Office of Parent Services
On behalf of The George Washington University and the Office of Parent Services, I am pleased to welcome you to Washington, D.C. and the GW family. The goal of the Office of Parent Services is to help you and your student have a meaningful and positive transitional and educational experience. The Colonial Parents’ Connection Online Newsletter reinforces this commitment as it opens a line of communication and allows for dialogue between you, the GW parent and the University. Please click here for additional information.
Jon Stewart to Headline Eighth Annual Colonials Weekend- SOLD OUT
Comedian Jon Stewart will headline The George Washington University's Colonials Weekend 2009. Known for his hilarious and incisive views on politics and pop culture, Mr. Stewart will entertain audiences with two performances on Saturday, October 17th at 7pm and 10pm. Please click here for additional information.
Dean of Freshmen Welcome
It was a pleasure to meet many of you during this summer’s Colonial Inauguration sessions as well as at the Summer Send-offs that I attended. If you joined us for one or both programs, I hope that you found them to be an exciting and valuable opportunity to become better acquainted with GW as your students prepared to begin their undergraduate experience on campus this fall. For me, as the Dean of Freshmen, Colonial Inauguration and the Summer Send-offs represented a very exciting opportunity to get to know you and your students – relationships that I hope will continue to grow even stronger during the course of the coming academic year. Please click here for additional information.
Parents’ Association Advisory Council (PAAC) Welcome
As the new school year begins parents face the excitement of their students starting or returning to GW and the challenges of “letting go”. As we leave our daughters and sons to their new Washington DC surroundings, we take comfort having the guidance of the University’s Office of Parent Services (OPS), the communal support of the GW Parents’ Association, and the representation of the Parents’ Association Advisory Council (PAAC). Please click here for additional information.
2009-2010 Academic Calendar
Click here to access the 2009-2010 Academic Calendar.
Colonial Central
Colonial Central is the Financial and Registration One Stop Solution Center for GW Parents and Students. Experienced Colonial Central staff are available to assist you in-person and by telephone or e-mail. You may also access our services online anytime.
Parents who are enrolled in the Office of Parent Services e-mail list will also receive our monthly newsletter, “News Central”. This newsletter lists important financial and registration information for the upcoming month. Please click here for additional information.
Guide to Personal Success
The Guide to Personal Success (GPS) program at The George Washington University is a program unique to GW and is designed to assist freshman students in transitioning to college life. The goal of the program is to pair incoming freshmen with experienced University community members to assist with their personal, professional, and experiential transition to the GW University community. Please click here for additional information.
GW Campus Advisories
We recognize that parents play an important role in the GW community, and The George Washington University is committed to providing a safe campus environment for all members of the University community.
This mission is achieved by active participation by all University members, campus resources, and our community partners.
We encourage you to stay informed by:
Listening to WTOP 103.5 FM;
Signing up for GW Alert and Alert D.C.;
Calling the GW Information Line at 202-994-5050;
Checking Campus Advisories regularly; and
Reading Campus Advisories FAQ’s .
Insure Your Students' Personal Property
If a students’ personal property is stolen or damaged in their residence hall room, it can cost the student a lot of money, time and frustration to replace. With this in mind, the University recommends that students insure their personal property. Such personal property may be covered under a parent’s/guardian’s homeowners’ insurance but should be checked and verified. Alternatively, the carrier which GW recommends is Haylor, Freyer and Coon Inc. Enroll online at the following web address: www.haylor.com/student or call toll free at 866-535-0456.
GW is not responsible for loss of or damage to the personal property brought into the residence halls by the students or their invitees. It is the students’ responsibility to protect their own personal property. If you have any questions regarding the insurance of property, please contact the Office of Risk Management at 202-994-3265 or via email at risk@gwu.edu .
Office of Greek Life
At GW, Greek Life is just one part of a complete undergraduate experience. The fraternity or sorority experience is a great way to create a sense of home within the wonders of GW and the city. It is all about friendship, leadership, scholarship, community service, philanthropy, and brotherhood/sisterhood that compliment your classroom experience. It’s about being a part of a community with nearly 2,100 undergraduate Greek-affiliated students on campus. It’s about enhancing the GW and DC communities through service and social functions. It’s about over 150 years of tradition, and establishing life-long friendships. Please click here for additional information.
Rape Aggression Defense Class (R.A.D.) Sponsored by UPD
Rape Agression Defense classes are currently forming for the fall semester. Female students/faculty/staff are invited to participate in this beneficial program which is designed to teach basic self defense skills to women. The skills taught take advantage of a woman's increased lower body strength and are a compilation of techniques taken from various disciplines. The class is a total of twelve hours in duration. Typically, two or three sections are offered per semester. Instruction is free for all university affiliates. For more information please contact Erin Harpine, Coordinator of Victims Services and Educational Initiatives, at 202-994-0443 or at eharpine@upd.gwu.edu. Please click here for additional information.
Student Health Services (SHS)
It was such a pleasure for everyone at Student Health Services to meet so many of the wonderful students in this year’s incoming freshman class, and their parents, during Colonial Inauguration. We were all very impressed by the talented and diverse individuals in the Class of 2013. After extensive conversations with many of you during our Healthy Living sessions, we wanted to review some of our policies and offer suggestions to help with a smooth transition to college for your sons or daughters. Please click here for additional information.
GW Red Scarf Project
The GW Red Scarf Project is teaming up for the fourth year with the Orphan Foundation of America (OFA) in support of the national RED SCARF PROJECT.
OFA needs 7,000 handmade scarves for their winter care package to college-bound foster students. Your handcrafted scarf will send the message that someone cares—and what better community to support foster college students than OUR UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY of students, staff, faculty, and alumni. Please click here for additional information.
Tuition Insurance
GW participates in an elective insurance program known as the Tuition Refund Plan. This plan provides insurance coverage for the cost of tuition and fees, in the event you must withdraw from school before the end of the semester. Should you suffer a serious illness or accident and have to leave school before the end of the semester, the Tuition Refund Plan will alleviate your financial loss. For additional information, contact A.W.G. Dewar, Inc. (617-774-1555 or click here for more information on Tuition Insurance).
University Counseling Center (UCC)
The UCC offers a broad range of services to help your student with academic and personal issues as they pursue their degrees at GW. Services include short-term individual therapy, group therapy, crisis services, academic skills assistance, and career counseling. The UCC also offers telephone consultations if you are concerned about your student, and we can provide referral information for all types of mental health needs. Please click here for additional information
University Police Department (UPD)
GW Police Department has joined forces with Safeplace USA to provide electronic room safes for students to purchase or rent to secure their valuables. If a student purchases or rents a safe through this program, Safeplace USA will install (bolt) the safe in the closet of their place of residence (see the purchase or rental agreement for details) soon after it is purchased or rented, at the convenience of the student. Please click here for additional information.
Welcome Week 2009
Please encourage your students to attend the many exciting events taking place during the first couple weeks of the semester. Welcome Week offers over fifty events from the Student Activities Center as well as other departments and student organizations on campus.
Career Center
Federal Work Study Orientation
Wednesday, September 2
3-5pm or 5-7pm
Dorothy Betts Marvin Theatre
More info: http://gwired.gwu.edu/career/fws
Federal Work Study Job Fair
Thursday, September 3
1-4pm
Marvin Center Ballrooms
More info: http://gwired.gwu.edu/career/fairs
Open House for Undergraduates
Friday, September 4
1-3pm
Career Center
(First 100 receive a FREE 1G USB loaded with informational materials!) Additional Information: http://gwired.gwu.edu/career
