Dear Members of the George Washington University Community,
As we embark on a new fall semester at the George Washington University, our community is also preparing for the nation’s next presidential election. Every four years, this process ignites the innate passion for democracy and civic engagement that defines our university. From canvassing and campaigning to providing expert commentary, engaging in debate, and voting, our faculty, students, and staff are involved in every aspect of the democratic process.
This year, to further enable our community’s ability to fully participate in this important democratic moment, we are pleased to announce that Election Day, on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, will be designated a university holiday. Additionally, moving forward, every presidential general Election Day will be considered a university holiday and will be incorporated into the university calendar accordingly.
As with other university holidays, synchronous classes will not be held, and offices will be closed as a paid day off. Schools with clinical sites and managers who oversee essential staff should contact their students and staff with instructions about reporting to clinical sites or work and how they can take time to vote.
To accommodate this holiday, the Fall 2024 academic calendar has been modified slightly by pushing back the last day of classes to Tuesday, December 10, and shortening the final examination period by one day. We are extremely grateful to our faculty members for working to accommodate these changes in your fall semester syllabi.
This is an important moment in our nation’s history, and the George Washington University stands at the epicenter of critical political discourse and action. We encourage you to stay up to date on the broad range of events, expert analyses, resources, and more available to our community in the lead up to the election. Please make the most of your Election Day holiday and make your voices heard.
Ellen M. Granberg
President
Christopher Alan Bracey
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Professor of Law