Bear Bulletin

Division of Student Affairs

April 1, 2026

We hope you had a fun and restful spring break! As the semester progresses, remember the importance of finding a healthy balance between your academic responsibilities and relaxation time. We encourage you to use the many resources WashU offers to pursue your healthy excellence! In this issue, we’ve pulled together helpful resources, events and tips to support you throughout the month. 

View the Academic Calendar →

April 8, 15 & 22; 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Mudd Field*

Join us for Well-being Wednesdays to hang out with WashU Comfort Dogs Bear and Brookie, grab lunch, and check out the farmers market, local health and wellness vendors, and campus resources to learn how we can all make well-being a habit.

*Rain location: Fun Room on second floor of the DUC

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11

Saturday, April 11; Various times

Various locations

Join Campus Life for this annual event that connects students with St. Louis through service to the community. Multiple opportunities are available both on and off campus, serving organizations such as the Green Center, SHED (Sustainable Housing & Equitable Development), Americorps St. Louis, and many more. View opportunities and register to volunteer online. 

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Monday, April 13-Friday, April 17; 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Center for Career Engagement; Danforth University Center 110

The Center for Career Engagement has organized fun events to celebrate WashU's student workers! To show WashU's appreciation, stop by for FREE food, fun activities, raffle prizes, and community with other student workers. Events include:

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23

Thursday, April 23; 5-7 p.m.

South 40 Swamp

First Year Finale is the celebration of the completion of your first year at WashU! Join us on the South 40 Swamp to enjoy free Pappy's Smokehouse barbecue, a live DJ, a prize raffle, lawn games, giveaways, and so much more. Tell us you’re interested in attending and you’ll receive a second raffle ticket at entry for prizes! 

We'll also recognize winners of the First Year Finale Awards, which celebrates those who helped make your first year a success. Nominate individuals now!

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Thursday, April 23; doors open at 6 p.m.

Mudd Field

WILD, WashU's annual spring concert and largest student-run event, will feature a headlining musical artist and free food and drinks. Past artists have included Flo Rida, Chance the Rapper, Jason Derulo, and Carly Rae Jepsen.

This event is free and open only to WashU students. First-year students can pick up tickets at the following times and locations:

Wednesday, April 8; 2:30-5:30 p.m. | Mudd Field
Friday, April 17; 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm | Brookings Quad

The Fun House is back—twice! Brought to you by Dr. G, this event is open to the entire WashU community as a way to bring some easy fun into your routine. Join us for bounce houses, free food, music, giveaways, the WashU PD dogs, and more. All you have to do is show up!

Student Transitions & Engagement invites you to submit nominations for the First Year Finale awards, celebrating outstanding members of the WashU community who positively impact first-year experiences.

The deadline for nominations is Monday, April 13 at 11:59 p.m. Winners will be announced on STAE's Instagram account, @washutransitions, from April 20-22. Don’t miss the chance to recognize those who have made a difference!

Students in the Class of 2029 can begin registering for fall 2026 classes on Friday, April 17 at 8 a.m. Take these steps to prepare:

Two new 3-credit courses have been added to the Civic Action Lab portfolio for the Fall 2026 semester: Foundations of Civic Engagement and Engage STL. 

Foundations of Civic Engagement introduces key actions, strategies and approaches individuals can use to strengthen and improve their communities. Engage STL is an eight-week experiential short course offered on Fridays beginning in August. The course takes students into St. Louis neighborhoods to explore, connect with local leaders, and gain an up-close understanding of the region's civic landscape.

These additions join Strategies for Engagement in U.S. Elections and Running for Political Office, which are also being offered this fall.

This summer get ahead, catch up, or dive into something new! Arts & Sciences Summer Session offers online and in-person courses across flexible summer dates. Enroll in high-demand classes like Intro to Psych and explore course offerings across the arts, humanities, and sciences. Course browsing is now available, and registration begins March 25.

Have questions? Learn more at summersession.wustl.edu. Email us at summersession@wustl.edu. We’re happy to help!  

Bear Bodega, the new convenience store on the South 40, opens April 7. Shop for everything from grab-and-go meals and fresh snacks to everyday grocery staples. No checkout lines, no waiting. Meal Points and Bear Bucks are accepted. A WashU ID will be required for entry after 5 p.m.

Save 5% on iPad Air M4, MacBook Air M5, MacBook Pro M5 and MacBook Neo. Save 10% on remaining MacBook Air products, MacBook Pro, iPad Air, iPad Pro, iPad, and iPad Mini. Available online and in-store April 6-10, 2026, at WashU Campus Bookstores.

Everyone can make a difference in their communities. The Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement empowers WashU students to make a positive impact in St. Louis by combining your classroom learning with experiential education, translating your passions, skills, and career goals into civic impact.

It inspires you to engage in democracy through initiatives such as WashU Votes, weekly Civic Café discussions, and Civic Action Weeks. It challenges you to connect with and contribute to the St. Louis community through the St. Louis Fellows Program, Engage STL Days, and the St. Louis Impact Fund. Build the skills you'll need to make a lifetime of change by participating in the Civic Scholars Program or the Gephardt Institute Student Internship Program.

We encourage you take part in civic action through the Gephardt Institute. The skills you learn will help you tackle the urgent societal challenges our communities face and help make them better places to live and thrive.

Learn more →

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