Upcoming Events and Important Information:
As you begin the fall semester, it is time to look ahead to submitting course and program requests and publishing the 2026-2027 University Bulletin.
CourseLeaf is already accepting course submissions. The most recently updated syllabus template is attached for your convenience.
CourseLeaf will open for program requestson Thursday, September 18.
After consultation with the Registrar and the schools and colleges, the following deadlines have been developed to ensure timely publication of the Schedule of Classes and the University Bulletin.
| Semester/Year | Action | Deadline |
| Spring 2026 | Course proposals/changes | Monday, Sept 15, 2025 |
| Fall 2026 | Course proposals/changes | Friday, January 23, 2026 |
| Summer 2026 | Course proposals/changes | Friday, January 23, 2026 |
| Provisional 2026-2027 Bulletin | Program proposals/changes | Friday, February 6, 2026 |
| Final 2026-2027 Bulletin | Last chance to submit program changes | Wednesday, April 1, 2026 |
Note that these deadlines refer to when submissions must be at the associate dean’s step in the workflow. Courses submitted after the deadline will be reviewed on a rolling basis as time allows.
Major changes to programs, such as prerequisites to major or field requirements, program structure (e.g., reorganizing a program into multiple concentrations), significant changes to degree requirements, CIP codes, etc., must be submitted by the February 6th deadline. Departments and schools/colleges should plan to make only minor changes between publication of the Provisional and final Bulletins.
New programs should be submitted in June prior to the academic year in which the program will begin. For example, a program with a start date of fall 2027 should be submitted in June 2026 to be included in the 2026-27 Bulletin and added to the Program Finder for recruitment and advertising purposes.
Other Important Upcoming Events and Deadlines
Undergraduate Studies Initiatives and Deadlines:
Undergraduate Studies Award: Given to students who have shown leadership and innovation in community service and/or activism along with academic performance. Students may approach you or your faculty to ask for letters of support for this award. Submissions for this award are uploaded to a Box link on the Student Awards webpage.
Deadline: Friday, February 27, 2026 at 11:59 p.m
Distinguished Scholar Award: Given to two graduating seniors in Columbian College. These students have excelled academically and have shown commitment to scholarship by participating in academic leadership activities or research. Nominees for this award are submitted directly on the Student Awards webpage.
Deadline: Friday, February 6, 2026 at 11:59pm
Luther Rice Fellowship: Luther Rice fellowships offer support for undergraduate research under the guidance of a faculty mentor. The final deadline to submit an application is Friday, February 27, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
You can find information about the Luther Rice program, requirements, and application process here. See also the website for information about submission. Note Bene: In the past, students were able to apply for the Undergraduate Research Fellowship (URA) at the same time as they applied for the Luther Rice Fellowship. The Office of Undergraduate Fellowships has decided to discontinue this arrangement. Therefore, students must apply for Luther Rice Fellowships and URA Fellowships separately. Please see this website for URA information.
Robert Vincent Fellowship: Students and faculty in STEM fields should be on the lookout for a spring deadline for the Robert Vincent Fellowship which supports mentored student research in STEM fields. More information can be found here.
Deadline: Friday, February 27, 2026 at 11:59pm
CCAS Faculty Prizes
Please consider recommending deserving colleagues for the following two prizes which are awarded at CCAS graduation celebration:
The Robert W. Kenny Prize for Innovation in Teaching of Introductory Courses
Deadline: Friday, March 6, 2026 at 11:59pm.
The Columbian Prize for Teaching and Mentoring Advanced Undergraduate Students
Deadline: Friday, March 6, 2026 at 11:59pm
These two prizes recognize faculty whose impact on students has been exceptional. Criteria and instructions are accessible in the above links. Nominations for the Kenny Prize and the Columbian Prize can be sent to Rachel Riedner ccasugdean@gwu.edu.
Curricular Initiatives
Dean's Seminars: As you think about scheduling for fall 2026, consider adding Dean's Seminars to your course offerings. Dean's Seminars provide first year students with focused scholarship and a small environment in which to learn. You can find information about Dean's Seminars here.
Micro-minors: Micro-minors are a group of three courses that address a shared topic, problem, or theme from different disciplinary perspectives, thus bridging courses in the humanities, social sciences, STEM, and other disciplinary areas. Information about micro-minors can be found here.
CCAS Research Showcase for 2025: This year’s Research Showcase will take place on April 15, 2026. The CCAS Research Showcase is an opportunity for all graduate and undergraduate students in CCAS programs to present their work in a poster session to the broader CCAS community. Everyone is encouraged, students, staff, and faculty alike, to come to the Research Showcase, interact with our early-career researchers, and learn more about the diverse and impactful work of our students and their research mentors.
Graduation
CCAS graduation Celebration is Saturday, May 16, 2026. We will be in touch as the semester progresses with requests for information about student prizes, honors, and other graduation-related matters. All information will be posted on the Commencement website. Please reach out to Associate Dean Rachel Riedner ccasugdean@gwu.edu with questions about any of these initiatives.
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