oneJWU: Coming Soon!

Save the date for JWU’s annual day of giving and 24 hours of extraordinary impact, happening on March 18, 2025.

Gifts to any area of JWU help strengthen our commitment to providing students with the tools and resources they need for a lifetime of success.

Explore Ways to Give on our oneJWU website.

Celebrating Black History Month

Throughout February, JWU students, faculty and staff had opportunities to participate in campus activities recognizing Black History Month. On Feb. 21, the Black Student Alliance (BSA) hosted a pop-up shop with Black entrepreneurs (most of them current students) and their annual fashion show. The next day, the club welcomed students for dinner and dancing at the annual BSA Gala, complete with the crowning of Mr. & Ms. BSA. Participants, including those pictured, enjoyed a wonderful evening filled with culture, camaraderie and fun.

Other student organizations got involved in celebrating Black culture and cuisine this month by partnering with Campus Dining. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., participated in a takeover at Snowden Dining. Afrocentric Cultural Cuisines and the team of Commonwealth Caribbean Council and BSA did the same at Harbor View Dining, on different nights. Dining hall takeovers give student organizations an opportunity to work with chefs on menu development, to decorate the space, and more.

On Feb. 24, The Bridge opened its doors to the Black History 101 Mobile Museum. Back on JWU's Providence Campus for the third time, the Museum displays a collection of artifacts, interactive exhibits, and educational programs that highlight the resilience, contributions, and influence of African Americans throughout history. Staff from the Museum were present throughout the event to engage with attendees.

Johnson & Wales University is committed to nurturing an inclusive environment for all members of our community. The university provides academic and co-curricular opportunities that are welcoming, educational and open spaces for all students, faculty, staff and alumni.

Updates from Residential Life

Spring Break

With Spring Break fast approaching, Residential Life encourages students to finalize their plans for the time off from academics. While some students will travel home or elsewhere for break, others will remain here on campus. Our residence halls are open throughout Spring Break for any residential students who plan to stay here at JWU. Students should be aware that services like dining and transportation will operate with modified schedules during the break.

Housing Selection 2025-2026

Housing selection for the upcoming academic year is beginning in mid-March. Residential Life will continue communicating with students throughout the spring term about the process, so students should watch for announcements in their JWU email and on jwuLink.

Returning students who completed the 2025-2026 housing application by February 28 will receive a selection timeslot in early March, via email, for the first round of room selection that happens in mid-March. 

If you or your student have questions about the housing selection process or living on campus in general, please contact the Office of Residential Life at 401-598-1141 or by email. 

Housing Communities Available

Throughout campus and our residence halls, JWU offers unique housing community options for students to consider based on their interests. Talk them over with your Wildcat.

Themed Communities are generally open to all students regardless of academic college or achievement. For example, if your student enjoys being on an intramural team or might want a roommate who is into fitness as much as they are, the Health & Wellness Community might be a great fit. This community is based on one floor in Harbor View. Pet and animal-friendly rooms are also options available in most of our residence halls.

LLC stands for Living Learning Community. In LLC's, academic partners work with Residential Life to enhance the community, giving residents additional ways to engage with faculty and classroom peers. Returning LLC options next year include Business, located in Xavier Hall and open to College of Business majors, and CFIT which is located in Centennial House and open to College of Food Innovation & Technology majors. The Honors LLC is also returning to Snowden Hall and is open to all Honors students.

We're pleased to introduce a new Fraternity & Sorority Life LLC, which any rising sophomore, junior or senior who is an active member of a JWU recognized fraternity or sorority should consider. This LLC will be located in Imperial Hall.

If your student has questions, have them reach out to Residential Life. We are happy to assist.

Safety Tips from CS&S

As students prepare to leave campus or their off-campus apartment for Spring Break, Campus Safety & Security (CS&S) shares these important tips. Pass them on to your Wildcat, and remind them to conduct themselves in accordance with The Wildcat Way: Pride, Courage, Character and Community!

• Take your JWU ID, room/apartment key and mailbox keys with you.
• Take or secure all valuables.
• Unplug appliances.
• Remove all items from the floor, in case of facility issues.
• Make sure all doors and windows are closed and locked.
• Leave a copy of your travel itinerary with someone back home.
• If driving, make sure your vehicle is road ready (oil, tire pressure, wipers working, washer fluid, antifreeze, etc.)
• Don't announce on social media that you'll be away, especially if you live off campus.

Job & Internship Fair Coming Soon

Experiential Education & Career Services (EE&CS) is gearing up for the Food & Hospitality Industry Job and Internship Fair on Thursday, March 13, from 11 am-3 pm, in the Wildcat Center. Over 90 employers will be on campus to recruit students of all majors looking for full-time jobs and internships. They include Compass Group USA, Marriot International, Sodexo Live!, Foxwoods Resort Casino, and more. There will also be a LinkedIn headshot station and Career Closet available if students would like to take clothes to wear for the fair or any upcoming interviews.

Students are encouraged to stop into our office during the days leading up to the Career Fair to have their resumes reviewed by an EE&CS advisor and to get all of their questions about attending a career fair answered. It’s never too early to attend a career fair and learn about the important networking opportunities they offer, so all Wildcats are encouraged to attend!

Connecting and Destressing at the ASC

With the winter days short and long assignments on the horizon, the Academic Success Center (ASC) offers tools to get students connected and to manage their academic stresses.

Students can take advantage of several upcoming workshops focused on mindfulness and planning for success:

• Thursday, March 13, 12-12:30 pm, via Zoom: Serenity with Mindfulness of Breath
• Thursday, March 20, 1-2 pm, @ Downcity ASC (Yena Center, floor 1): Approaching the Finish Line with Confidence
• Wednesday, March 26, 2-4 pm, @ Downcity ASC (Yena Center, floor 1): Beading for Success

Scholarship Workshops

The ASC also offers several upcoming workshops to support students as they apply for external scholarships:

• Wednesday, March 12, 7-8 pm, via Zoom
• Monday, March 17, 4-5 pm @ Downcity ASC (Yena Center, floor 1)
• Tuesday, March 18, 11 am-12 pm @ Harborside Library (Friedman Center, floor 1)
• Monday, April 7, 2-3 pm, @ Harborside Library (Friedman Center, floor 1)
• Tuesday, April 8, 7-8 pm, via Zoom
• Wednesday, April 9, 4-5 pm, @ Downcity ASC (Yena Center, floor 1)

NOTE, for access to Zoom links, students should see the ASC page in jwuLink.

Success Coaches Available

Is the student in your life feeling behind or stuck in place? By working with a Success Coach, students can develop a plan to get back on track by effectively managing coursework, time commitments, and implementing new strategies. Success Coaches are available to meet with students during Spring Break, either in person or virtually, to help them come up with a plan to finish the semester strong. Information about booking an appointment can be found on jwuLink in the Academic Success Center group. 

Attention Class of 2025 Families!

Participating in Commencement is a much-anticipated moment for every JWU Wildcat and their proud families. JWU's Providence Campus will celebrate the Class of 2025 with the undergraduate Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 3, at Providence's Amica Mutual Pavilion. Find complete details on the Commencement website. Make sure your graduating Wildcat has these activities on their radar, too:

50 Days to Graduation Party

Why not get in the festive spirit with a party to mark 50 days until Commencement? Hosted in the beautiful Rhode Island Room at Harbor View, on Friday, March 14, from 7:30-11:30 pm, seniors will enjoy great food, a DJ and plenty of fun. Tickets are just $10 and can be purchased here.

Senior Portraits

On April 2 and 3, a professional photographer comes to campus for senior portraits. Upcoming graduates who wish to sit for a photo can make an appointment. There is a $10 sitting fee, and no obligation to purchase.



Find complete details and sign your student up for a portrait seating on the photographer's website. Note, JWU offers this optional service to graduating seniors. Students are not obligated to sit for a portrait.

Senior Send-off

On April 22, the Providence Campus will gather at Snowden and Gaebe Commons for Senior Send-off, featuring a traditional New England clambake! Seniors without a meal plan will enjoy free entry, and the first 100 seniors to arrive will receive a complimentary t-shirt designed by a member of the Class of 2025.

Senior Week

Tickets are still available for Senior Week. From April 29 - May 2, students can enjoy fun activities with their peers, to celebrate everything they've accomplished at JWU. Activities include an evening at Providence's new Level99, a Hibachi dinner night at Ichigo Ichie in East Providence, and a day in Boston capped off with a Boston Harbor boat cruise (includes a buffet and dancing).

Get your graduate a Senior Week ticket for just $80. They won't want to miss it!

Senior Toast

We are pleased to invite graduates and their families to join us for Senior Toast, on Friday, May 2, from 3-4:30 pm. Hosted in the Wildcat Center main gym, Senior Toast guests enjoy light refreshments and a champagne toast led by Marie Bernardo-Sousa, LP.D., ’92, President, Providence Campus. Mark your calendar now if you'll be on or near campus the day before Commencement, and watch for Senior Toast registration details.

Scholarship Available for Graduate Studies at JWU

If your student is considering grad school or looking for a way to stand out in today’s competitive business world, the College of Business MBA program is now accepting applications for Fall 2025 – no GMAT required. Our MBA program is a streamlined 36-credit curriculum designed for real-world success, with the flexibility to complete the degree in 15-24 months. While students are working towards their MBA, they’ll have access to a network of accomplished alumni and industry professionals, as well as personalized attention from experienced faculty committed to their growth in the small class sizes they are used to from undergrad. JWU grads who are admitted are automatically considered for a 25% tuition scholarship, through the JWU Wildcat Alumni Scholarship. For any questions, please reach out to our Faculty Director of the MBA Program, Timothy Howes (THowes@jwu.edu).

Interested in learning more about all graduate and doctoral-level programs available at JWU? Visit our website.

JWU ECO Activities

JWU ECO is working hard to plan its annual Sustainability & Wellness Resource Fair, which will be held on Wednesday, April 16, from 11:30 am-2pm on the Harborside Green Space, in front of the Wildcat Center. The rain location is the first floor of the Friedman Center. The fair gives JWU students, faculty and staff information on local resources that promote the best sustainable, environmental, and wellness practices, including physical, social, and mental health. 

JWU ECO also took a trip alongside Student Activists Supporting Sustainability to the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC) recently to see how the quasi-public agency helps reduce, reuse, recycle, compost, and properly dispose of waste. RIRRC runs Rhode Island's Central Landfill, which services the entire state. It also manages a materials recycling facility, and a leaf & yard composting operation. Trip participants, who are pictured, learned how various types of waste can be properly recycled, so that we can all help reduce what goes into the landfill.

Students can catch RIRRC at the upcoming Sustainability & Wellness Resource Fair!

Student Academic Services News

Spring Break is just around the corner! It runs from February 28 through March 9. Student Academic Services will be available for students during break, both in person and virtually through drop-ins during our normal business hours.

Fall registration will open for students with 91 or more earned credits on April 8, then to all remaining students on April 10. In anticipation of registration, we are hosting Registration 101 sessions for students. They will see location and details posted on our SAS page in jwuLink once available.

How can you support your student over Spring Break?

Let them reconnect with friends and family they haven’t seen – this may be a great way for them to recharge before returning to take on the second half of the semester. If they are concerned about courses or graduation planning, encourage them to drop in to the Academic Advising virtual kiosk (or come see us in person!)

Final Deadline Announced

The 2025 Student Research, Design & Innovation Symposium is giving students one last chance to register. This is a marquee campus event where the research, scholarship, and creative works of JWU students are celebrated with the entire university community and the public.

The symposium happens on Tuesday, Apr. 22, from 12-2 pm, in the John J. Bowen Center for Science & Innovation. Students who wish to be featured and included in the symposium must submit project descriptions of research, scholarship, or other creative works by March 1. They can find more info on jwuLink.

Check out some great highlights from last year's symposium and encourage your Wildcat to participate. It is a wonderful opportunity.