 Dear Members of the George Washington University Community, Last week, the nation’s capital hosted the 60th Presidential Inauguration, a symbolic moment reflecting the peaceful transfer of power from one president to another. As has been a long tradition at GW, we celebrate the politically active role that our students, faculty, and staff play in shaping the future of government and public policy, and we mark occasions such as this by coming together as a community and hosting events like this year’s GW Inaugural Ball. This year’s presidential transition was unique in many ways, and the first few days of the new administration brought a historic number of new executive actions that will have significant and far-reaching effects on our institution and members of our community. In a community as diverse as GW’s, these actions will be met with approval by some and concern by others. What is clear, however, is that there are potentially significant implications for higher education, including at GW. At moments like this, I am especially proud to be part of the GW community and to be leading this institution. It is precisely at times of change and uncertainty that our expertise in operating at the intersection of law, policy, and public discourse shines brightest. Not only are our faculty already deeply engaged in understanding what these executive actions mean, but leaders across GW are also working with university partners and peer organizations to analyze these wide-ranging executive actions and determine how to continue to comply with the law while staying true to our educational mission. We are also fortunate to have engaged alumni at every level across the federal government. These individuals span the full spectrum of political beliefs and ideologies, and several have stepped forward to offer valuable advice and support. Now more than ever, I urge us all to remain committed to the core missions of our university: providing a world-class education to all our students, producing groundbreaking research, scholarship, and patient care, and perpetuating the free exchange of big ideas. Fundamental to this is fostering and supporting a vibrant and engaged community where everyone is free to learn, work, and thrive. Given the number and complexity of the executive orders issued and the upcoming efforts to implement these orders by the executive branch, it will take time to fully understand their impact. In addition, we expect guidance from various federal agencies, and since some of these actions may be subject to legal challenge, we anticipate further guidance will come from the courts. As we move forward, we will continue to share information and support as it becomes available. I also encourage you—as GW students, faculty, and staff—to continue to contribute to the discussion through the respectful exchange of ideas, rigorous debate, and intellectual discourse that define university life. Thank you for your commitment to the GW community and all that we do together to make our world a better place. Warm regards,  Ellen M. Granberg |
| The Spring 2025 Tuition Remission application closes on February 1, 2025*. If you, or your eligible dependent(s) are planning to use the Tuition Remission Benefit for the Spring 2025 semester, please submit your online Tuition Remission application by February 1, 2025.As a reminder, you can only submit one application per person and the application must be submitted each semester. You are also required to register for your courses and have your tax exemption documentation prepared before applying for the Tuition Remission Benefit.*Note: If a deadline falls on a weekend, applications will be accepted through the following Monday. |
| Tax Exemption Certification and Tuition Remission ApplicationThe university manages its tuition remission plan in accordance with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations. Undergraduate tuition benefits are generally exempt from tax withholdings, but tuition benefits received for all graduate-level courses, in excess of $5,250, are subject to tax withholdings. For graduate courses to be considered tax exempt, the course must have a direct correlation to your current primary position at GW.If you are an eligible employee taking a graduate and/or doctorate level course, you may be eligible for tax exemption. The tax exemption certification is now embedded in the online tuition remission application. If you wish to apply for course(s) tax exemption, be sure to have your job description and course details available when applying. |
 Submit your online tuition remission application and tax exemption certification at:go.gwu.edu/TRapplication |
Are you interested in joining staff council? GW Staff Council is hosting a call for nominations for the 2025 Term!
The Staff Council is approaching the end of its inaugural term, and we are seeking dedicated and passionate staff to keep the incredible momentum moving forward. If you or someone you know is interested in contributing to this mission, the Election Committee is now accepting nominations for executive staff council members and representatives from GW’s schools and divisions. Please review the membership criteria and position descriptions below and complete the nomination by September 6, 2024. The 2025 term will begin on January 1, 2025, and conclude on December 31, 2025.
If you have any questions about the nominations or elections process, please contact the Elections Committee at gwsc_elections@gwu.edu.
Eligibility
Per the Staff Council Bylaws, GW Staff Council elected members must:
- Have concluded their Introductory Employment Period (IEP).
- Be in a benefited position (part-time or full-time).
- Work in the division they are representing.
- Not hold an executive-level position. Executive positions have employee classes of E1-3; please speak to your HR Business Partner if you have any questions regarding your position level.
Roles & Responsibilities
The executive officers of the Staff Council include the President, Vice-President, Historian, Treasurer, Parliamentarian, Immediate Past President, Correspondence & Engagement Secretary, and appointed Committee Chairpersons. The Vice-President will transition to President after their term as Vice President concludes. To review a description of each role please refer to our website.
School and/or Division Representative members are elected to serve as the representative from their area and must serve on at least one standing committee. A list of all the representative areas can be found on our website.
Each week we’ll be sharing the upcoming training and professional development opportunities available here at GW.
Thursday, 9/12: Data Incident — What is it and what should you do about it?
At GW, we are committed to protecting the privacy and integrity of data collected, created, stored and transmitted by the University. All members of GW community, with access to GW systems and information, are responsible for reporting any suspected or actual data incidents, and upholding university privacy policies and practices.
This workshop will provide GW staff and faculty with an overview of GW’s data incident reporting requirements and the university’s data incident response plan.
Time: 9am-12pm – Location Virtual
Wednesday, 9/18: Data Incident — What is it and what should you do about it?
This training is open to all team members involved in purchasing activities who can create or approve requisitions in EAS/Oracle or use the Gatekeeper contract management system. The training is designed to benefit new and experienced personnel.
- Gain a deeper understanding of the procurement process, compliance guidelines, and effective routing process
- Understand the importance of strategic sourcing and vendor management
- Explore our procurement tools and resources for efficiency
- Discover best practices to navigate the procurement process to save time and resources (e.g., leveraging existing cooperative agreements)
Time: 10am-11am – Location Virtual
Last week, GWPD, together with several members of DSO, gathered to bid farewell to Lieutenant Christina Hunsicker. Christina, who joined GWPD in 2013, has consistently demonstrated exceptional care and dedication to both her role and the campus community. The event went smoothly, with friends and colleagues coming together to share laughs, memories, and celebrate Christina’s outstanding service. Baxter Goodly offered a few heartfelt words, and Chief Tate presented Christina with the Meritorious Service Award, honoring her remarkable dedication, leadership, and contributions to GWPD.
Join us for The Loop’s Grand Opening on August 30th 11-6pm.
The Loop is GW’s free clothing exchange store on the Mount Vernon Campus, located in Academic Building Room 122. All clothing, shoes, and accessories are completely free for the GW community. Bring your clothing donations and exchange those old items in your wardrobe that no longer spark joy for a brand new-to-you outfit. Exchange is encouraged but not required. Click here for more information!
Fall 2024 hours to be announced soon.
To help start our first full week of GW’s fall semester, sharing this note of thanks from GW’s senior leadership as both a heartfelt thanks for all the great work each of you did this summer and an encouragement to continue this outstanding level of customer service throughout the 2024-25 academic year.
Dear Members of our GW Move-in Team,
We wanted to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude for your exceptional efforts during this year’s move-in. Welcoming thousands of new and returning GW Revolutionaries onto our campuses in just a matter of days is an incredible feat, and we know a lot of work goes into preparing for this.
Throughout the weekend, we consistently heard from students and families how impressed they were with the ease and efficiency of the entire process. Your hard work, dedication, and attention to detail did not go unnoticed, and we want to thank you for your remarkable planning and execution.
Your actions have set a positive tone for our entire community as we embark on a new academic year at GW. Thank you for your commitment to excellence and for helping to make our university community so welcoming.
With heartfelt appreciation,
Ellen M. Granberg
President
Christopher Alan Bracey
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Professor of Law
Bruno Fernandes
Executive Vice President, CFO, and Treasurer
Colette Coleman
Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
Baxter Goodly
Vice President for Safety and Operations
Even though we’re still wrapping up move-in, the university is already looking ahead to the end of the school year and just posted the 2025 Commencement schedule, including the university-wide Commencement on the National Mall on Sunday, May 18, 2025.
A few weeks ago, GW Sustainability hosted their annual reuse market. Organized during move-in week each year, the Reuse Market redistributes student donations collected during the previous semester’s Green Move-Out and makes dormitory essentials items and desk organizers available at no cost to students in an open-air market setting. This year’s event served 750 students and kept almost 8,000 pounds of materials out of landfills!
Congratulations to this weeks’ Kudos recipients
- James Harris for fixing a running toilet in District House: “James Harris did an amazing job and left the work site clean. Thank you for fixing my toilet!”
- Monet Ballard and team for replacing a broken bed in Shenkman Hall: “The overall experience was amazing! The problem was solved within 48 hours which was great and they did an amazing job of getting it fixed!!”
- Devon Williams for repairing a closet door in West Hall: “Absolutely amazing! Very kind employee, issue was fixed in less than 24 hours, the employee worked fast and efficient and fixed it perfectly! Definitely a very good experience.”
- William Cobey for adjusting a door at the Textile Museum: “Will did a great job and was easy and personable to work with!”
- Chauncey Ervin for repairing a toilet seat in a Shenkman Hall room: “The fix was made and is in much better condition now. Thank you.”
- Jose Chevez for unclogging a shower drain in South Hall: “Our technician was so kind! I know facilities is very busy this time of year and I appreciate your office so much!”
- Chauncey Ervin for repairing bathroom sink in Shenkman Hall: “Amazing FixIt employee.”
- Jose Melgar for replacing a refrigerator in Potomac Hall: “It was great, they give me everything new. Very happy”
- Tim Lindsey for restoring the power in an Enterprise classroom: “He came very quickly, especially given how busy Facilities is this time of year. He fixed the problem, and he was friendly.”
- Angel Mejia for reprogramming a thermostat in a Lafayette dorm room: “It was done quickly! Nice!”
