Freshman Convocation, the university’s official welcome of the incoming freshman class, was originally scheduled for Aug. 28, but had to be postponed due to safety concerns surrounding Hurricane Irene.
The Class of 2015 – which has broken a number of records for the university – will be welcomed instead as part of the Freshman Day of Service activities, which will take place on Sept. 11.
Move-In day, slated to start on Aug. 27, began one day early, also due to the hurricane. On Aug. 26, Dr. Knapp and his wife, Diane; Provost Steven Lerman and his wife, Lori; men’s and women’s basketball coaches and players and nearly 1,000 staff members and Foggy Bottom neighbors helped students move in. Classes begin today as scheduled.
Speaking at the Graduate Welcome Ceremony in the Marvin Center Betts Theatre on Aug. 25, GW President Steven Knapp told incoming graduate students that as members of the George Washington University, they will enjoy “a front row seat at the theater of history.”
“Coming to this great cosmopolitan city, you have the opportunity to be close to an extraordinary range of events,” said Dr. Knapp, noting that President Barack Obama, two Supreme Court justices, five cabinet secretaries and many other prominent guests had visited campus within the past year, with President Obama participating in no fewer than four campus events in that span.
Dr. Knapp told the students that they have arrived on campus at a time of transition, when GW is connecting with graduate students on a university-wide level. Students will feel like they are part of the university community, in addition to the departments where they are studying.
“You are coming here at a moment of transition in which we are strengthening, in a very active way, the community of graduate students on our campus,” Dr. Knapp said.
It’s also an exciting time for incoming undergraduate students. The freshman class comes from 45 states and 40 countries. The class is also the most ethnically and racially diverse in GW’s history. Multicultural students comprise 28 percent of the class, and international students make up 7 percent of the class.
It is also the most academically impressive class. The admission rate of 32.6 percent is the second lowest in university history.
“Once again, students have responded with enthusiasm and excitement about attending George Washington,” said Kathryn Napper, associate vice president and dean of admissions. “We are enrolling a freshman class of talented students with incredible leadership potential and commitment to service."