Fall 2020 Welcome and Semester Information to Main Campus Students
Posted in Student Communications
August 25, 2020
Good Afternoon HOYAs!
This Fall we will be starting a new academic year unlike any other. Faculty have been preparing all summer to deliver engaging and exciting learning experiences. The following information will help you through the first few days of the semester and put you on the path to success.
| Wed. Aug. 26 | First day of classes; follows a Wednesday schedule |
|---|---|
| Thur. Sept. 3 | Last day for waitlist; winner claims seat on Friday, Sept. 4 |
| Fri. Sept. 4 | The online Undergraduate Add/Drop form closes at 5 p.m. EDT Registration closes for all students at 11:59 p.m. EDT in MyAccess |
| Mon. Sept 7 | Labor day – CLASSES IN SESSION – Monday classes will be held at scheduled times S/CR/NC (pass/fail) option opens in MyAccess |
| Mon. Oct. 12 | Mid-Semester Holiday – CLASSES IN SESSION – Monday classes will be held at scheduled times |
GU-Q, SCS, MBA classes and some executive and non-traditional programs, will have different start dates. Students in those programs have received appropriate information from their department regarding schedules, waitlists and add/drop.
Grading Policy
The grading policy for undergraduates will mirror the policy from this past spring with one notable change: students will have until the last study day to choose the grading method, as opposed to the last day of class. Similarly, students will have until the last study day to withdraw from a course. Modular courses within the term will have the withdrawal deadline of the last day of class for that module. As in the spring, graduate programs will be able to opt in to a similar grading system. For details, please review the full statement from the Provost sent August 5.
Registrar Resources
- Academic Calendars | University Registrar | Georgetown University
- Registration Dates | University Registrar | Georgetown University
- Tuition Refund Schedule
- See the Georgetown Schedule of Classes for class offerings, descriptions and syllabi as well as the list of required and recommended books.
- For help or questions about your NetID and password, contact the UIS Help Desk at help@georgetown.edu.
- Once you are registered for a course, you have the option of ordering the books from the Bookstore through MyAccess. It is recommended you check the class syllabus before making a final purchase decision; in some cases, alternate versions of required or recommended texts may be acceptable for your classes. We also urge you to consider textbook rental and book buy-back programs as appropriate.
The waitlist will run each week day at 3 p.m.until September 3. Winners will receive an email from the University Registrar with instructions to claim their seat through MyAccess within 24 hours. After 24 hours, unclaimed seats will be awarded to the next student on the waitlist. For more information, see our waitlist instructions. Please be sure to drop from the waitlist for any class you no longer want so others will be considered in the waitlist process.
Academic Accommodations
The global crisis and its effects on our community are evolving on a daily basis, demanding new forms of collaboration and support for one another. We affirm our collective responsibility to ensure equitable access to our academic programs. Access challenges affect a broad swath of our community and range from the need for new or different academic accommodations for students with disabilities and learning differences, to disparities in access to technology, to new responsibilities for dependent care. Guided by the principles of Universal Design for Learning, we have created a host of accessibility-related resources that are available to both faculty and students, including the CNDLS Guidebook on Accommodations and Accessibility, a comprehensive guide to accessible course design with practical instructions, recorded webinars and suggestions for further reading, and an Accessibility Resources for Students page linked to all Canvas course sites. For additional assistance, students can contact the Academic Resource Center or check in with faculty about their changing access needs.
Please refer to the Fall 2020 FAQ page, which will be regularly updated to include answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding the university’s plans for fall 2020.
With confidence that this will be another exciting and rewarding year for all of us, I offer you my best wishes for an enjoyable and successful experience at Georgetown!
Sincerely,
Annamarie Bianco
Associate Vice President and University Registrar
“Go forth and set the world on fire.” ~ St. Ignatius of Loyola