Each academic year, GW Engineering’s New Student Experience welcomes incoming students to campus life in the heart of our Nation’s Capital. This program is more than just an orientation; it’s a purposeful week of events designed to make students’ transition to college as seamless as possible through opportunities to connect with peers, explore Foggy Bottom and Washington, D.C., and discover resources that will support them throughout their time at GW Engineering.
On Tuesday, August 18, GW Engineering’s Office of Undergraduate Studies and Student Success kicked off the week with an informal event for students and their families to meet members of their team and GW Student Affairs’ Family Engagement Team. Recognizing the impact this change has on parents as well, this face-to-face meeting offered reassurance that their children will be well supported in this new stage of their lives.
The next day, first-year students began connecting with each other at “The Getaway,” making memories that will last a lifetime. “The Getaway” was born of a student-led effort to enhance the undergraduate experience that began in 2000, and 26 years later, it still serves as one of their first entry points into GW Engineering’s tight-knit community. With adventures such as rafting, tubing, treetop courses, and hiking in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, this signature event provides an ideal environment for students to build friendships and foster a sense of belonging.
“I’ve never been flat water tubing before, but I did it, and I met so many cool people along the river,” said Felicia Ogundimu, a first-year mechanical engineering major. “I just really like how close-knit the engineering school is,” she added.
Fellow first-years were not the only ones they connected with, though, as faculty, staff, and mentors in the SEAS Student Peer Advisory Network also attended. For mechanical and aerospace engineering (MAE) students like Ogundimu, Professor Kartik Bulusu, who teaches MAE 101, gathered them at this year’s Getaway to start getting acquainted right away.
Professor Shahrokh Ahmadi is among the first faculty members whom students, regardless of discipline, interact with, having attended almost every Getaway and taught an introductory class that each student takes in their first semester for the past 20 years.
Returning to D.C., Thursday gave new students the chance to further explore both GW Engineering and the city they’ll now call home. This day encouraged them to discover campus resources, find favorite spots around campus, and continue building lasting relationships with peers and faculty alike.
“Upon getting to immerse myself in the community and then meeting my mentors, peers, and professors, I felt very welcomed immediately. I feel like wherever I go, I can find really wonderful people and friends who are supportive,” said Chad Harris, a first-year biomedical engineering major.
The week ended with the “Launchpad Student Success Summit” on Friday, an ambitious conference held for the first time this year. Featuring an inspiring alumni panel, engaging technical workshops, and presentations sharing key tools, services, and technology resources, the summit perfectly rounds out the week’s community-building and resource-sharing focus while also kick-starting their learning.
By the time classes begin, the New Student Experience has already accomplished its mission: helping students feel welcomed, supported, and inspired as they begin their academic journey. Through shared experiences, peer mentorship, and a strong sense of community, GW Engineering ensures that every undergraduate starts with the confidence and purpose to succeed in engineering, computing, and beyond.