| The Columns Weekly - Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026 |
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| New Williams School Building Named Childress Hall |
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 On Monday, Aug. 17, the new building serving the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics officially became Childress Hall, in honor of the Childress family: Don Childress '70, P'26, his wife, Sidney Childress P'26, and their son, Preston Childress '26. |
| One of several significant capital projects in the Leading Lives of Consequence campaign, the 44,500-square-foot building opened just before the start of Fall Term 2025. Childress Hall features 10 classrooms, two innovation labs, 52 offices and extensive spaces for student-faculty collaboration. The building received LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council in early 2026, the first structure on campus to receive such designation. |
| "We are deeply grateful for the Childress' longstanding service and philanthropic support of Washington and Lee," said Susan Wood, vice president for university advancement. "The generosity and thoughtfulness of their gift to Childress Hall will positively impact countless generations of W&L students." |
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Meet a Colleague: Rachel Rowland |
| Rachel Rowland serves as a project manager in University Facilities. Learn more about Rachel in our "Meet a Colleague" feature series. |
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| Move-in Day Parking Notice |
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| On the morning of Monday, Aug. 24, from 8 a.m. to noon, the university is holding space in the Parking Garage and the Corral Lot for families arriving for first-year move-in. Neither lot is closed to employees, but faculty and staff are encouraged to park in the Augusta Square, Liberty Hall, West Denny or Woods Creek lots during those hours to accommodate parking for arriving families. Public Safety will direct incoming vehicles along the move-in route, which brings families down Jefferson Street, right onto Washington Street and past the Founders Hall construction to unload in front of Graham-Lees and Gaines residence halls. Thank you for your assistance as we welcome the Class of 2030 to campus. |
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| Get to Know Your Newest Co-Workers |
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New Employee Q&A |
| Get to know the newest members of the Washington and Lee employee workforce through our new employee feature page! This week, we feature three new employees who have joined the W&L community in recent weeks. |
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| Featured Social Media Site |
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Learn more about what's happening at the Harte Center by following its Instagram page!
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New Student Move-In Day
8 a.m.-Noon
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All first-year students will move in on this date. |
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Law Fall Term Begins |
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The 2026-27 law academic year begins on Aug. 24. |
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President's Community Breakfast
8:30-10:30 a.m. Lindley Center Tent
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The annual Community Breakfast will feature remarks from Ken Ruscio, interim president.
Enroll
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Upper-Division Student Move-In |
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All upper-division students, including transfer students, not approved for early arrival may begin moving in on this date. |
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Convocation
5:30-6 p.m. Front Lawn
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The W&L community is invited to celebrate a new academic year with Convocation on the Front Lawn. The featured speaker is Kenneth P. Ruscio, interim president. Dinner will follow on Stemmons Plaza.
More Info
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First Day of Fall Term |
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The 2026-27 academic year begins on Sept. 3 at 8 a.m. |
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Classroom Kitchen
12-1 p.m. Leyburn 119
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Join us for interactive, discussion-based sessions designed to help you create a Classroom Kitchen spiced with engagement, sweetened through collaboration, and enriched by deep learning. We will explore everything at hand to make the most of your classroom environment—especially the vital, less-obvious ingredients your students bring to the table. Discover sample recipes for practical, powerful, and timely teaching practices that work across all disciplines. |
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