Student Newsletter - January 2024

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

January 2024

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 our Career Counselors.

For our January newsletter, we have the following topics:

Spring 2024 Registration

University policy states that "a student is expected to be continuously enrolled and actively engaged in fulfilling the requirements for the degree each semester of the academic year until such time as the degree is conferred." If you would like to pause completing your degree requirements, you must apply for a Leave of Absence (LOA). If you have not registered for Spring 2024 and would like to apply for a LOA during Spring 2024, please review the LOA policy and discuss this option with your Director of Graduate Studies. If you choose to take a LOA, please complete a Leave of Absence Application Form and submit it to [email protected].

Important dates for Spring 2024 registration can be found on the Registrar’s website. Please also review the Schedule of Classes as you prepare for course registration.

We encourage you to follow the tips below for successful spring registration:

Work with your Director of Graduate Studies to identify potential spring courses that align with your academic plan.
If you would like to register for a course outside your department, you should seek approval from the respective department. Example: A non-Data Science student interested in completing a Data Science course must receive permission from the Data Science department.
Interested in a consortium course? Please be mindful of the January 19 registration deadline.
Clear any holds, including transcript holds, that may prevent you from registering. To view your holds, log in to the GWeb Information System:
- Click on the “View Student Profile”
- Next, click on “Holds”
If you will complete your degree requirements in Spring 2024, then also apply to graduate in GWeb after you register.

When I can't register online, should I use the RTF-EZ or RTF-Classic?

Online registration through GWeb isn't permitted for some classes. When this occurs, there are two different types of Registration Transaction Forms (RTF) you can use to register for the course.

RTF-EZ

Closed courses (not to exceed classroom capacity)
Courses that require permission of instructor or department
Courses with Major/Level/Class/Degree Restrictions
Prerequisite waivers
Adding a course before the 4th week of class (2nd week in Summer)
Withdrawing from a course before the 10th week of semester (4th week in Summer)

You can submit the RTF-EZ in person at the Student Services Hub in the University Student Center or email it to [email protected].

RTF-Classic

Exemptions to academic policy
Time conflicts
Grade mode changes (credit/no-credit, audit)
Credit hour changes
Exceeding the maximum amount of credits hours permitted
Internship courses
Registration beyond the 4th week of semester (2nd week in Summer)

You must email the RTF-Classic to the Office of Graduate Studies for approval, and we will forward it to the Registrar Office.

Registration and Student Bill

Please note that students will receive a 100% refund for course load changes during the two-week drop/add period for spring, summer, and fall terms. For the refund policy, please refer to the GW Tuition Refund Policy page. Students who wish to drop all their courses should reach out to their Student Services Coordinator at [email protected].

Instructions to Register for Variable Credit Hours

Please note that when registering for variable credit hours (ranging from 2-12 credits), the registration system defaults to 1.0 credit hours. You will need to adjust your credit hours in the Schedule and Options tab on the Register for Classes menu. Please follow the instructions for Variable Credit Adjustments on the Registrar's website.

Half Time/Full Time

There may be times when you are permitted to register for fewer credits than normally required and still be considered a half-time or full-time student for student loan or other purposes. This can be done using a Half-Time/Full-Time Certification form*. The only acceptable reasons for requesting Half-Time/Full-Time Certification are when you are:

Completing Thesis/Dissertation Research;
Enrolled in Cooperative Education;
Preparing for your comprehensive/general examination; or
Completing a required internship/externship/practicum/capstone.

*International students, please visit the ISO website for more information on the Full Time Certification Form.

Completing Your Degree in Spring 2024

If you are completing your Master's or Doctoral degree requirements in Spring 2024, you must apply to graduate for Spring 2024. If you have not already applied, you can do so through GWeb.
Instructions can be found on the Office of the Registrar's website. If you wish to participate in commencement/celebration activities in May 2024, then you must apply no later than March 18, 2024. To ensure there are no delays or issues, we strongly recommend you apply much earlier than the deadline. You may apply for graduation as soon as you are registered.

If you are completing your degree requirements during the summer semester, but wish to participate in commencement/celebration activities in May 2024, then you must wait until Summer registration opens on March 15, register for Summer, and then apply for Summer graduation no later than April 1, 2024. Do not apply for Spring graduation if you do not intend to complete your degree requirements until the summer semester, as doing so will cause delays with your graduation clearance process.

Upcoming CCAS Events

National Hot Chocolate Day, January 31

The Student Services Team will celebrate National Hot Chocolate Day on January 31. Stop by Smith Hall 118 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to meet your Student Services Coordinator, your Career Counselor, and get free hot chocolate!

Spring 2024 PhD ETD Workshop I, February 8

February 8, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Students completing their dissertation in Spring 2024 or Summer 2024 are strongly encouraged to attend this online Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) workshop. Our Student Services Team members will review the ETD submission process and formatting requirements, as well as discuss procedures and deadlines pertinent to PhD graduation clearance. This workshop will only cover requirements specific to CCAS PhD students.

Valentine’s Day Cookies, February 14

Celebrate Valentine's Day with the CCAS Graduate Student Services Team on February 14 between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Stop by Smith Hall 118 to grab a free cookie and meet members of the Team!

ETD Deadlines

PhD Students:

March 13 - Submit the Dissertation Examination Defense Form

March 22 - 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

March 27 - Dissertation defense deadline

April 3 - ETD form due and submitted final, approved, post-defense, electronic dissertation to the ProQuest platform

April 10 at 5:00 pm - Final, approved dissertation containing all post-defense revisions and required formatting is approved by University ETD administrator

Master’s Students:

April 21 - Submit ETD Access Approval Form to [email protected] and upload final, approved thesis to the ProQuest platform

April 26 at 5:00 pm - Submit all requested formatting revisions and receive the approval of the University ETD Administrator

Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)

If you plan to waive the Spring 2024 Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), the deadline is February 1, 2024. For information, refer to the GW University Health Plan website or the GW Student Health Center SHIP website. For specific benefits or claims questions, contact Aetna Student Health at 877-480-4161. For all other questions or concerns, email [email protected].

Free Transportation to Safeway on Saturdays

Students looking for more affordable opportunities to purchase groceries can use a free transportation option provided by GW to shop at the Safeway on Wisconsin Avenue. Note: this program is available to both on and off-campus students.

Every Saturday during the spring semester (August-May) between noon and 4 pm, Foggy Bottom students can hop on the “Safeway Shuttle” in front of Funger Hall and Mount Vernon Students can use a voucher from Lyft to shop for groceries. Check out the Foggy Bottom Schedule.

Career Corner

All CCAS graduate students have access to a dedicated career coach 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.) Johnette Ruffner-Ceaser, Ed.D., and Erin Ahart, CCAS Career Counselor, are available to meet one-on-one by scheduling a time in the online career management system 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].

Career Spotlight

The beginning of the spring semester is typically a very busy time for Career Services. Employers are looking to fill internship and employment opportunities as soon as they possibly can. Some employers even begin recruiting for Summer 2024 opportunities! That is why there are often lots of events happening at this time. This year is no exception to that rule at all. Below are just a few of the events happening over the next 2-3 weeks.

To avoid feeling overwhelmed, students should prioritize those events and activities that interest them the most. Employers are looking for students who are authentically interested in their organizations. Therefore, take the time early in the semester to search for events, and attend those that interest you the most.

Upcoming Career-Related Events

2024 Career Readiness Workshops

The knowledge and experience you gain at GW will make you some of the most revolutionary professionals in the country. To ensure your success, CCAS Career Services is dedicated to supporting you in obtaining your career goals! Therefore, we are excited about our 2024 Spring Career Readiness Workshops!

Through these opportunities you will be able to obtain tips on planning for your career while you are still a student by constructing an effective resume and cover letter, receiving strong interview strategies, learning how to establish and maximize your professional network, and more. In a few weeks, you will receive an email with more details about the sessions and how to register. Stay Tuned!

Cato Institute

January 29 | 12-12:45pm | RSVP

In early January, applications will open for their paid summer internships. During this session, they will also talk about their Research Associate Program (2-year, salaried position).

USAID Science for Development Fellowship

February 2 | 12-12:45pm | RSVP

New two-year immersive professional development opportunity for American scientists and engineers to apply their technical knowledge and research skills to inform and enhance the U.S. government’s international development activities. (open to doctoral and Masters of Engineering students)

Tetra Tech

February 27 | 1-1:30pm | RSVP

Tetra Tech works with global commercial and government clients focused on water, environment, sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy, and international development. They have jobs all around the globe (including hybrid and remote) in environmental services, project and program management, engineering and science.

To find information on more events, simply access the Events section of Handshake and search by date, employer, or other filters.

Funding and Employment Opportunities

Below are a number of great opportunities for funding, professional fellowships, internships, and employment. For information on other opportunities funded by CCAS, GW, and outside organizations that are available throughout the year, please visit the Funding Opportunities for Current Graduate Students page.

Boren Fellowship

Deadline: January 24, 2024, at 5 p.m. EST.

Boren Fellowships are available to graduate students of all language proficiency levels who are committed to enhancing their skills as related to critical languages. The fellowships fund research and language study proposals by U.S. graduate students in world regions critical to U.S. interests. The deadline to apply is January 24, 2024, at 5 p.m. EST.

SSRC Data Fluencies Dissertation Grants

Deadline: January 24, 2024

The Data Fluencies Dissertation Grants are open to PhD students actively enrolled in doctoral programs in the United States and Canada—regardless of citizenship. Eligible PhD students may apply for awards of up to $15,000 in support of dissertation research. Applicants to the program should have completed all PhD coursework and demonstrate that they will have reached “all-but-dissertation” (ABD) status by the beginning of the grant term. Among the potential topics to be supported by the grants include projects applying humanist and humanistic social science methods to understand:

mis- and disinformation
information integrity
public-interest technology
digital culture
privacy and surveillance
AI and algorithmic management
labor in the era of data
big data governance and accountability
alternative epistemologies stemming from feminist, Indigenous, or Black theoretical perspectives.

The application deadline is January 24, 2024, and more information, including the application link, may be found on the SSRC website.

Dean's Graduate Instructorship

Deadline: January 25, 2024

The CCAS Dean’s Graduate Instructorship (DGI) provides exceptional Ph.D. candidates with an opportunity to design and teach their own undergraduate courses, while obtaining financial support for their dissertation research. Drawing upon their own research expertise, awardees design and teach a Dean’s Seminar, a course designed to provide first-year CCAS students with opportunities to engage in lively discussions on topics relevant to the issues of our time. Proposals for these courses must fulfill the criteria for GPAC designation in at least one area.

More information on eligibility and application process can be found on our funding website. The application deadline is January 25, 2024.

City of Phoenix Management Fellowship

Deadline: January 25, 2024

As one of the oldest, most respected municipal fellowships in the U.S., the City of Phoenix Management Fellowship Program is designed to attract, develop and retain innovative people in local government. Established in 1950, the City of Phoenix offers a one-year internship to individuals who have earned or completed all coursework for a master’s degree in public administration, business administration, or related field. This next class of the City of Phoenix Management Fellowship Program will begin on June 24, 2024.

The 2024-25 Management Fellow salary is $57,179 plus a comprehensive benefit package. Historically, three candidates have been selected annually.

To find a detailed listing of application requirements and to apply, go to the Management Fellowship Program job announcement. The recruitment for the 2024-25 Fellowship Program closes January 25, 2024.

Social Science Research Council Just Tech Fellowship

Deadline: January 31, 2024

The Social Science Research Council is seeking applicants for its Just Tech Fellowship. The fellowship supports and mobilizes diverse and cross-sector cohorts of researchers and practitioners to imagine and create more just, equitable, and representative technological futures. Fellows will identify and challenge injustices emerging from new technologies, and identify solutions that advance social, political, and economic rights. Fellows receive two-year awards of $100,000 per year, robust supplementary funding packages to subsidize additional expenses, and seed funding to work on collaborative projects with other Just Tech Fellows. The fellowship will provide the space and time necessary for deep reflection, as well as an engaged community and opportunities to facilitate ambitious co-creation. For more information, please contact [email protected].

TiE DC University PitchFest

Deadline: January 31, 2024

TiE DC is pleased to announce the third TiE DC University PitchFest for college/university students across Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Three teams will win cash prizes for participating and winning: 1st Prize $5,000, 2nd Prize $3,000, and 3rd Prize $2,000. A special prize ($2,500) is being sponsored for a focus on doing business with Governmental agencies in the USA (Local/State/Federal). The pitch submission deadline is January 31, 2024.

TiE DC is the regional chapter of TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs). Founded in 1992, TiE is a recognized leader in promoting entrepreneurship and has 60 chapters across 17 countries. They also offer the TiE DC University Program.

Dean's Dissertation Completion Fellowship

Deadline: February 6, 2024

CCAS invites eligible PhD candidates to apply for the Dean’s Dissertation Completion Fellowship (DCF) for the 2024-2025 academic year. The DCF is intended to facilitate the completion of the PhD by providing advanced PhD students with a duty-free fellowship equivalent to the standard CCAS graduate assistant salary and stipend for one semester, as well as an award of required candidacy tuition for the period of the fellowship.

More information on eligibility and application process can be found on our funding website. The application deadline is February 6, 2024.

Paid Internship with National Academy of Social Insurance

Application deadlines:

Rashi Fein Internship in Health Policy: Friday, February 9, 2024
All other internships: Friday, March 8, 2024

Applications for the 2024 Internship Programs at the National Academy of Social Insurance are open. Graduate students, recent graduates, and qualified upper-division undergraduate students are encouraged to apply for this paid summer internships in public policy.

Students interested in U.S. social insurance and related issues can consider one of the Academy’s nationally competitive internship programs:

Find detailed program descriptions and candidate requirements in the Student Internship section of our website. Whether interns work at organizations in-person, according to the organization’s protocols, or virtually will be determined by official public health guidelines as they are issued in the spring of 2024. Final arrangements will be discussed with each student selected for the program.

Interested students can apply online.

For more information, please contact [email protected].

Summer 2024 Internship with the National Museum of African American History and Culture

Deadline: February 15, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.

Applications for the Robert F. Smith Internship Program are now available on the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s website. This paid ($850 per week) internship for Summer 2024 provides guided learning experiences consisting of hands-on training, mentoring, attendance at educational events, and cultivation of contacts for the next generation of researchers, scholars, curators, and other museum, library, preservation, and heritage professionals – individuals who will assume the mantle of identifying, documenting, curating, and digitizing treasured artifacts that reflect African American history and culture.

Applications for 2024 internships are due by 11:59 p.m. February 15, 2024.

George and May Shiers Memorial Fund Fellowship

Deadline: February 15, 2024

Basic Eligibility Requirements: Current GW graduate students enrolled in one of the following programs: Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration (TSPPPA), the School of Media and Public Affairs (SMPA), and the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences (History, Economics, Political Science or American Studies programs).

Award Type: Stipend awards of up to $5,000 can be utilized to support research and/or defray the cost of travel to seminars, archives and collections or events concerning any aspect of electronic media and telecommunications and associated technologies such as history, technical aspects including innovation and public policy developments.

Walter Green Fellowships

Deadline: February 15, 2024

Basic Eligibility Requirements: Current or prospective Master's students who intend a career in public service or government and work in a paid job or internship for at least 15 hours a week. Studying in CCAS, ESIA, GWSB (excluding Executive programs), CPS or GSEHD on the Foggy Bottom campus.

Award Type: Tuition award up to $6,000 for full-time study and up to $3,000 for part-time study.

D.C. Daughters of the American Revolution Scholarship

Deadline: February 15, 2024

Basic Eligibility Requirements: Current or prospective Master's students in American Studies, History or Museum Studies. US Citizens only.

Award Type: Academic year tuition awards are up to $3,500 for part-time and up to $7,000 for full-time and are stackable. Semester-only awards will also be considered.

Phi Delta Gamma Scholarship Fund

Deadline: February 15, 2024
Basic Eligibility Requirements: Current GW graduate students who have completed at least 9 credits in a graduate degree program based on the Foggy Bottom campus (Law, SMHS, and Milken students are not eligible).

Award Type: Tuition award up to $2,000.

Scottish Rite Fellowships

Deadline: February 15, 2024

Basic Eligibility Requirements: Current or prospective GW graduate students with familial/personal affiliation with a U.S. Scottish Rite organization. US Citizens only. Studying in the Elliott School of International Affairs, the School of Business, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the Graduate School of Education and Human Development, the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Professional Studies, or the Milken Institute School of Public Health on the Foggy Bottom campus.

Award Type: Tuition award up to 12 credits (for full-time students, preferred applicants) or 6 credits (or part-time students).

CDC Evaluation Fellowships Available for New Graduates

Deadline: February 20, 2024 at 11:59 pm EST

The CDC Evaluation Fellowship Program is now accepting applications for the 2024 class (estimated start date August 11, 2024).
Fellows are placed in host programs across the agency working on program evaluation activities. The Evaluation Fellowship offers a unique training opportunity with clear expectations and supportive resources, including professional development funds provided by the host program. In this experiential learning model, Fellows learn evaluation skills working in their host program while helping their host program build, expand, and/or improve their evaluation activities.

Fellows are hired under Title 42 training appointments and receive significant financial support for professional development and CDC employee benefits (e.g., medical insurance, sick and vacation leave). Please visit the CDC Evaluation Fellowship Program website for more information about eligibility, the program, and the application process.

The application deadline is February 20, 2024, 11:59 pm EST.

Graduate Student Fellowships from George Mason University

Deadline: March 15, 2024.

The Mercatus Center at George Mason University has a series of 3 fellowships available for 2024-2025. The deadlines for all three programs is March 15, 2024.

Adam Smith Fellowship: A one-year fellowship program for doctoral students from any university and discipline including economics, philosophy, political science, political economy, or sociology.

Frédéric Bastiat Fellowship: A one-year fellowship program for graduate students from any university and discipline attending master’s, juris doctoral, and doctoral programs in a variety of fields including economics, law, political science, and public policy.

Oskar Morgenstern Fellowship: A one-year program for doctoral students from any university and discipline with training in quantitative methods in a variety of fields including economics, political science, or sociology.

Other University Events

Chief Influencer Podcast

February 7, 5:30 - 7:00 PM, Alexandria Education Center

Come meet other influencers and grab a front-row seat to listen to this live episode of Chief Influencer, featuring Johnny C. Taylor, CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

Updated January 18, 2024

Graduate Student Newsletter Archive