Student Newsletter
Welcome to the CCAS Graduate Student Newsletter! Designed to keep you up to date with news and events, policies and processes, and all things for CCAS graduate students!
Latest Issue: May 2025
The Student Services Team is here to advise, guide, and provide you with resources to aid in your success, as well as help you navigate university policies and procedures. Our office is located in Smith 118, and we are open during normal business hours on Monday – Friday from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. You can schedule a virtual, phone, or in-person appointment with your Student Services Coordinator and Career Counselor.
For our May newsletter, we have the following topics:
- End of Year Message from Dean Wahlbeck
- Important Reminders
- May 2025 Commencement Information
- Career Services & Upcoming Career Events
- Resource Highlight: Off-Campus Housing & Student Affairs
- Funding, Fellowships, Internships & Employment Opportunities
End of Year Message from Dean Wahlbeck
If you are unable to view the embedded video, please follow this link to watch the video in browser.
Important Reminders
Gelman Library Closure & Available Resources
The Gelman Library building will be closed May 17 - August 17, 2025 to accommodate major HVAC maintenance, which should ensure a more sustainable and comfortable library environment for GW community members. This project will continue for two consecutive summers: Summer 2025 and 2026. The library will reopen for fall and spring semesters.
While the Gelman library building is closed for summer, library services will still be available. Please visit the Gelman Library Building Closure page on the GW Libraries website for more information on accessing books, course materials, and study spaces during the library closure.
Continuous Enrollment Requirement
All CCAS graduate students are required to register continuously each fall and spring semester until the completion of their program. You are not required to register for courses over the summer unless otherwise specified by your program, but may choose to do so if there are summer courses which interest you, or if you would like to get some requirements out of the way before the start of the 2025-2026 academic year. If you have questions about your program’s requirements or which courses you should take to meet those requirements, please reach out to your academic advisor.
Fall & Summer 2025 Registration
General registration for Fall 2025 courses will remain open in GWeb until August 24th, 2025. Please visit the Registrar’s Office website for instructions on course registration.
Summer Session offers students a variety of courses designed to broaden the mind and enhance skills. You can fulfill program requirements, take in-demand courses that fill up quickly during the regular academic year, and get a leg up on prerequisites.
Summer Session I this year is scheduled for May 19 - June 28; Summer Session II is scheduled for June 30 - August 9.
Key Registration Dates this Month
Please review the Registrar’s Office’s Fall/ Spring Schedule page and Summer Sessions page for a full list of key registration dates.
| May 19 - June 28 | Summer Session I |
| May 23 | Last day to add a Consortium course for Summer Session I |
| May 25 | Last day to add a Summer Session I class in GWeb |
| May 30 | Last day to add a Summer Session I class via RTF-EZ |
| June 1 | Last day to drop a Summer Session I class via any means |
Please keep in mind the Student Accounts Tuition Refund Policy if you make adjustments to your summer schedule after the start of classes for that session. Summer Session I is a 6-week session, so partial refunds will be determined by the number of calendar days that have passed since the first day of classes.
Common Registration Holds & How to Fix Them
Sometimes, a student may have a hold placed on their account which prevents course registration. If you have a hold that prevents registration, you will need to complete the action listed in the hold message before the hold can be removed. A hold may only be removed by the office that placed the hold.
Here are a few common registration holds:
| Hold Type | Action Required | Point of Contact |
| Transcript | Submit any outstanding required transcripts or other official documents | askccas@gwu.edu |
| Student Accounts - balance over $2500 | Reduce outstanding Student Accounts balance to below $2500 | sao@gwu.edu |
| Student Health - immunization hold | Submit the Mandatory Health Form via your student portal (linked from the Student Health Center Immunizations page) | immunreq@gwu.edu |
General information on common holds can be found on the Registrar’s Office website; information on financial holds can be found on the Student Accounts Office website. If you are unsure whether a hold on your account will prevent you from registering, please contact our office at ccasgradserv@gwu.edu.
If you started your program of study in the Spring 2025 semester, please make sure that you have turned in all official documents and transcripts required as part of the admissions process. Students who are still missing documents will have a hold placed on their account and will not be able to register for the Fall 2025 semester until those documents are submitted. Please review our website’s Official Transcripts Requirements page for more information on requirements and instructions for submitting required documents.
Requesting Leave of Absence
If you wish to take a Leave of Absence (LOA) during Fall 2025, please review our LOA policy and discuss this option with your Director of Graduate Studies. If you choose to take an LOA, please complete a Leave of Absence Application Form and submit it to us at ccasgradserv@gwu.edu.
Summer 2025 ETD Deadlines
If you will be completing your thesis or dissertation in Summer 2025, please continue to be mindful of ETD clearance deadlines for both Ph.D. students and for Master’s students completing a thesis.
Ph.D. students should visit our Ph.D. Clearance Deadlines page, and Master’s students completing a thesis should review our Master’s Thesis ETD Submission page.
Ph.D. ETD Workshops
Students completing their dissertation in Summer 2025 or in the near future are strongly encouraged to attend our online Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) workshops.
- Summer 2025 Ph.D. ETD Workshop
Thursday, June 5 from 3:00 - 4:00pm | Virtual (Zoom)
Learn more about the ETD submission process, formatting requirements, and upcoming deadlines for CCAS Ph.D. students. Students planning to defend in the Summer term are strongly advised to attend this workshop. Please register in advance to attend.
- Summer 2025 Ph.D. ETD Copyright Workshop
Wednesday, June 25 from 3:00 - 4:00pm | Virtual (Zoom)
Join us for this informative copyright workshop hosted by members of the GW Libraries Scholarly Communications Team. CCAS Ph.D. students whose dissertations will include previously published works are strongly encouraged to attend this workshop. Please register in advance to attend.
May 2025 Commencement Information
May 2025 Commencement Week Events
Please save the date for the following CCAS and GW Commencement Week events:
| Celebration | Date and Time |
| Doctoral Hooding | Thursday, May 15 at 5:00 pm |
| Master’s Celebration | Friday, May 16 at 8:30 am |
| GW Commencement | Sunday, May 18 at 10:30 am (Graduates and guests must be seated by 10:15 a.m. EDT.) |
Please continue to monitor your inbox for emails from ccasgradserv@gwu.edu and commencement@gwu.edu as we will begin sending out more specific details to graduating students early next week.
Key Dates for Spring 2025 Graduates
| Task | Deadline |
Submit any diploma name changes. If your name is incorrect in the Online Graduation Application, please submit a Biographical Updates Form as soon as possible and indicate that you have applied to graduate. | May 15 |
Submit any address changes. In the Online Graduation Application, you can add a new Diploma mailing address that is different from your current residential address, if needed. See step 5 in the graduation application instructions. | May 15 |
| Spring 2025 degree conferral | May 18 |
Career Services
Thank you for utilizing Career Services this year! Whether you attended our Career Readiness Workshops or 1:1 Coaching Appointments, you took intentional steps to invest in your future.
Still want career support? Erin Ahart and Dr. Johnette Ruffner-Ceaser are available to meet with CCAS students and alumni throughout the year, even during the summer! Schedule an appointment on Handshake, or visit our website or email ccas_careers@gwu.edu for more information.
Minute Mentor Podcast: 10 Tips for Navigating the Current Job Market in Spring 2025
Erin Ahart and Dr. Paul Binkley released two new episodes of Minute Mentor: Quick Tips for Career Success to help you with your job search!
Episode 8: 10 Tips for Navigating the Current Job Market in Spring 2025
- We break down practical strategies—from avoiding self-blame and doom-scrolling to maximizing LinkedIn—plus how to stay grounded in the face of uncertainty.
Episode 9: Listen to This if Your Job Search is Driving You Crazy!
- Erin and Paul discuss why the current job market is NOT hopeless and why you don't need to panic, even if it feels like it! This episode is your pep talk: full of empathy, encouragement, and tips to stay motivated.
Listen now on Spotify!
Resource Highlight: Off-Campus Housing & Student Affairs
As we head into summer, many of you may be looking to either renew your lease or find a new apartment. We know that the summer rental market can be tough in DC - here are some resources that might make your search a little easier.
GW Off-Campus Housing Website
The GW Off-Campus Housing website has a variety of resources including an apartment listing search and roommate search. The site pulls together listings from a variety of apartment search sites, so you can find more relevant listings in one place. You can also create a profile and find roommates through the Off-Campus Housing website.
Off-Campus Student Affairs
The Office of Off-Campus Student Affairs (OCSA) extends community building and learning beyond the campus of the George Washington University by providing resources, services, and programs designed to assist and guide students living off-campus. If you are looking to relocate, check out their neighborhood guides for an overview of neighborhoods that are accessible from campus. The tenant responsibilities page also has tips on protecting your rights as a renter, from inspecting the unit before move-in to pushing back if your landlord tries to violate your tenant rights.
Office of the Tenant Advocate
If you live within DC proper, you also have access to the Office of the Tenant Advocate (OTA). OTA is a DC government office, and is not affiliated with GW. The OTA aims to serve renters within DC by making sure they are aware of their rights as tenants, helping to resolve landlord disputes, and advocating for more renter-friendly policies. If you believe that your landlord is not following DC housing law, OTA provides in-house representation for tenants in certain cases, and refers other cases to pro bono or contracted legal service providers and attorneys.
Funding, Fellowships, Internships & Employment Opportunities
Bryce Harlow Fellowship Program
Deadline: May 4, 2025
The Bryce Harlow Fellowship was created to support “highly motivated students in pursuit of a career in professional advocacy through government relations and lobbying.” Fellowships are awarded to students who work full-time and undertake graduate studies on a part-time basis. Graduate programs may include, but are not limited to, public policy, law, and business.
Selected fellows will receive a $9000 tuition award, paid directly to GW and applied to their Student Account. Fellows will also be paired with a mentor from the Bryce Harlow Foundation’s board - this is an invaluable resource for networking and gaining expertise in your field.
For full eligibility and application requirements, as well as the link to apply, please visit the Office of Graduate Student Assistantships & Fellowships website.
Knapp Fellowship for Entrepreneurial Service-Learning
Proposal Submission Deadline: May 23, 2025
The Knapp Fellowship was established to recognize, reward, and facilitate creative public service and academic engagement. Selected students design and implement entrepreneurial service-learning projects that make a significant difference in the lives of others. Selected Knapp Fellows work with the Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service and a faculty member advisor to implement projects in collaboration with other students and/or community partners. Fellowship projects will be conducted over the course of the 2025-2026 academic year.
Knapp Fellowship projects should integrate scholarly work in the student’s discipline with the design and implementation of the service project. Projects should also involve collaboration with a local community organization or community members, and be heavily informed by their knowledge and experience. These projects are substantial and rely on Fellows having prior experience working with their community partner and/or the social issue. Knapp Fellows also receive professional development opportunities, preparing them to work with community partners and/or faculty members who are subject experts. For more information on the Knapp Fellowship and application process, please visit the Knapp Fellowship page.
Knowledge In Action Career Internship Fund (KACIF)
Fall Application Dates: August 1 - 15, 2025
The GW Career Services Council established the Knowledge in Action Career Internship Fund (KACIF) to encourage GW students to pursue high-quality unpaid internships that foster career exploration and enhance their academic program, while reducing the financial challenges associated with unpaid internships. KACIF provides grants ranging from $750 to $3,000 to GW students pursuing internships that are necessarily unpaid. Necessarily unpaid internships are typically those with non-profit, governmental, educational and non-governmental organizations that genuinely lack the financial resources to pay salaries or wages to their interns.
Please review the eligibility requirements and application process to help you prepare to apply for the award. More information on this award, as well as a link to the application, can be found on the GW Career Center’s KACIF page.
Updated May 1, 2025