Student Newsletter - May 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
May 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 May Newsletter, we have the following topics:
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.
Notice for New Students Admitted in Spring 2024
If you started your program of study in the Spring 2024 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 2024 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.
If you already have a transcript hold, please reach out to our Admissions team at [email protected]. They will work with you to ensure you have turned in all required documents. More information on holds can be found on the Registrar’s Office website.
2024 Commencement Celebration Dates
Mark your calendars for the following CCAS and GW Commencement Week events:
| Celebration | Date and Time |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Hooding | Thursday, May 16 at 5:00 PM |
| Master’s Celebration | Friday, May 17 at 8:30 AM |
| GW Commencement | Sunday, May 19 at 10:30 AM (Graduates and guests must be seated by 10:15 AM EDT.) |
Visit the 2024 Commencement Week Schedule page for more information on Commencement Week event locations and permitted number of guests.
Gelman Library Closure & Available Resources
The Gelman Library building will be closed May 20 - August 11, 2024 to accommodate major HVAC maintenance, which should ensure a more sustainable and comfortable library environment for GW community members. This project will require the library to close for three consecutive summers: Summer 2024, 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.
Registration Reminders
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, 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 2024-2025 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 2024 Course Registration
Fall 2024 course registration is open in GWeb until August 21st, 2024. Please visit the Registrar’s Office website for instructions on course registration.
Summer Sessions
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 20 - June 29; Summer Session II is scheduled for July 1 - August 10. More information on Summer Sessions, including registration deadlines, special programs, and tuition, can be found on the Summer Sessions website. Key dates for Summer Session I are listed below.
Key Registration Dates this Month:
|
May 20 - June 29 |
Summer Session I |
|---|---|
|
May 26 |
Last day to add a Summer Session I class in GWeb |
|
May 31 |
Last day to add a Summer Session I class via RTF-EZ |
|
June 2 |
Last day to drop a Summer Session I class via any means |
Choosing the RTF vs. RTF-EZ
As we gear up for Fall registration, you may have seen some references to forms called the RTF (sometimes called the RTF Classic) and the RTF-EZ. Students can register for most courses online via GWeb. When a student cannot self-register online, we use a registration form - either the RTF or the RTF-EZ - to help them register.
Please note that these forms also differ in how they are submitted:
- RTF-EZ: submit to the Registrar’s Office
[email protected] or in-person at the USC Student Services Hub - RTF Classic: submit to Graduate Student Services
[email protected]
More information on the RTF and RTF-EZ can be found in the Registration section of the CCAS student handbook. If you are ever unsure which registration form you should use, please reach out to us at [email protected] for guidance.
Student Accounts Late Fee Policy
Tuition, health insurance charges, and other fees are due by the first day of the semester, or upon registration if the semester has already begun. This means that changes to your registration once the semester has started may impact your Student Account.
Even if you paid your balance in full prior to the start of the semester, it is important to check your Student Account eBill in GWeb any time your registration changes. For example, if you choose to take an additional course or increase the number of credits you take for a course, you will automatically be charged additional fees and have an outstanding Student Account balance. Additionally, if you drop one course and pick up another course after the 100% tuition refund period has ended, you may have an outstanding Student Account balance even if the courses both have the same number of credits.
Any outstanding balance on your Student Account after the start of the semester may be subject to a late payment fee. The Student Accounts Office charges late fees for each semester in two rounds: a flat, $75 fee earlier in the semester, and a 5% fee based on the total amount owed later in the semester. In fall, the $75 late fee is charged in November, and the 5% fee is charged in December.
More information on the late fee policy, as well as the full fee schedule, can be found in the Late Payments section of the Student Accounts Office website. Information on course exchanges can be found in the Adding & Dropping Courses section of the Student Accounts Office website.
Summer 2024 Ph.D. ETD Workshop
June 6, 2024 from 3:00 - 4:00pm
Students completing their dissertation in Summer 2024 or in the near future are strongly encouraged to attend this online Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) workshop. The ETD formatting requirements and submission process are a primary focus of the workshop. Our Student Services Team members will also discuss procedures and deadlines pertinent to Ph.D. graduation clearance. This workshop covers requirements specific to CCAS Ph.D. students only.
Please register in advance to attend this workshop. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Career Services & Upcoming Career-Related Events
Our Career Counselors are available throughout the summer to discuss your unique career goals and job search strategy! Schedule an appointment with Erin Ahart or Dr. Johnette Ruffner-Ceaser on Handshake. Visit our website or email [email protected] for more information.
Funding, Fellowships, Internships & Employment Opportunities
The Inter-American Foundation Research Fellowship Program
Application Deadline: December 3, 2024
The Inter-American Foundation (IAF), in conjunction with the Social Science Research Council (SSRC), welcomes applicants for its new Research Fellowship Program to advance rigorous field-based research on actionable questions about community-led development in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The IAF will award up to ten Fellowships in 2025. Each of the ten fellowships includes a stipend of $20,000 to support an individual researcher working over the course of twelve months in one or more of the countries in the region where the IAF works (see IAF.gov/Where we work), participation in a three-day in-person orientation workshop, and engagement with the network of IAF Fellows.
Applicants must be a citizen of one of the countries in which the IAF works or the United States and must have at least a Bachelor’s Degree.