REACH Program
Designed for GW faculty and staff, the REACH program seeks to build student Resilience by promoting Engagement with and Access to Campus Health and wellbeing resources. Faculty and staff have the opportunity to engage in workshops that will provide information about student wellbeing trends, availability of services, and how to make appropriate referrals to those services.
INCENTIVES
We will be offering a variety of different REACH workshops throughout the Fall 2026 semester. Attending these trainings will teach you the skills to confidently and effectively work with students in crisis and refer them to the appropriate support. As part of our thank you for supporting student wellbeing, we are offering an incentive program to participants.
Student Wellbeing Champions
If you attend 5 or more REACH sessions this semester, you will receive a "Student Wellbeing Champion" certificate and a catered lunch with other champions. We will measure attendance based on completion of post-workshop surveys. As a participant, you will receive a reminder to complete the post-workshop survey within 1-2 business days after the workshop has been hosted.
Fall 2026 REACH SESSIONS
Browse the menu of REACH session topics, and register to attend.
Start here! These sessions will provide an overview of key GW offices, services, and resources available to students, faculty, and staff.
- Format: 30-minute Zoom sessions during the lunch hour
- Focus: Who, what, where, when, and why of GW support services
- Office of Graduate Affairs
The Office of Graduate & Postdoctoral Affairs (OGPA) will provide an overview of resources and programming available to graduate students through OGSAF and OGA. Topics will include:
- An introduction to the Graduate Student Handbook
- A review of funding opportunities for graduate students at George Washington University, including fellowships, graduate assistantships, and health insurance subsidies
- An overview of the Graduate Teaching Assistantship Program (GTAP)
- Best practices for making funding opportunities accessible to students, with guidance for faculty and staff on how to promote these resources within departments
Dates Offered:
- Wednesday, October 7th from 12:30PM to 1PM
- Wednesday, November 11th from 12:30PM to 1PM
- Understanding the New Student Code of Conduct
This presentation will provide an overview of the new Code of Student Conduct and the newly established process for resolving reported incidents. We'll cover the role of CESA in promoting a respectful campus environment, how cases are reviewed, and what your role may be in the process. The session will also offer practical insight and guidance to help you navigate student conduct issues with confidence and clarity.
Dates Offered:
- Wednesday, September 16th from 12PM to 12:30PM
- Tuesday, November 10th from 12PM to 12:30PM
- Campus Safety– What to Do in the Event of an Emergency
This presentation will cover all GW Campus Safety teams, resources, and frequently asked questions.
Dates Offered:
- Thursday, October 15th from 12PM to 12:30PM
- Thursday, November 12th from 12PM to 12:30PM
- Office of Equal Opportunity
This session will review GW's Office of Equal Opportunity, with a focus on support services available, how to connect with services, and the duty to report incidents of harassment and discrimination.
Dates Offered:
- Thursday, October 22nd from 12PM to 12:30PM
- Wednesday, November 18th from 12PM to 12:30PM
- Introducing the Office of Advocacy & Support
This training will provide an overview of available resources for GW community members impacted by sexual violence, domestic violence, intimate partner violence (IPV), and stalking. This will include a brief overview of available on and off-campus resources that community members can be connected with for additional support.
Dates Offered:
- Friday, September 11th from 12PM to 12:30PM
- Tuesday, October 6th from 12PM to 12:30PM
- Supporting Students with Disabilities in Higher Education
Faculty and staff will learn about the definition of disability, disability identity, and how students with disabilities may be impacted in higher education. This session will focus on resources students with disabilities can access on campus, including Disability Support Services (DSS).
Date Offered:
- Wednesday, October 7th from 12:30PM to 1PM
- Wednesday, November 4th from 12:30PM to 1PM
- Supporting Students of Concern
This session will focus on introduction to basic helping skills for supporting students in distress and expanding participants knowledge of GW resources available through CAPS and Student Outreach and Support. We will discuss common situations you have encountered or imagine encountering, processing how to handle these to best support our students while also taking care of ourselves. Presented by Counseling & Psychological Services & the CARE Team.
Dates Offered:
- Wednesday, September 16th from 12:30PM to 1PM
- Wednesday, September 30th from 12:30PM to 1PM
- Student Health Center: Medical Services
Learn about the comprehensive medical services available to all students at the Student Health Center, how students can access care, and the basics of the Student Health Insurance Plan. This will be interactive so come with any questions!
Dates Offered:
- Wednesday, October 14th from 12PM to 12:30PM
- Monday, November 30th from 12PM to 12:30PM
- Demystifying the Academic Integrity Process
This overview of the academic integrity process and relevant policies at GW will prepare staff and faculty to more effectively support students who are navigating an academic integrity concern, as well as educate faculty on expectations for reporting and addressing concerns of academic misconduct.
Dates Offered:
- Thursday, September 17th from 12PM to 12:30PM
- Thursday, October 29th from 12PM to 12:30PM
- The RA is Back: Early Impact on GW’s Residential Experience
Following last year’s overview of the new Residential Education Student Staffing Model, this session will provide an update on the return of the Resident Advisor (RA) model for 2026–2027. We will share early observations about RA development, how the model is strengthening relationships and engagement within our residential communities, and what we are learning about the role RAs play within GW’s broader residential ecosystem.
Date Offered:
- Wednesday, October 14th from 12:30PM to 1PM
- Tuesday, October 20th from 12:30PM to 1PM
- Supporting Military Affiliated Students at GW
Explore the unique experiences and diverse backgrounds of George Washington University’s 1,100+ military-affiliated students, including veterans, active-duty service members, and dependents. Participants will gain insight into military culture, academic transitions, and personal commitments—such as deployments and benefit requirements—to implement practical strategies for an inclusive learning environment. Finally, attendees will learn how to leverage key campus resources like the Military Community Center and connect students with Military & Veteran Services for individualized support.
Dates Offered:
- Friday, September 18th from 12PM to 12:30PM
- Thursday, November 19th from 12PM to 12:30PM
- International Services Office
The George Washington University’s International Services Office (ISO) supports international educational exchange by acting as the central administrative, programming, and advising hub for the GW international community. We provide personalized support through one-on-one appointments and in-person drop-in sessions. The session will explore the I-20 and DS-2019 life cycles, SEVIS registration and validation, community advocacy via PGW events, and our daily data management practices.
Dates Offered:
- Monday, November 9th from 12PM to 12:30PM
- Partnering with GW Families Program for Student Success
Family engagement positively impacts student retention, academic achievement, and overall well-being by valuing students' families and supporters as integral partners. Learn about how GW's office of Family Engagement promotes student success through communication with families, providing resources, and creating engagement opportunities for both supporters and students to gain a stronger connection to GW!
Date Offered:
- Thursday, September 17th from 12PM to 12:30PM
- Tuesday, September 22nd from 12PM to 12:30PM
- Supporting Student Transitions into College
Transition looks different for everyone, and still, there are foundational ways to ensure all students find the support and resources they need to be successful. Please join us to learn about what it means to be good company on students' transitions through college. Our goal is they not just survive here but thrive.
Date Offered:
- Tuesday, October 13th from 12PM to 1PM
- Wednesday, November 4th from 12PM to 1PM
Ready to build your skills? These sessions are designed for participants seeking practical strategies to support students more effectively.
- Format: One-hour, interactive in-person or virtual workshops (not recorded)
- Focus: Skill development, skill practice, role playing, scenarios
- The Hidden Curriculum: Helping First-Generation Students Navigate GW
College comes with countless unwritten rules, how to communicate with faculty, navigate campus resources, pursue opportunities, build professional relationships, and ask for help. In this interactive workshop, participants will explore how the “hidden curriculum” of higher ed. can create barriers for first-gen students and practice strategies for making expectations more explicit and support more accessible. - By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Identify common “hidden curriculum” barriers that first-generation students may encounter at GW.
- Recognize how seemingly small assumptions or phrases can unintentionally create barriers to help-seeking and engagement.
- Apply practical strategies for making expectations, opportunities, and resources more accessible to first-generation students.
- Identify ways faculty and staff can serve as effective “connectors” to campus resources and support.
Dates Offered:
- Wednesday, October 21st from 1PM to 2PM
- Wednesday, December 2nd from 1PM to 2PM
- Navigating Difficult Conversations with Students
By the end of this training, you will be able to:
- Understand the importance and purpose of difficult conversations.
- Identify strategies for preparing for challenging conversations.
- Apply communication strategies that reduce defensiveness and encourage productive dialogue.
- Balance empathy and accountability when navigating difficult conversations.
Dates Offered:
- Tuesday, September 22nd from 1PM to 2PM
- Friday, November 13th from 1PM to 2PM
- Maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid
Federal regulations and university institutional policy require a specified level of academic achievement and the completion of a set number of credits within a given time frame. The first goal of this presentation is to help the campus community understand the criteria that make up the standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). The second goal is to help clarify the difference between federal academic standards and GW's academic standards, since the financial assistance policy does not replace academic and departmental policies pertaining to academic standing and/or degree progression.
Dates Offered:
- Monday, September 28th from 1PM to 2PM
- QPR: Suicide Prevention Training
Just like CPR, QPR is an emergency response to someone in crisis and can save lives. QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. Each year thousands of Americans, like you, are saying "Yes" to saving the life of a friend, colleague, sibling, or neighbor.
Dates Offered:
- Thursday, October 1st from 12PM to 1PM
- Tuesday, November 24th from 12PM to 1PM
- Best Practices for Incident Report/Referral Writing
This skills-based workshop will discuss best practices for effective report writing around documenting student behavior or student wellbeing concerns for review and follow-up by CESA and/or CARE. As a result of completing this workshop, participants will be able to: Identify when and why a staff member would write an incident report/referral, know which University reporting avenue is appropriate for a specific concern, correctly identify details that should be included in a well-written incident report/referral, and draft a well written incident report/referral using best practices.
Dates Offered:
- Wednesday, September 23rd from 12PM to 1PM
- Wednesday, October 21st from 12PM to 1PM
- Introduction to Trauma and Trauma Informed Care
This training will lay the foundation for practices in trauma-informed care when supporting individuals impacted by trauma. We will be discussing trauma at the individual, interpersonal, and community level, as well as the impact of vicarious trauma on staff and faculty. Participants will develop skills to engage in supportive, non-judgmental, and effective communication when receiving disclosures of violence.
Date Offered:
- Wednesday, October 7th from 12PM to 1PM
- Monday, October 26th from 2PM to 3PM
- Managing Disruptive Behaviors in Learning Environments
This workshop will outline GW’s policies for managing disruptive student behavior, including in an academic environment. Topics will include pro-actively outlining expectations, as well as responding and documenting disruptive behavior. The workshop will also address how culturally inclusive pedagogy can be a tool to promote more effective student participation in learning environments.
Date Offered:
- Thursday, September 24th from 12PM to 1PM
- Tuesday, November 17th from 12PM to 1PM
- From Patterns to Prevention: Recognizing and Preventing Discrimination and Harassment
This interactive session will use realistic scenarios based in the workplace and classroom to help faculty and staff identify potential discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment. Participants will practice issue spotting, consider how workplace dynamics and environmental factors can contribute to concerns, and work backwards to identify opportunities for earlier intervention and prevention. By the end of the session, participants will be able to better understand behaviors that may contribute to a hostile environment and identify practical strategies for fostering a more respectful and inclusive environment. The session will also review available resources and options for addressing concerns when they arise.
Dates Offered:
- Wednesday, October 21st from 11AM to 12PM
- Wednesday, November 18th from 11AM to 12PM
- Advising and Support: Showing Up for Students
This interactive session will describe the NASPA Advising and Supporting competency, differentiate between advising and counseling, apply strategies that promote student agency, explain how presence supports belonging and success, and develop a personal commitment to showing up.
Dates Offered:
- Thursday, October 15th from 2PM to 3PM
- Thursday, October 22nd from 2PM to 3PM