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Dear GW Families,
Happy fall! We hope you and your family are staying healthy and well during these times. This semester’s virtual education and learning environment has certainly been an unusual experience for many of us. As parents and family members of a GW student, you are important partners in your student's success. We thank you for your ongoing efforts to support your student, especially during this time.
This is the time of the semester when the "honeymoon" period of the new year has worn off for many. Students are receiving feedback on their first assignments/quizzes/tests. Some students may feel stressed, anxious, or not sure where to go for help. Below is helpful information for you and your student to assist with this transition.
Here's what you can expect in this edition of the GW Family Monthly Newsletter:
- Provost Blake's Update to Students
- Enhanced Testing Available to Nearby Off-Campus Students
- Colonials Weekend (Family & Alumni Weekend)
- Student Account eBill Policy Reminders
- Information on FERPA (student consent)
- Academic Resources for Virtual Learning
- Accessibility & Financial Resources
- Health & Well-being Resources
- Student Engagement Resources
- Information on Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)
- GW's Academic Calendar & Updates
- Recent News
Throughout the academic year our goal is to share a monthly newsletter with our families. In addition, throughout the semester, we will supplement the newsletter by sharing timely updates from university leadership and occasional mini recaps with GW news and information.
Please share! If you know of a GW parent or family member who would like to receive updates, please encourage them to sign up here.
Do not hesitate to contact our office at 202-994-6710 or via email at success@gwu.edu if you have any questions or concerns.
Raise High!
Leah Small
Sr. Program Associate
Office for Student Success
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Provost Update to Students
Earlier this week, Provost Blake emailed students for a mini-check-in. He included a few anecdotes and feedback from students about their virtual learning so far, including one class with students from 24 countries who are working on collaborative projects. He also mentioned that he continues to receive questions about whether GW should consider re-introducing the pass/fail option for the fall semester. He asked students to fill out a survey with their opinions on the topic. If you have heard your student talk about pass/fail, please encourage them to let the Provost know their thoughts on the topic.
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Enhanced Testing Available to Nearby Off-Campus Students
We have expanded access to our in-house testing to additional GW students who live in the region but are not part of the on-campus cohort. Off-campus students can now obtain tests through our in-house testing operation if they believe they have been exposed to the virus or have symptoms. Please note that students are not granted campus access, but this helps protect our entire community, provide us with more insight into off-campus positive cases, allow for quicker test results and proper follow up, and make it easier for students to be tested.
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Colonials Weekend (Family and Alumni Weekend)
There's still time to register for Colonials Weekend 2020: A Virtual Experience on Saturday, October 3rd. Members of our community are encouraged to wear their festive Buff & Blue gear and hear remarks from President LeBlanc and Provost Blake, interact with some of GW’s best and brightest political minds at the annual Political Discourse panel, and enjoy the special comedic talents of Emmy-nominated actress Yvonne Orji, (CCAS BA ‘05, GWSPH MPH ’08) from the hit HBO show Insecure.
Registration is FREE and open to all members of the GW community. You can access the full schedule and registration link here.
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Student Acount eBill
GW does not issue paper statements. Students and authorized users are notified via email when a new statement is available. Students can add up to 5 authorized users in their Student Account eBill system. Authorized users have access to the eBill system only, and do not have access to view grades, course information, or financial award letters. If someone other than the student (e.g., a parent, relative, spouse, etc) will be making payments to the university, the student should add them as an authorized user on the account. The student is the only one with the ability to grant access to the eBill system. Please keep in mind that payment for each term is due on the first day of the semester unless enrolled in the monthly payment plan.
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Federal Education Rights to Privacy Act (FERPA)
Many families want to know their student's grades, ask about their academic performance, or check on their finances. Access to this information is protected under FERPA, which places limits on the right to review your student's education and financial records. Once your student is enrolled, regardless of age, you will not have access to his or her records unless your student gives consent. Students can give family members consent by completing the Student Consent Form available here.
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Academic Resources for Virtual Learning
GW offers numerous free academic resources to help your student thrive during the virtual learning period.
- The Office for Student Success assists with academic and overall student success by providing individualized support through 1:1 guided coaching with Student Success Coaches, weekly success workshops and proctored study hall sessions.
- Academic Commons has developed a series of short videos addressing different virtual learning strategies for the fall 2020 semester. They also offer a variety of live virtual workshops to equip students with the tools to succeed in a virtual environment and study groups for students to discuss course concepts, review for upcoming exams, share notes, or resources, and complete group projects. In addition, if students need personalized assistance to support their academic success, GW Libraries is actively providing services for writing, remote library services and resources, and virtual tutoring.
- Research consultations are available to all students working on assignments or personal projects. If they have trouble narrowing down their paper topic, need assistance developing a web site to collect data, or are looking for guidance on how to analyze or manage their data, there is an expert waiting to meet with them.
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Accessibility and Financial Resources
- Emergency Funding - The University offers a number of funds, in the form of loans and grants, to help address emergencies that arise. Click here for additional information.
- Academic Materials Grant - The Office for Student Success will award one-time textbook grants for Pell-eligible students this academic year. A limited reserve of funding has been allocated for emergency grants for academic supplies for students. Students may email success@gwu.edu for additional information.
- GW Federal Work Study - The Federal Work Study (FWS) Program is a federally-funded work program that allows GW students who have received a Federal Work Study award from the Office of Student Financial Assistance to earn money through a part-time job during the academic year. If your student was offered and accepted FWS funding as part of their financial aid package, they are eligible to hold a FWS position. Students can access available Federal Work-Study (FWS) positions with an on-campus department or approved off-campus organization, as well as Non-FWS positions with an on-campus department here.
- Internet Access - GW has acquired a limited number of personal hotspot devices available on loan at no cost to students who may not have access to reliable internet service during this virtual period. Contact students@gwu.edu for additional information.
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Health & Well-being Resources
- Medical and Psychiatric Services are currently being offered remotely by telemedicine until further notice at 202-994-5300. The call will be answered by a clinician and evaluated for treatment or a referral.
- Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)- If your student is feeling stressed or anxious and would like to talk to someone, encourage them to contact CAPS by phone 24/7 at 202-994-5300. In addition to phone consultations, CAPS also provides virtual workshops, self-help resources, mental health discussion series, We Talks, and group counseling for the Fall 2020 semester.
- The CARE Team is a cross-departmental support system housed in the Division for Student Affairs that provides assistance for students covering a wide range of topics, from academic performance to financial difficulties to social integration and wellness/mental health concerns. If you know of a student who would benefit from additional support, please submit the CARE Team Referral Form.
- Students can join GW Campus Recreation on ZOOM to participate in daily group fitness classes. The schedule will run from August 31 – December 6.
- Raise Up GW, a Division of Sudent Affairs initiative, is dedicated to helping students engage in a comprehensive well-being experience. We empower our students to actively engage in well-being activities that are supportive of holistic lifestyles. Through this initiative, students will gain an understanding of resources and learn how to help others in need.
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Student Engagement Resources
- August 31 - October 2, 2020 - Weeks of Welcome: GW provides six weeks of opportunities for students to connect, build relationships, learn about resources, and build a community at GW as they start the fall semester.
- Encourage your student to follow @StudentLifeatGW on Instagram to get connected to the GW community, and for the latest event updates.
- GW’s Office of Student Life’s website has information about getting involved and upcoming events to stay connected.
- Throughout the year, the Multicultural Student Services Center (MSSC) hosts a variety of events that contributes to an environment that promotes cultural competency, inclusion, and social justice.
- Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement & Public Service- The Nashman Center provides a variety of programs that includes community service, social innovation and community-engaged scholarships. Read a recent article about the Center.
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Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)
GW is pleased to offer a comprehensive Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) through Aetna Student Health. GW has partnered with University Health Plans to administer the plan and help with waiver, enrollment, or eligibility related questions. Whether students are studying at home or at school, the SHIP offers access to nationally preferred providers through the Aetna PPO network, a low deductible, travel assistance services, and Telehealth for medical advice, prescription refills and other services. For more information on benefits please click here or call University Health Plans at 800-437-6448.
Undergraduate students matriculated in a degree-granting program, medical, on-campus nursing, on-campus Health Science students, and international students holding a J1 or F1 visa are required to have health insurance. These students are automatically enrolled in the GW SHIP and must submit a waiver to opt-out if they have another insurance plan that meets the waiver criteria. Before waiving, compare the cost, coverage, and benefits of the SHIP to your existing plan. The fall 2020 waiver deadline was 9/12/2020. Those that missed the waiver deadline can submit an appeal form. Waiver appeals must be submitted electronically here. The deadline to submit a waiver appeal is 11/30/2020. There will be no exceptions after the appeal deadline has passed.
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Academic Calendar & Updates
- View the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 Academic Calendar which includes key academic dates for the semester, such as holidays, exam periods and modifications to class schedules.
- Add/Drop Deadlines- Friday,September 25: Last day to ADD or DROP full semester courses via RTF-EZ
Sunday, September 27: Last day to DROP a course on BanWeb. To learn more about Registration deadlines please visit the Reigstrar's website.
- Academic Forgiveness Policy- All undergraduate students are now eligible to repeat for credit and grade forgiveness three undergraduate-level courses taken at GW in which they received a grade of D+ (1.3) or below (except if the failing grade was due to a violation of GW’s Code of Academic Integrity). With the approval of their academic advisor, a student may repeat a course under this policy at any time during their enrollment at GW; however, a course is not eligible for this policy if the student has taken a subsequent course for which the initial course is a prerequisite. The student’s registration, including the repeated course, may not exceed 18 credits in the semester in which the course is repeated. Students should contact their Academic Advisor for questions. .
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725 23rd Street, NW
Tompkins Hall, Suite 106
Washington, DC 20052
Phone: (202) 994-6710
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