Dear GW Law Community,
I write to follow up on President LeBlanc’s message this afternoon about the fall semester. As you know, the President has announced all instruction will be done remotely this fall, with some narrow exceptions for certain undergraduates and “discipline-based” exceptions for graduate programs. In light of the President’s message, the Dean’s Office, in consultation with the provost, has decided all law school courses will be delivered remotely for the duration of the fall semester. I wanted to inform you of this decision as soon as possible so that we can all begin to solidify our fall plans accordingly.
In his email, President LeBlanc expressed his rationale to move to complete remote instruction. Our decision with respect to coursework at the law school was also informed by the opinions and concerns expressed by Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Center for Disease Control. GW is the largest university in the city, and it is incumbent that we—students, staff, and faculty—play a leadership role in preventing the further spread of the coronavirus.
The President also announced a limited tuition reduction for certain undergraduate student populations. Although the university sets the law school’s tuition rate, the Dean’s Office has and will continue to advocate for tuition relief to be granted to law students as well.
I imagine that some of you have questions about how the law school plans to operate this coming fall. Dean-Designate Dayna Matthew and Senior Associate Dean Emily Hammond will communicate to students by Wednesday, July 29 with additional details. Dean Hammond will continue to hold Town Hall meetings with students every other Friday; the next one is scheduled for August 7. In the meantime, currently, enrolled students can expect our early/extended add-drop dates to remain in place. Please continue to visit GW Law’s COVID-19 page for updated information, including FAQs.
For faculty and staff, Senior Associate Dean Emily Hammond and I are hosting a joint Faculty and Senior Staff information session on Tuesday, July 28, at which time we will provide more information about the fall and respond to your questions.
We deeply regret that the COVID-19 pandemic prevents us from returning to campus in person this coming semester. However, our shared sense of community and commitment to a world-class education remains strong as ever, and we fully intend to provide an excellent remote instructional experience to every student this coming fall. When it is safe to do so, we are eager to see you again on campus.
Stay safe and healthy,
Christopher A. Bracey
Interim Dean and Professor of Law, GW Law
Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, GW