Fall 2023



• December 8: Last day of classes
• December 11 - 13: Reading period
• December 14 - 20: Final exams

Dialogue across Difference (DxD) is committed to fostering communication and collaboration across sociocultural differences in the WashU community. DxD has recently launched dialogue spaces for students around the war in Israel and Gaza/Palestine. If you are interested, you can sign up. Please direct any questions to dxd@wustl.edu.

Be sure to follow the instructions below from Residential Life based on your winter break plans. Additional details can be found on the Academic Break Housing Information webpage. All forms referenced below are available via the WashU Housing Portal on WebSTAC.

Staying for the entire winter break:

You must complete the Winter Housing/Late Stay Form to maintain access to residential facilities. You will check the box to stay for the entire break once you are inside the form.

Leaving for the entire winter break but returning in the spring semester:

Complete the Fall Checkout Form to checkout of your fall space only. You may leave your belongings in your room.

Staying for a portion and leaving for the remainder of winter break but returning in the spring semester:

Complete the Winter Housing/Late Stay Form, the Fall Checkout Form, and the Winter Checklist before leaving campus. You will select a specific departure date once you are inside the form.

Leaving the university permanently or not returning to ResLife Housing in the spring semester:

Complete the Fall Checkout Form. Detailed instructions for moving out can be found on the Residential Life website. You will need to remove your belongings from your room.

Winter Break Dining Hours

Dining hours will be altered during winter break. Check out the Dining Services website for the most up-to-date information.

University Libraries Winter Closure

Most locations of Washington University Libraries will be inaccessible from Friday, December 22 through Monday, January 1. Learn more and review remote resources at the University Library website.

NEXT: December 1 & 2 at 7:30 PM CST and December 3 at 2 PM CST

WUDT’s NEXT, this year’s installment of the Performing Arts Department’s annual fall dance concert poses the question to its artists, “what’s next?”-- in dance, in art, in society and culture. This annual concert dance showcase features diverse and creative choreography by resident and guest artists, performed by select student dancers of the Performing Arts Department. Tickets can be purchased online.

Dr. G's Recess at the Rec: December 5

The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs will be co-hosting “Recess at the Rec,” with the Office of Recreation. There will be food trucks, ice skating, snow globe photo opportunities, and more! Stay tuned for details.



First-Year Passport Program

The First-Year Passport program encourages you to experience exciting events and programs from our campus partners. First-year students who complete at least two experiences in each of the following three categories are eligible to receive a free WashU sweatshirt:

• First-Year In the Lou Programs
• First-Year Student Nights at Athletics
• First-Year Student Nights at the Arts

Find specific event dates and sign-up information on the first-year experience website. Here is an upcoming on-campus event in December:

• First-Year Nights at the Arts: Kemper-Kickback: December 13 at 5:00 PM CST

Put down your books, gather your friends, and join us for some creative self-care. Grab some free hot cocoa, experience guided meditations, enjoy music, view the exhibition Adam Pendleton: To Divide By, and play art bingo to win prizes! Designed to encourage rest during finals, the Museum will become a space to think about how engaging with art can build connections within ourselves and with each other.

First-Year In the Lou: Garden Glow: December 2 at 7:30 PM CST

Join your peers in celebrating the upcoming winter season with more than one million dazzling lights and fun new experiences at the Missouri Botanical Gardens!

Student Transitions & Family Programs will be taking first-year students to Garden Glow on Saturday, December 2. Buses will leave from the Alumni House Parking Lot at 7:30 PM CST and will return to campus no later than 10:30 PM CST. Sign up now to reserve your spot.

Vaccines

The flu vaccine and the updated COVID vaccine are available at Habif Health and Wellness Center. You are highly encouraged to be vaccinated with both. Clinics were held in October and November. Both vaccines are still available by individual appointment; you are encouraged to make an appointment through the student portal.

Center for Counseling and Psychological Services

The Center for Counseling and Psychological Services offers increased access to support during the exam period, including Rapid Access Zoom Counseling through December 20. If you have trouble with scheduling, experience an emergency, or have questions, as always please call 314-935-6695 for assistance.

If you are a full time student who is 18 years and older, you may also access 24/7 virtual telehealth services through Talk Now, a feature of Timely Care.

Looking to take care of yourself and your friends and get free self-care supplies? Habif Health and Wellness Center's Mental Health Peer Health Educators will host a Self-Care Symposium on Thursday, December 7 at 7:00 PM CST in Seigle 303 to help you handle end-of-semester stressors with an evening of painting, crocheting, food, and more.

Interested in helping welcome the Class of 2028, transfer, or exchange students to WashU next August? Consider applying to be a WUSA! WUSA applications will open on January 16, 2024. 

Student Transitions & Family Programs will be hosting a live virtual Information Session to introduce the WUSA role, explain the application and interview process, and answer questions. There will also be three in-person Information Sessions. It is highly recommended that those interested in applying for the WUSA role attend one of the four Information Sessions:

• Virtual: Monday, January 22, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST
• Register here!
• DUC 276: Tuesday, February 6, Noon – 1:00 PM CST
• Mudd House, Multipurpose Room: Wednesday, February 7, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST
• Lopata House, Multipurpose Room: Thursday, February 8, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST

The Gephardt Institute for Community and Civic Engagement is now accepting applications for the Civic Scholars and St. Louis Fellows programs. These civic leadership programs provide powerful experiences that support experiential education, civic leadership development, internship opportunities, and help students explore how to align civic and community engagement with their own passions and skills. If you are interested in deepening your understanding of and experience with nonprofit work, public policy, grassroots organizing, public health, the arts, and more, all through the lens of civic and community engagement, you are encouraged to apply by January 19 at 9:00 PM CST. Learn more about these opportunities at the Gephardt Institute website.

The WashU Center for Career Engagement has scheduled its major career fairs for the spring 2024 semester.

The Spring 2024 All Campus Internship & Job Fair will be on Tuesday, February 6 from 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM CST in the WashU Athletic Complex. This event will host local and national organizations that are recruiting from various industries and for various job functions. This fair is open to all WashU undergraduate students.

You can also attend the Spring 2024 Architecture, Urban Design and Landscape Architecture Career Fair on Friday, February 23 from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM CST in Weil Hall and the Spring 2024 Startup Virtual Internship & Job Career Fair on Tuesday, February 27 from 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM CST virtually on Handshake.

Check out the Center for Career Engagement website for more information and resources to prepare for the fairs!

Driving home for winter break? On Saturday, December 9 from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM CST in Shepley Garage, Washington University Police Department will be hosting free winter car inspections. They can check your tires and tire pressure, windshield fluid, oil levels, and battery. This free check is available for WashU students, faculty and staff.

Explore St. Louis and build your itinerary!



Neighborhood Spotlight: South Grand

South Grand Boulevard is renowned for its unmatched variety of dining options in St. Louis. Within a mere six blocks, your palate can embark on a global food tour, from Mediterranean delights and African specialties to classic American dishes.

Before or after you dig into the dining scene, be sure to explore the unique boutiques, featuring a trendy selection of locally made and ethically sourced products. There are different shops offering artisan chocolate, handmade jewelry, leather wallets, colorful crystals, and more throughout the welcoming spaces. Apotheosis Comics & Lounge also offers a wide selection of comic books, trade paperbacks and graphic novels.

Local Events:

Merry Makers Market: December 1 from 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM CST & December 2 from 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM CST

The Foundry Art Centre's Merry Maker's Market is a two-day event showcasing regional makers, designers, and artists selling handmade items. This is the perfect event to celebrate the Holidays, get your Christmas shopping done, and support local small businesses.

Winter Wonderland: Recurring throughout December from 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM CST

Whether you’re starting a new holiday tradition or continuing a favorite one, the annual Winter Wonderland in Tilles Park is worth a stop. More than a million gleaming bulbs bring displays of festive characters and winter scenes to life, and overhead, a canopy of lights glistens throughout the 75-acre park in St. Louis County. If you're looking for seasonal activities, the annual Winter Wonderland at Tilles Park is a notable event in St. Louis County. Drive-through tickets can be purchased onsite with cash or check.

St. Charles Christmas Traditions: Recurring throughout December

St. Charles Christmas Traditions welcomes you into a world of holiday fun to explore holiday traditions from around the world. Savor warm chestnuts roasted over an open fire, witness the pageantry of global Santa figures dressed in the cultural attire of their home countries and listen to timeless melodies sung by Victorian carolers. This event is free and available at various times on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Candlestick Telephone Exhibit: Recurring throughout December from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM CST on Wednesdays - Sundays

Housed in a restored 1896 building, the history museum is going to feature an extensive collection of telephones manufactured from the late 1800s through the 2010s, memorabilia from 1880s through the 2000s and military telephones from WWI through the Gulf War. The museum is located in the historic Jefferson Barracks Park and has many hands-on, how-things-work exhibits which were created to inspire an interest in engineering and history. Ticket prices range from $3 to $5.