Fall 2023

• October 7 - 10: Fall Break (No classes)
• October 13: Last day to change grade option to P/A (by 9:00 PM CST)
• October 27 - 29: Parent & Family Weekend
• November 15: SP24 online registration starts: Class of 2027
• November 17: Last day to drop/W and change grading option to C (by 9:00 PM CST)
• November 22 - 26: Thanksgiving Break (No classes)
• December 8: Last day of classes
• December 11 - 20: Reading period and finals

Parent & Family Weekend | October 27 - 29, 2023

Parent & Family Weekend is a great opportunity to reconnect with your family by showing them your favorite study spots or coffee shop on campus, exploring St. Louis attractions, catching a WashU Bears game, and more.

If your family plans on joining us for Parent & Family Weekend, encourage them to visit the website to view the schedule of events, purchase tickets and t-shirts, and plan their visit.

If your family is unable to attend Parent & Family Weekend, join WashU faculty and staff at Bears Family Dinner. Bears Family Dinner will be held on Friday, October 27 and Saturday, October 28 at City Foundry. Attendees will receive a free dinner and transportation is provided.

Bike Registration

If you have a bike on campus, we strongly recommend that you register your bike with WashU, display the registration shield on your bike, and ensure you use a Kryptonite U-lock which is available for purchase at WUPD for $33. Register your bike through the WashU Bike Registration.

Fall Break Dining Hours:

Dining hall hours will be altered during Fall Break. Check out the most up-to-date information.

Cabaret: October 27 & 28 and November 3 & 4 at 7:30 PM, October 29 and November 5 at 2:00 PM  

The Performing Arts Department will be hosting the musical Cabaret which will take place at Edison Theatre. Tickets are free to all WashU students with valid WashU ID. To reserve your ticket, please visit the Box Office or call 314-935-6543. You can also claim a free ticket the night of the show at the box office window.

Since this event coincides with Parent Family Weekend, we encourage you to invite your family to join you and make this musical a memorable experience for all! Parents and families may purchase tickets online.

The Center for Career Engagement is an integrated hub, collaborating across WashU. We provide:

• Career coaching and planning
• Career assessment and skills training
• Access to a global community of leaders, recruiters, influencer networks and WashU alumni

We help students turn their WashU education into real-world stories of success.

Students can access Handshake, our career management platform, to discover workshops, events, and career fairs, plus search more than 11,000 internship and job postings. Check out our career readiness resources to build your skills, explore career opportunities, and prepare for your future.

Questions about your resume, LinkedIn, or an upcoming interview? Drop-in hours are available Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM in our main office, Danforth University Center (DUC), Suite 110. Students can schedule an appointment with a career coach to discuss questions, get feedback, and plan for success.

Visit the Center for Career Engagement or email to learn more.

We experienced a campus COVID surge at the start of the semester. 280 students reported they were positive on a home test or were being treated by Habif Health and Wellness Center for COVID. Case numbers peaked just after Labor Day and have steadily decreased thereafter. We currently know of just a few COVID-positive students.

COVID, along with Influenza and other infectious respiratory illnesses will always be part of community living on a college campus like ours. Limiting transmission strategies include:

1. Staying home if you are sick.
2. Wearing a mask around others while you are experiencing symptoms. 
3. Increasing ventilation in your indoor spaces by opening windows when possible.

For COVID specifically,

• Take an Antigen (Ag) test if you are experiencing symptoms and if it is positive, contact Habif through the student portal. If it is negative, you should also reach out so Habif Health and Wellness Center can arrange PCR testing. 
• Wear a mask while around others for 10 days if you have been exposed to COVID, and get an Ag test any time you have symptoms and at 5 days post exposure. Ag tests are available to purchase in Quadrangle pharmacy located within Habif Health and Wellness Center as well as many local pharmacies when Quadrangle pharmacy is closed. They are also available to purchase from Bear Necessities.
• Stay up to date on flu and COVID vaccines.

A new COVID vaccine is available and early laboratory data suggest that it will give good protection against current COVID strains. We encourage everyone to get this vaccine along with their annual flu vaccine. Habif will be holding flu clinics on campus October 18-22. We have ordered the new COVID vaccine and if we have received it by then, we will offer it at our flu clinics as well. Both vaccines will be available by appointment at Habif throughout the semester.  

Let's Talk

"Let’s Talk" is an initiative offering students quick, confidential consultations with experts from the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services (CCPS). Designed especially for full-time students, these virtual 15 to 20-minute Zoom sessions are available without an appointment. View the Let's Talk Fall 2023 Schedule. 

While “Let’s Talk” counselors are professionals, these sessions are not a substitute for formal counseling and do not constitute mental health treatment; they are tailored to provide insights into specific concerns and give a glimpse into the counseling experience. If, after a session, you need more structured support, Let's Talk counselors can guide you on how to schedule with CCPS or a provider in the community.

Suicide Prevention Training

Myth: Asking someone if they're thinking about suicide will give them the idea.  

Fact: Asking saves lives!

WashU offers free suicide prevention training for students.

Therapy Assistance Online (TAO) is a free service for all WashU students. It includes over 150 brief, effective, educational sessions that cover common topics and skills related to mental health and wellness. The First-year Toolkit in TAO is specially designed for incoming students to assist with transition and adjustment to the new college environment. Register for sessions and learn more online.

Civic Action Week (CAW) kicks off on October 16! CAW is a weeklong initiative highlighting civic engagement opportunities throughout WashU—in relationship with local community, campus partners, and beyond.

All week across campus, different faculty, staff, and community partners will host events and other engagement opportunities. From screen printing your own civic action t-shirt to attending the Civic and Community Engagement Fair, there’s plenty of ways to get involved on campus. We want to empower you to turn your civic passions into action. Visit the Gephardt Institute for more information and the schedule of events.

Explore St. Louis and build your itinerary!

Neighborhood Spotlight: The Grove

The Grove is home to a growing vibrant business and entertainment district in St. Louis City. In the Grove you can find a diverse mix of independently owned restaurants, retail stores and entertainment services. It is also a thriving center for St. Louis-area LGBTQIA+, artist, and cycling communities.

When you are in The Grove, explore the local shops for unique boutiques and antiques. Stop by La Finca, the first authentic Columbian-style coffee shop in St. Louis, for some aromatic coffee or kombucha at Confluence Kombucha. Then savor a meal at one of the area's delightful restaurants like Grace Meat + Three and Songbird. As home to the largest collection of street art in St. Louis, The Grove also boasts a vibrant artistic ambiance that you can immerse yourself in as you stroll from one spot to another. If you are in the mood for some entertainment, The Improv Shop also offers a variety of comedy shows at affordable prices.

Local Events:

Best of Missouri Market: October 6 from Noon - 8:00 PM and October 7 & 8 from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

The Best of Missouri Market returns to the Missouri Botanical Garden this fall with nearly 100 vendors offering handcrafted items, locally produced food, and much more. This beloved fall festival features food, crafts, native plants, herbs, custom jewelry, handcrafted items, and more.

31st Historic Shaw Art Fair: October 7 from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM & October 8 from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

The Shaw Neighborhood Improvement Association hosts the very popular Shaw Art Fair. The premier fine art fair in St. Louis city features 120 artists and includes food, music, schools, and great art. This event takes place on the beautiful tree-lined parkway of Flora Place.

Coloring STL: Recurring throughout October during business hours

St. Louis is renowned for its rich architectural tapestry spanning various eras. You can dive into this heritage at the Missouri History Museum's Coloring STL exhibit. Entry is free, and visitors can uniquely engage by coloring directly on the walls! This interactive showcase spotlights over 50 local landmarks, from iconic city structures to timeless homes, each inviting your personal touch of color.

St. Louis Street Food Festival: October 14 & October 15 at 2:00 PM

This spectacular weekend event hosted at Ballpark Village will feature the St. Louis area's best food trucks and restaurants with all food items priced at $5 or less! This will give you the opportunity to sample a wide range of flavors and options from over 20+ vendors.

Save the date for one of the city's most anticipated events of the holiday season!

Garden Glow: December 2 at 7:00 PM

Celebrate the winter holiday season by viewing St. Louis' most spectacular holiday lights experience. Featuring nearly two million dazzling lights, Garden Glow transforms the iconic setting of the Missouri Botanical Garden into an enchanted wonderland rich with mesmerizing displays and unforgettable moments.

Ticket registration for first-year students will begin on November 1. More information will be shared on our Instagram and in the November edition of the Bear Bulletin.