| This publication is designed to communicate the latest news for Washington and Lee University parents and families. The W&L Family Connection is distributed each month and complements other university channels to help keep parents and families informed about life on campus. Please send your suggestions for future issues and any questions to families@wlu.edu |
|
| Family Connection: July 2025 |
|
|
|
Campus waits for the arrival of students.
|
|
|
| Important Information from the Office of Student Affairs |
|
| As the daily countdown to the start of the 2025-2026 academic year gets closer and closer, the list of important dates and information grows. Whether your student is arriving to Washington and Lee University for their first semester or they are moving into upper-division housing for the last time, here are some dates to mark on your calendar. Any changes to this move-in information will be communicated directly to students and updated on the Office of Housing & Residence Life website. |
Aug. 15-16: International Move-In
The Center for International Education and the International Student Orientation leaders will assist with arrival for all students. Students should make sure they have joined the WhatsApp group. International Orientation will run from Sunday, Aug. 17, to Saturday, Aug. 23. Visit the Center for International Education website for details on the full schedule, what to pack and helpful handouts. |
Aug. 23: Class of 2029 Move-In Day
All first-year students must move in by this date during their assigned 30-minute arrival time between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Please continue to check your WLU email for updates regarding move-in preparations and instructions. Fall athletes may be pre-approved to arrive earlier than this date – please check with your coach and/or adviser if you have an earlier move-in date approved by the Office of Housing & Residence Life. |
3 - 4 p.m. – Leading Edge Student Check-in on Cannan Green
Students will meet their Leading Edge leaders and fellow first-year students. |
Aug. 24 – Aug. 29: Leading Edge Trips
First-year students have the opportunity to participate in one Leading Edge program that emphasizes the community aspect of college life. New student orientation continues on campus upon their return until Wednesday, Sept. 3. Continue to check the Class of 2029 Orientation Schedule page for more details. |
Aug. 29-30: Upper-Division Student Move-In
Housing reopens for all upper-division students (beginning as early as midnight on Aug. 29). There will be a check-in table at the Office of Public Safety Aug. 29-30. Students will receive an email in August with more information about check-in. All undergraduate students are required to check in and receive a room key. Students arriving after the check-in station is closed, or after Aug. 30, must check in with and retrieve their key from Public Safety dispatch. For more information on university housing dates and details, visit the Office of Housing & Residence Life website. |
| Questions about housing dates, early arrival or extended-stay requests? Email housing@wlu.edu. |
|
|
|
| Parent Orientation Schedule |
|
| An in-person parent orientation will be available on Saturday, Aug. 23. Attendance is optional. |
2:15 p.m. – Parent Orientation: Student Resource Fair, Lenfest Center, Stan Kamen Gallery
3 p.m. – President's Welcome to parents, Lenfest Center, Keller Theater
3:20 p.m. – Provost's Welcome to parents, Lenfest Center, Keller Theater
3:40 p.m. – Parent Orientation: Student Affairs and Academic Support, Lenfest Center, Keller Theater |
| For additional information on how to support your student, visit the W&L Families page. |
|
|
|
| Leading Lives of Consequence: The Campaign For Washington and Lee |
|
|
|
Tackling the Bucket List
|
|
Students in the Outing Club’s new pilot Spring Term program had the chance to step outside their comfort zones one more time before Commencement. |
|
|
|
|
Team Player
|
|
From student consulting to mentoring teammates, Jackson Stokes ’25 is ready to grow professionally and help others do the same. |
|
|
Thank you so much for your generosity to Washington and Lee University. |
 |
|
|
|
Join fellow alumni, parents 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.
Learn more |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Songs of Summer
|
| Meredith Harron ’26 trained and performed with the Mediterranean Opera Festival this summer through a Johnson Opportunity Grant. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Squirreled Away
|
|
The 13-lined ground squirrels currently residing in the Science Center for associate professor of biology Jessica LaPrice’s research have inspired a cross-campus collaboration that showcases W&L’s emphasis on hands-on learning. |
|
|
|
|
Creative License
|
|
Shenandoah literary magazine’s internship program helps undergraduates craft a career path. |
|
|
|
|
| Washington and Lee Athletics |
|
 Washington and Lee University offers 24 varsity programs, equally divided between men's and women's sports, that compete in NCAA Division III and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC). For the 2024-2025 season, the Generals captured their 29th overall and 23rd consecutive Dan Wooldridge Overall Champions Cup and shattered records en route to winning the ODAC Women's Commissioner's Cup. The 2025-2026 season begins on Aug. 29 with men and women's cross country, volleyball, field hockey and men and women's soccer. |
| 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 |
|
|
|
‘W&L After Class’ Podcast Releases New Episode Featuring Stu Gray
|
|
Stu Gray, associate professor of politics, joins associate director of Lifelong Learning and host Ruth Candler on “W&L After Class” to discuss identity, technology and the benefits of risk-taking – all from the perspective of an educator and scholar who has explored all of the above throughout his academic career. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Law and Literature Weekend Seminar
|
|
Not just for law students and lawyers, the Law and Literature Weekend Seminar also brings together faculty, community members and alumni to study a work of literature from ethical and literary perspectives. Our 32nd program Oct. 3-4 will center on “The Nickel Boys” (2019), a novel by Colson Whitehead recognized with the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, the Kirkus Prize and the Orwell Prize for political fiction. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Study Abroad Advising Sessions Still Available! |
|
| Is your student thinking about studying abroad next Winter Term but not sure where to start? Now is the time to start planning, and the Center for International Education is here to help. Prepare for the Oct. 15 study abroad deadline by scheduling a Zoom appointment with Cindy Irby in Handshake today! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class of 2029 Move-In Day |
All first-year students must move in by this date during their assigned 30-minute arrival time between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Move-in preparations and instructions updates will be emailed to your students' WLU email. Fall athletes may be pre-approved to arrive earlier than this date – please check with your coach and/or adviser if you have an earlier move-in date approved by the Office of Housing & Residence Life.
Learn more
|
|
|
|
|
Upper-Division Student Move-In |
Housing reopens for all upper-division students on Aug. 29 (beginning as early as midnight). There will be a check-in table at the Office of Public Safety on Aug. 29 and 30. Students will receive an email in August with more information about check-in. All upper-division students are required to check in and receive a room key. Students arriving after the check-in station is closed or after Aug. 30 must check in with and retrieve their key from Public Safety dispatch.
Learn more
|
|
|
|
|
Convocation |
|
The W&L community is invited to the 2025 Convocation on the Front Lawn at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 3 |
|
|
|
|
Fall Term Begins |
|
Fall Term classes begin Sept. 4. Add/drop ends at midnight on Sept. 10. |
|
|
|
|
| Follow @wlunews on Instagram |
|
The official Instagram of Washington and Lee University.
|
| 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. |
|
