Colonial Crossroads brings together essential student services departments in one location.
Five key offices that enhance student experiences at GW have been moved to one location in George Washington’s Marvin Center.
Colonial Crossroads, located on the fifth floor of the Marvin Center, now houses George Washington’s Career Center, Center for Student Engagement, Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service, Center for Undergraduate Fellowships and Research and the Office for Study Abroad.
The new space has 16 conference rooms, student resource and employer interview rooms and work space for more than 100 staff members and student workers. Additionally, the space has been designed so that several of the conference rooms will also be available in the evenings for students and student organizations to congregate and meet.
The space that the Center for Student Engagement previously occupied on the fourth floor of Marvin Center has been re-allocated to student groups, continuing GW’s commitment to the growing needs of student clubs and organizations.
“We are really excited about the space; it’s a great example of students coming up with an idea and working together with university leadership,” said senior John Richardson, chairman of the Marvin Center Governing Board.
As GW Student Association president last year, Mr. Richardson and former board chairman Dylan Pyne developed a proposal to redesign the space for student use in the 2012-13 academic year.
Peter Konwerski, senior associate provost and dean of student affairs, said the name Colonial Crossroads reflects the university’s hope that the new space will be a place where students will go to become more engaged in the areas of academics, experiential learning, research, extra-curricular activities and service.
“The investment in building this dynamic new space stems from a recognition that the student experience encompasses much more than what happens in the classroom,” said Dr. Konwerski. “Studying abroad, performing public service, working on a research project and leading student groups are all important parts of a GW education.”
Associate Dean of Students Tim Miller said the new space will increase collaboration between departments.
“All the departments with connections to each other are in one space, which to me is a better way to serve students,” he said.
The integration of these key service departments will hopefully result in even more opportunities for students, added Dr. Konwerski.
“Examples include enhanced international career options for students studying abroad, earlier identification of student leaders eligible for research roles and fellowship competitions and natural alliances that are created for GW students serving local and global communities,” he said.
Jeffrey Dagley, communications coordinator for the GW Career Center, said the center’s placement in Colonial Crossroads reinforces the connections between all the key student services departments, while offering central, convenient access for GW students and employers.
“The Career Center, as part of Colonial Crossroads, is in a more advantageous spot for students to explore and assess their goals and ambitions, and we will assist them with decisions about academic majors and career goals while they’re at GW and with their future development as global citizens and engaged alumni,” he said.
Colonial Crossroads hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. A behind-the-scenes open house and tour of Colonial Crossroads will be held today from 1 to 3 p.m.