| Family Connection: January 2026 |
|
|
|
Grace Theodore ’28 paints faces at the Martin Luther King Jr. birthday party in Evans Hall.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Dear parents and family members, |
| Happy new year! We hope 2026 is treating you and your family well thus far. Now with our IFC Fraternity and Panhellenic Sorority recruitments officially completed, as well as the highly anticipated reveal of the 2026 Fancy Dress theme (the Wizarding World), we move into this third week of classes with high energy and excitement for what's to come. Housing selection is approaching fast (our application goes live on Feb. 2!), and we encourage you to prompt your student to attend one of the information sessions offered. More information about housing selection is shared below in the Division of Student Affairs section. Moreover, the 239th undergraduate Commencement is scheduled for Thursday, May 28, at 10 a.m. We hope our website can provide beneficial information for you and your family to prepare for this very special occasion should your student be graduating. Be well, and please know I can always be reached at families@wlu.edu. |
Kindly,
Leah Beard
Assistant Dean of Student Leadership |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
W&L Without Borders
|
|
Brandon Bishop ’26's journey shows how W&L’s global opportunities, language instruction and fellowships can transform a student’s path. |
|
|
|
|
| Important Information from Division of Student Affairs |
|
| Housing & Residence Life |
| As a reminder, W&L has a three-year residency requirement. Therefore, students in the classes of 2028 and 2029 must select housing for the upcoming academic year (2026-27). Students in the Class of 2027 have the option of participating in housing selection based on the timeline, with priority given to classes of 2028 and 2029. All students, regardless of where they plan to live or housing process they go through, must register online. The housing application goes live beginning Feb. 2. More information can be found on our website. |
| Commencement |
| The 239th undergraduate Commencement is scheduled for Thursday, May 28, at 10 a.m. on the Front Lawn of the main campus. The Baccalaureate service is scheduled for Wednesday, May 27, at 10 a.m., also on the Front Lawn. Commencement ceremonies will be broadcast live on the web for those unable to attend. Please note, loud noisemakers, including air horns, confetti poppers and similar devices, are prohibited during the Baccalaureate and Commencement ceremonies. We look forward to seeing you on your student's big day! |
|
|
|
| Leading Lives of Consequence: The Campaign For Washington and Lee |
|
|
|
Why I Give | Jon Eastwood
|
|
“Our hope is that these funds allow generations of students to get out into the world and to work on the kinds of issues and problems that were of enduring concern to Tyler [Dickovick] and his students.” |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Join fellow parents, alumni and friends to celebrate Leading Lives of Consequence: The Campaign for Washington and Lee at special receptions across the country. Enjoy campus updates from President Will Dudley and other campus leaders, and hear the latest news about W&L's historic campaign. |
| Next up: |
| Jan. 28 | Palm Beach, Florida |
| Jan. 29 | Miami, Florida |
| Jan. 29 | Atlanta, Georgia (law) |
| Feb. 11 | San Antonio, Texas |
| Feb. 12 | Austin, Texas |
| Feb. 25 | Columbia, South Carolina |
| March 19 | San Francisco, California |
| April 1 | Raleigh, North Carolina |
| April 2 | Charleston, South Carolina |
|
|
|
| Thank You for a Wonderful 2025 |
|
|
|
|
| Washington and Lee Athletics |
|
 |
| The Washington and Lee men's and women's basketball teams continue to lead the charge in winter season, as teams get into the thick of their conference schedules and prepare for postseason competition. Women's basketball is 15-0 overall, with senior Mary Schleusner approaching the all-time Division III rebounding record, while men's basketball sits at 13-2 overall. |
| The wrestling team is ranked in both the dual and tournament polls, with nine wrestlers ranked in the region and five ranked nationally. Both swimming teams celebrated Senior Day over the weekend with tri-meet sweeps over Chowan and Randolph-Macon, with one meet remaining ahead of their postseasons. |
| Indoor track & field season has also gotten underway recently, with the men already setting two program records across four meets, while the women have had numerous updates to their program leaderboards across two meets. |
| Stay connected with the Blue and White by visiting www.generalssports.com, signing up for Generals Sports emails and following social media channels at @WLUGenerals. |
|
|
|
| Lifelong Learning for W&L Parents |
|
|
|
Can Business Be a Force for Good?
|
|
Despite the evidence of corporate corruption, a growing movement of entrepreneurs and business leaders want to change the narrative and prove that business can be a force for good. In this series of webinars, four of our most dynamic faculty from the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics will explore the larger questions about business and goodness. Next up is Jay Margalus, Johnson Professor of Entrepreneurship and Leadership and director of the Connolly Center for Entrepreneurship, on Jan. 27. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
‘W&L After Class’ Podcast Releases New Episode Featuring Angela Sun
|
|
To kick off the seventh season of “W&L After Class,” assistant professor of philosophy Angela Sun reflects on aesthetics from the lens of her field of research. Hosted by James Lambert, director of Lifelong Learning, the latest episode of the “W&L After Class” podcast launches a new thematic approach for its latest season. Faculty members are invited to explore a shared foundational idea from their own disciplinary perspectives. This season’s guiding question is “What is beauty?” |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
W&L’s Campus Kitchen Hosts 14th Annual Souper Bowl
|
| All proceeds from the Feb. 1 event will support the Campus Kitchen at W&L’s Backpack Program. This year, Campus Kitchen is introducing the Souper Bowl Online Auction as a new component of the annual fundraising event. Participants can view available items and make bids online. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Can Business Be a Force for Good?" Webinar Series |
The Office of Lifelong Learning will be hosting a webinar series with four Williams School faculty exploring the relationship between business and goodness. Jay Margalus discusses entrepreneurship for good on Jan. 27, and Joel Adams and Emily Landry debate whether business can prioritize sustainability and the public interest on Feb. 3 and Feb. 10. All webinars will be held at 7:30 p.m.
Learn more and register
|
|
|
|
|
CIE Summer Grant Application Deadline |
Thinking about a summer internship abroad? Apply for a Center for International Education summer grant! Students interested in completing a summer internship abroad are encouraged to meet with Cindy Irby in the CIE. Irby will help you identify a program that fits your goals and guide you through the grant application process. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain global experience and receive funding to support your internship! Meetings can be scheduled through Handshake.
Encourage your student to apply
|
|
|
|
|
2026-27 Housing Application Opens |
To live in on-campus housing, all students, regardless of where they plan to live or what housing process they go through, must register online via eRezLife by completing the "Returning Students - Fall 2026 Housing Application." Applications must be completed by April 6.
Learn more
|
|
|
|
|
|
Registration for Spring Term |
|
Registration for Spring Term opens on Monday, Feb. 2, and closes Tuesday, Feb. 10. |
|
|
|
|
Sophomore Major Declaration Deadlines |
|
All sophomores must have their major declared by Friday, Feb. 13. |
|
|
|
|
Spring Term Abroad Financial Aid Billing |
|
If students were awarded financial aid grants for Spring Term Abroad, funding will be applied to their student accounts in mid-February. The program fee will be billed and financial aid credited to the student account at the regular Feb. 15 billing date. Payment is due in March. |
|
|
|
|
Washington Break |
|
No classes will be held from Monday, Feb. 23, to Friday, Feb. 27. |
|
|
|
|
| Follow @lenfestshows on Instagram |
|
Since opening in 1991, the Lenfest Center has helped the university provide the fine arts component of an exceptional liberal arts education. Housing over 185 performances and events each year and hosting over 30,000 patrons, the center has become the region's performing arts center.
|
| Additional Social Media Accounts to Follow |
|
|
|
|
|
| Be sure to add families@wlu.edu to your address book or safe senders list so our emails get to your inbox. |
|
