Student Newsletter - October 2022

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!

Graduate Student Newsletter Archive

OCTOBER 2022

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. On Thursdays, we are open until 6:00 pm. You can schedule a virtual, phone, or in-person appointment with your Student Services Coordinator and Career Counselors.

For our October Newsletter, we have the following topics:

Fall 2022 Reminders

Academic Policies

Please familiarize yourself with all CCAS and University policies. Students are responsible for adhering to all policies and procedures relevant to the pursuit of their graduate degree, including those published in the University Bulletin, the CCAS Bulletin, and in the CCAS Graduate Student Handbook.

Important Reminder About Official Transcripts

All new students who have not submitted official transcripts should do so before registration begins in November. A hold may be placed on your record and prevent you from registration if transcripts are not received. All transcripts should be sent to [email protected].

Fall Graduation Deadline

The deadline for students to apply for Fall 2022 graduation is November 15. All degree students who plan on completing their requirements in Fall need to apply through GWeb. Students must be registered in order to apply to graduate.

Current Address

Please ensure that the current mailing address the University has on file for you is correct. You can view the address and make changes in GWeb.

Direct Deposit

If you have an award which contains either a GA salary or fellowship stipend, we recommend signing up for a direct deposit for your convenience. Information on the sign-up process is available on the Human Resources website.

ETD Deadlines

PhD Students:

November 11 - Submit the Dissertation Examination Defense Form

November 21 - Pre-clearance by CCAS - Completed in 2 steps:

DegreeMAP reflects all degree requirements completed except the dissertation and dissertation research courses
Attended an ETD dissertation formatting/publishing workshop

December 1 - Dissertation defense deadline

December 5 - ETD form due and submitted final, approved, post-defense, electronic dissertation to the ProQuest site

December 9 - Final, approved dissertation containing all post-defense revisions and required formatting is approved by University ETD administrator

Master’s Students:

December 2 - Submit ETD Access Approval Form and upload final, approved thesis to the ProQuest site

December 9 at 5:00 pm - Submit all requested formatting revisions and receive the approval of the University ETD Administrator

Student Spotlight

Martina Maya-Callen, a graduate student in the Corcoran School of the Arts & Design’s Master of Fine Arts in Social Practice program, is an eating disorder warrior. Her art series, “A Letter To My Body” was born from her navigating her relationship with her own body and working to hold space for others’ individualized journeys. In 2017, she wrote “A Letter To My Body” and now uses this practice to guide others through writing workshops that honor, celebrate, and heal the self. Unrealistic beauty standards perpetuated in society leave little room for body celebration. This artwork is designed to ignite connection with one’s body. The empowerment photography of women and nonbinary folx is varied, from boudoir to sculpture-making, representing the multidimensionality of beauty.

“A Letter To My Body” is on display in the Staircase Gallery in Flagg Building (500 17th St. NW, Washington DC) from September 21st to October 17th.

Career Corner

All CCAS graduate students now have access to two dedicated career counselors to help with resumes, cover letters, networking, interviewing, and many other areas. (Note: The Trachtenberg School and Data Sciences program have their own dedicated career counselors.) Wendy Wright and Paul Binkley are now available to meet one-on-one by scheduling a time in Handshake. More information on the services available to CCAS graduate students can be found on our Career Services website and via email at [email protected].

All CCAS graduate students are encouraged to log into their Handshake accounts using their GW UserID to also find resources, tools, events, employer connections, how-tos, coaching appointments, and hundreds of job and internship postings.

Career Spotlight: Graduate Student Career Series

The Graduate Student Career Series is an initiative of the Career Services Council to provide all graduate students with access to career learning programs and workshops from industry specific to general career development topics. Through this collaborative effort, graduate students in all schools across GW have access to workshops that may have once been unavailable.

Below is a list of events to be held in October that CCAS Graduate students can attend. Register in Handshake

Rebranding Disability Through Achievement: Virtual Information Session & Dialogue on Disclosure, October 6, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Join Lime Connect’s Outreach and Engagement Specialist discussing the Lime Network, scholarships, internship and full-time opportunities and more! Learn about what Lime Connect has to offer and get answers to your questions about disclosure and accommodations.
Virtual GW STEM + Health Career Connection Fair, October 7, 2-6 p.m. An excellent opportunity to connect with employers with positions ranging from clinical research and science to biotech, engineering, and public health.
Epic Consulting Visiting GW, October 18, 3-5 p.m. at Science and Engineering Hall (SEH) Room 2000. Epic is recruiting from all disciplines for internships and full-time opportunities. Must be a U.S. citizen.
Career Cafe: LinkedIn from LinkedIn’s Success Manager, October 18, 4-5 p.m. Work with LinkedIn’s Success Manager, Joe Moore, to explore ways you can leverage LinkedIn and LinkedIn Learning.
Virtual Media, Journalism & Public Affairs Networking Fair, October 18, 4:30-6:00 p.m. The MJPA Networking fair provides the opportunity to learn about the career paths of different organizations, including internships and jobs.
How to Make a Strong LinkedIn virtual workshop, October 26, 6-7:30 p.m. Hosted by GW’s Graduate School of Education and Human Development.

Upcoming Student Events

Please note the following October events. To view future events, please visit the Current Graduate Student Events page.

Fall 2022 Ph.D. ETD Workshop I	October 12 at 3:00pm
Things I Wish I Had Known before Entering the Academic Job Market	October 13 at 4:00pm
CCAS Graduate Student Resume Madness	October 18
Fall 2022 Ph.D. ETD Copyright Workshop	October 26 at 3:00pm

Reminder About GW’s Current COVID-19 Protocol and Class Attendance

Please review the following guidance about COVID-19 protocols laid out by the university at the beginning of the semester. You can also refer to the university’s requirements for testing after a close contact.

Unless your course is designated as an online course in GW’s Schedule of Classes, you are expected to attend classes in person, and you are required to wear a mask in all indoor instructional settings, such as classrooms and teaching laboratories. You are also required to wear a mask on GW transportation, including the Mount Vernon Express, VSTC Express, and Safe Ride, and in all university health care facilities, including the Student Health Center and the GW Medical Faculty Associates. You are encouraged but are not required to wear a mask in other university-owned and -operated facilities.

If you test positive for COVID-19, you will be required to isolate for at least 5 days and possibly longer. Only a GW medical provider can release a GW community member from isolation and provide the individual with the medical clearance needed to resume in-person campus activities. If you are required to isolate after testing positive for COVID-19, faculty members should have a plan for making course materials available to you. Please contact your instructor. (Please refer to GW’s isolation and tracing protocol.)

If you have symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, you should refrain from attending class, contact your instructor immediately to let them know about your situation, wear a mask, and schedule a symptomatic test as soon as possible following the instructions outlined on GW’s Testing page.

If you know or believe you’ve been in close contact with an individual with COVID-19 or you’re notified by the Campus COVID-19 Support Team that someone with COVID-19 has identified you as a close contact, you should wear a mask around everyone for at least 10 days. You do not need to quarantine and should continue to attend classes and in-person events. If you’re fully up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines (i.e., fully vaccinated and boosted, if eligible), you should complete a COVID-19 test 3-5 days after you were exposed. If you have a vaccine or booster exemption, you should schedule and complete a COVID-19 test as soon as possible, and you should schedule and complete a second COVID-19 test 3-5 days after you were exposed (if your first test is negative). More information is available about the university’s requirements for testing after a close contact.

Writing Center’s Long-Term Project (LTP) Program

The Long-Term Project (LTP) program enables you to partner with a single consultant for up to a full semester, so that you can have dedicated, sustained attention to a major writing project. You may enter the Program at any stage of the project: as you begin your research, as you begin drafting, or as you begin polishing a near-final draft. For more information, visit the Writing Center’s website.

Virtual Graduate Open House

Are you interested in another graduate program? Perhaps a dual degree? Or adding a graduate certificate to complement your current program of study? If so, join us virtually Monday, Oct. 17 – Thursday, Oct. 27! The CCAS Graduate Virtual Open House is the perfect opportunity to learn more about the other 90+ graduate programs and certificate programs within CCAS. Check out the complete schedule of events and register today.

Everyday English: Practice Available Every Week

Practice your English conversation skills with native English speakers and GW students! Each week, Everyday English offers a virtual space for international students to practice their English skills in an informal setting. Discussion topics include U.S. culture, food, holidays, professional and non-academic English, and more. Students are encouraged to share about their native culture as well. All English levels are welcome. Questions about Everyday English, or interested in volunteering? Visit the Everyday English website or contact them at [email protected].

GW Student Association Senate Opening

The GW Student Association Senate is looking to fill 3 graduate senate vacancies that were not filled during their last annual election in March 2022. If you are interested in applying to fill one of these positions, please submit the application by October 14.

What does the SA and the Senate do?

Participate in the university decision-making process, such as amending the Code of Student Conduct and the Code of Academic Integrity.
Represent students in university bodies, such as Joint Committee on Faculty and Students, Student Grievance Board, and different advisory councils.
Allocate and administer Student Body Funds, including funding to graduate student umbrella organizations.
Provide feedback to the University on any student-related policies and/or practices.
Act as the student counsel for university administration, faculty, and staff.

What are the expectations of a Senator?

Attend meetings (including Full Senate Meetings and committee meetings; virtual options are available, or you can appoint a proxy);
Communicate with your peers to raise their concerns;
Provide feedback to University Leadership on student experiences;
Host office hours (minimum 1 hour/week in the fall-spring semester, can be virtual);
Time commitment is 2-5 hours/week (depending on your availability).

Funding/Employment Opportunities

Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans

Deadline: October 27, 2022

The purpose of the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans is to provide opportunities for continuing generations of able and accomplished New Americans to achieve leadership in their chosen fields and to partake of the American dream. Each award is for up to $25,000 in stipend support a year, as well as 50 percent of required tuition and fees, up to $20,000 per year, for one to two years.

Critical Language Scholarship (CLS)

Deadline: November 2022

The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) is a fully-funded overseas language and cultural immersion summer program (eight to ten weeks) for American undergraduate and graduate students. The program is part of a U.S. government effort to expand dramatically the number of Americans studying and mastering critical foreign languages. Students of diverse disciplines and majors are encouraged to apply. You must be a U.S. citizen to be eligible for this opportunity.

Languages:

No Prior Study Required: Azerbaijani; Bangla; Hindi; Indonesian; Persian; Punjabi; Swahili; Turkish; Urdu
One Year of Study Required: Arabic; Korean; Portuguese; Russian
Two Years of Study Required: Chinese; Japanese

Cosmos Scholars Research Grants

Deadline: November 1, 2022

The Cosmos Club Foundation Cosmos Scholars Grant Program provides grants to meet specific research needs not covered by other supporting funds, including, but not limited to, special supplies, travel, and unanticipated expenses that would enhance the work. There is no restriction as to academic field, but the project should be focused on objective scholarly research rather than commercial or political activity, social activism, or other non-academic goals. Amounts of awards will be determined individually and will not exceed $5,000. Applicants must be enrolled, on a full-time or part-time basis, in a program leading to a graduate degree (Master’s or Doctoral). For inquiries, please contact [email protected].

Summer 2023 Paid Internship with the Federal Government

Deadline: November 27, 2022

Managed by the Partnership for Public Service, the Future Leaders in Public Service Internship Program helps bring diverse young talent to government and offers students the opportunity to apply their educational training to work at a federal agency. The program is actively recruiting its summer 2023 cohort to join the Department of Transportation and the Department of Commerce as paid interns. Undergraduate, graduate, and professional students from across disciplines are welcome to apply.

The Partnership for Public Service is hosting 2 Virtual Information sessions on the following dates. More information and registration is available on the Partnership for Public Service website.

Thursday, October 6, 5-6 p.m.
Monday, November 14, 12-1 p.m.

Federal Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) Open for Students with Disabilities

Student registration is open for the Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) 2023! The WRP is a recruitment program for students and recent graduates with disabilities to find internships and jobs in the federal government. Students and graduates with disabilities may visit the WRP website to take their first step towards opportunity for federal employment. All applicants must be eligible for the Schedule A Hiring Authority for persons with disabilities and must be a U.S. citizen. To register for the WRP, students will need to visit the WRP website (use Chrome or Firefox on a computer, not a mobile device). For more information, contact Caroline Morton at [email protected].

Call for submissions - The Albert H. Small Center for National Capital Area Studies Evolution DC Blog

The Albert H. Small Center for National Capital Area Studies at the GW Museum is seeking student writers of all disciplines to publish on a new blog titled Evolution DC. The collection holds a variety of prints, newspapers, maps, artworks, and ephemera related to DC history for students to explore and research. Interested students should schedule a visit to the center to explore the collection and discuss their ideas. For more information or to visit the center, please email [email protected].

National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity

The George Washington University is an Institutional Member of the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD). The NCFDD is an independent faculty development center dedicated to supporting academics in making successful transitions throughout their careers. By becoming an Institutional Member, all graduate students at The George Washington University have access to a variety of free resources. Please review the GW Professional Development & Faculty Support page for more information and to activate your membership.

Updated October 7, 2022

Graduate Student Newsletter Archive