George Washington University

George Washington University
Former names
Columbian College (1821–1873)
Columbian University (1873–1904)
MottoLatin: Deus Nobis Fiducia
Motto in English
"God is Our Trust"[1]
TypePrivate federally chartered research university
EstablishedFebruary 9, 1821; 203 years ago (1821-02-09)
AccreditationMSCHE
Academic affiliations
Endowment$2.8 billion (2024)[2]
PresidentEllen Granberg
ProvostChristopher Bracey
Academic staff
2,663
Students26,457 (2021)[3]
Undergraduates11,502 (2021)[3]
Postgraduates14,955 (2021)[3]
Location
Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C.
,
U.S.
CampusLarge city, 43 acres (17 ha)[4]
NewspaperThe GW Hatchet
ColorsBuff and blue[5]
   
NicknameRevolutionaries
Sporting affiliations
MascotGeorge[6]
Websitewww.gwu.edu

The George Washington University (GW or GWU) is a private federally-chartered research university in Washington, D.C., United States. Originally named Columbian College, it was chartered in 1821 by the United States Congress and is the first university founded under Washington, D.C.'s jurisdiction. It is one of the nation's six federally chartered universities.[7][8]

GW is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity."[9] It is the only member of the Association of American Universities in Washington, D.C.[10] The university offers degree programs in seventy-one disciplines, enrolling around 11,500 undergraduate and 15,000 graduate students.[11] The school's athletic teams, the George Washington Revolutionaries, play in the NCAA Division I Atlantic 10 Conference. GW also annually hosts numerous political events, including the World Bank and International Monetary Fund's Annual Meetings.[12]

Several notable individuals have served as trustees, including two presidents, John Quincy Adams and Ulysses S. Grant, and Alexander Graham Bell.[13] Notable alumni, faculty, and affiliates include 16 foreign heads of state or government, 28 United States senators, 27 United States governors, 18 U.S. Cabinet members, five Nobel laureates, two Olympic medalists, two Academy Award winners, and a Golden Globe winner.[14] GW has over 1,100 active alumni in the U.S. Foreign Service and is one of the largest feeder schools for the diplomatic corps.[15]

  1. ^ "University Traditions & Spirit". The George Washington University Student & Academic Support Services. Archived from the original on June 16, 2010. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
  2. ^ "Speights backs Granberg's leadership after weeks of student protest". gwhatchet.com. May 20, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "The George Washington University Enrollment Dashboard". The George Washington University Office of Institutional Research & Planning. Archived from the original on November 15, 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  4. ^ "College Navigator – George Washington University". nces.ed.gov. Archived from the original on November 7, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  5. ^ "George Washington University Color Palette". Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  6. ^ "other_names and Mascots". Retrieved May 16, 2018.[dead link‍]
  7. ^ Thomas, George (2014). The Founders and the Idea of a National University. Cambridge University Press. pp. 2–8, 31, 70–82. ISBN 978-1-316-03334-0. Archived from the original on March 19, 2017. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  8. ^ "About the University: Overview". University Bulletin. The George Washington University. Archived from the original on March 24, 2017. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  9. ^ "Carnegie Classifications – Institution Profile". Indiana University Center for Postsecondary Research. Archived from the original on August 1, 2020. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  10. ^ "GW Joins Prestigious Association of American Universities | GW Today | The George Washington University". GW Today. Archived from the original on June 1, 2023. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  11. ^ "International Services Office". International Services. George Washington University. 2017. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  12. ^ Dunkins, Brittney. "Five Updates on the Global Economy from Christine Lagarde's 'Hardtalk' Interview". GW Today. The George Washington University. Archived from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  13. ^ Mason, Matthew (May 3, 2013), "John Quincy Adams and the Tangled Politics of Slavery", A Companion to John Adams and John Quincy Adams, Oxford: John Wiley & Sons, pp. 402–421, doi:10.1002/9781118524381.ch20, ISBN 978-0-470-65558-0, retrieved March 13, 2024
  14. ^ "GW Alumni Association | The George Washington University". www.alumni.gwu.edu. Archived from the original on June 7, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  15. ^ "Top Foreign Service Feeder Schools". American Foreign Service Association. 2015. Archived from the original on January 4, 2017. Retrieved April 24, 2017.