check-in, be sure to stop by the STAE welcome table to get your welcome bag, which includes a schedule of the week's events, a map of campus, and some WashU merch. This is also a great opportunity to meet your WashU Student Associates (WUSAs) and STAE professional staff. They will be there to answer any questions you have and help you get settled into the WashU community.
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Washington University in St. Louis
One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130
washu.edu
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Washington University in St. Louis
One Brookings Drive
St. Louis, MO 63130
washu.edu
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