Democracy is in Our DNA
PURPOSE
This university initiative seeks to strengthen our community through civic engagement and dynamic experiences that inspire curiosity and exploration. Our commitment is to cultivate a campus environment where each member can engage with opportunities and programs that foster student development, wellbeing and belonging at GW and beyond.
Fostering Engagement & Student Development
At GW our most important mission is to support the development of our students as they grow into the change makers and leaders they aim to be. This means providing opportunities for students to learn and develop through transformative experiences in and out of the classroom. This also includes providing programming for students to engage in to help them explore different components of their identities while encouraging students to engage in conversations and complex issues.
- Key Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to engage in conversations while thinking critically about complex issues
- Students will be curious about issues outside of the identities that they hold and will feel a desire to engage across differences
- Students will be able to engage in discussions that may be polarizing while still feeling part of the GW community
- Students will be able to define conflict and be familiarized with strategies to navigate empathetically its many forms
- Students will feel a desire to continue exploring and engaging with topics and programming centered around global issues and political discourse
Supporting Student Wellbeing & Centering Belonging
GW recognizes that students who find community, and successfully overcome barriers to their wellbeing, can experience new heights of personal, academic, and life success. GW embraces this responsibility, and strives to ensure that every student can pour their energy into their passions and ambitions, without compromising their sense of belonging in our community or state of wellbeing. To aid our students in engaging with current events and global discourse, we will create programming that supports student wellbeing by working to solidify resilience, encourage help-seeking behaviors, develop self-management skills, and maintain positivity in the face of challenges.
- Key Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to critically think and analyze decisions before making judgements in order to prioritize their wellbeing
- Students will feel curious to engage with activities that elevate their wellbeing and sense of belonging to the GW community
- Students will feel they are part of a community and/or connect with different community members
- Students will feel empathetic towards themselves and their wellbeing as well the community around them and the wellbeing of others
- Students will intentionally explore activities and learn strategies that they can add to their wellbeing toolkit
- Students will be familiarized with resources on campus at the institutional, departmental, and student organization levels
Upcoming Events
Be sure to check back, as new events will be added! Have an event you'd like to share? Email [email protected] with the details so we can support!
- August
Aug. 18 | NSO Keynote: Eboo Patel
Aug. 19 | NSO Dialogues (Politics, Faith, Identity); NSO Night at the Museum
Aug. 24 | First Night & Org Fair
Aug. 25 | GW District Connections (GWxDC): Identity Trips
- September
Sept. Ongoing | Listening Circles - more info coming soon!
Sept. District Connections Trips:
- American History Museum
- National Archives
Sept. 5 | Vern Votes
Sept. 6 | MSSC Block Party & Org Fair
Sept. 10 | Lunch & Learn with First Gen and Military & Veteran Services
Sept. 11 | Mental Health Resources Table Activation
Sept. 17 | Ballots & Basics
- October
Oct. Ongoing | Listening Circles; Dinner & Dialogue - more info coming soon!
Oct. District Connections Trips:
- Arlington Cemetery
- African American History Museum
Oct. 4 | First Gen First Friday Dinner
Oct. 16 | TimelyCare Campus Activation
- November
Nov. Ongoing | Listening Circles; Dinner & Dialogue; Vern: Relax with CAPS - more info coming soon!
Nov. 13 | Circle of Influence vs. Circle of Concern; Paint & Sip with Art Therapy
Nov. 14 | Yoga with GW Vets
- December
Dec. Ongoing | Conflict Management; Dinner & Dialogue - more info coming soon!
Dec. 4 | Mental Health Resources Table Activation
GW Election Hub
From nonpartisan faculty experts and alumni politicos on all sides to one of the most politically active student bodies in the nation, there is no university better positioned to make history—especially for Election 2024.