Campus Advisories site logo

Campus Advisories

 

Election Day Safety

The university has been collaborating closely with District, state and federal partners to prepare for Election Day.

There is no information currently that suggests a specific threat to GW or other area campuses or institutions. However, as with any significant national election, we encourage all members of our community to be prepared for demonstrations and the potential for confrontations that can result among protesters, counter-protesters, and law enforcement. Protecting safety and law and order will be the foremost priority in the District on Election Day.

The university will continue to monitor updates and communicate timely safety information on Campus Advisories and through GW Alerts via email and text message. All students, faculty, and staff receive GW Alerts by email; however, you must opt in to receive GW Alerts by text.

Sign Up for GW Alert Texts

The university shared information about Election Day on Oct. 29 via email with all students, faculty and staff. More information on university operations, safety resources, and FAQs follows below.

Operating Hours, Building Access and Campus Services

University Student Center 

University Student Center

  • Nov. 5: Open by tap access only 7 a.m. - midnight.

Admissions & Alumni Welcome Center 

  • Nov. 5: Closed. No tours offered. 

Student Health Center

  • Nov. 5: Closed. Students in need of health services can utilize TimelyCare, including the TalkNow feature, or call 202-994-5300 24/7 to be directed to an on-call counseling or medical provider.

Multicultural Student Services Center

  • Nov. 5: Open 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.

All other offices in the USC are closed Nov. 5, including: 

  • 5th floor: Center for Career Services, Office for Student Success
  • 3rd floor: USC Event Reservations Office
  • 2nd floor: Division for Student Affairs Central Office, Orientation, Class Year and Families Programs Office
  • Ground floor: GWorld Office, Military and Veteran Services, Student Services Hub, Student Support Center
  • Lower level: Center for Interfaith and Spiritual Life 
Libraries

Gelman Library

  • Nov. 4: Open until midnight.
  • Nov. 5: Open 8:30 a.m. - midnight, study spaces only. Circulation desk and other services unavailable.
  • Nov. 6: Open at 7 a.m. and resuming 24/7 full access and services.

Eckles Library

  • Nov 5: Closed.

Burns Library

  • Nov. 5: Closed.

Himmelfarb Library

  • Nov. 5: 7:30 a.m. - midnight.
Athletics and Campus Recreation

Charles E. Smith Center

  • Nov. 5: Closed to the public.

Lerner Health and Wellness Center

  • Nov. 5: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
    • Pool closed.
    • No club sport teams will be practicing or traveling.

West Hall Fitness Center

  • Nov. 5: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
GW Dining

On-Campus Dining

Off-Campus Dining Partners

  • Visit one of GW Dining’s Off-Campus Dining Partners who accept Dining Dollars. Hours and Grubhub availability may vary.
Other Campus Services

Campus Store

  • Nov. 5: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.

GW Police Department

  • Nov. 5: GW Police will continue to patrol campus 24/7. For help in an emergency call 911 or GW Police at 202-994-6111.

EMeRG

  • Nov. 5: EMeRG will remain available to provide emergency medical services 24/7 in collaboration with D.C. Fire and EMS. For help in an emergency call 911 or GW Emergency Services at 202-994-6111.

Facilities Central and FixIt

  • Nov. 5: Facilities Central/Key Depot and FixIt will continue to be available 24/7.

​​GW IT

  • Nov. 5: GW IT phone support and self-help knowledge base will continue to be available 24/7.
  • Nov. 5: Walk-in support centers and dispatched IT Support is closed. 
  • Any standard support tickets submitted after 5 p.m. on Nov. 4 through 9 a.m. on Nov. 6 will be triaged on Nov. 6. Urgent issues will be addressed by on-call support staff.

Mail & Package Services

  • Foggy Bottom: Nov. 5: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Mount Vernon: Nov. 5: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Mount Vernon Late Night Lyft

  • Nov. 5: Service will run normally.

Parking

  • Nov. 5: Parking garage access on Foggy Bottom will be limited to GW affiliates. A GWorld ID will be required to access all garages on campus (monthly or debit parking). The Science and Engineering Hall and MFA garages will be staffed to allow patients and their guests access to parking.

Residence Halls

  • All on-campus housing on Foggy Bottom and Mount Vernon campuses, including residence halls, fraternity and sorority townhouses and specialty townhouses will remain open with tap access for residential students.
  • Students who need assistance should call the CLRE Administrator On-Call Phone then choose the option that best fits the neighborhood location with the urgent issue or emergency.
  • Campus Living and Residential Education’s Main Office in Amsterdam Hall is closed on Nov. 5.

Safe Ride

  • Nov. 5: No service.

Shuttles

  • Vern Express
    • Nov. 5: Operating on a weekend schedule. There will be no Late Night Shuttle Van service (midnight to 7 a.m.).
    • Nov. 4 and 6: Regular weekday schedule.
  • VSTC Express
    • Nov. 5: No shuttle service.
    • Nov. 4 and 6: Regular schedule.
Mount Vernon Campus

Webb Building

  • Nov. 5: Administrative offices closed.
Virginia Science and Technology Campus

Discovery Hall, Exploration Hall, Enterprise Hall and Innovation Hall

  • Nov. 5: All academic and administrative offices closed. The only building accessible via standard GWorld tap access is Enterprise Hall, which is open 24/7.
  • Exploration Hall is a Loudoun County polling site and will be open to local voters 6 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Safety Resources

General Safety Tips

  • Be aware of the behavior of those around you and report suspicious or threatening behavior immediately to GWPD at 202-994-6111 or the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department through 911.
  • Do not engage with individuals seeking a confrontation.
  • If there is a disturbance, seek shelter indoors until normal conditions return.
  • Observe directions from law enforcement personnel.
  • Make sure doors close and lock behind you as you arrive and depart.
  • Do not allow strangers into GW buildings.
  • Carry identification and your GWorld card at all times.

Demonstration Safety Tips

If large crowds start to gather and you choose to exercise your First Amendment rights, we urge you to follow these tips:

  • Be aware of the behavior of those around you and report suspicious behavior.
  • Monitor traffic reports, weather reports and emergency notifications.
  • Share your plan with someone outside your group.
  • Stay with your group. Have a predetermined plan on where to meet if you get separated.
  • Have a secondary communication plan in case cell phone signals are limited.

Free Expression at GW

Visit GW’s Free Expression website for related GW policies, procedures, examples of likely permitted and prohibited expressive activities and FAQs.

Additional Safety and Security Resources

For more safety and security resources, visit the Safety website or download the GW Guardian app. Additional emergency management information from the District of Columbia is also available online.

Emergency Alerts

GW’s Office of Emergency Management will send email and/or text alerts to the entire GW community if necessary. The latest safety and security information will be posted on Campus Advisories.

All GW community members are automatically signed up to receive GW emergency email alerts. You can manage your GW Alert account to also receive GW text alerts on your mobile device. In addition to adding your mobile number, you can add up to three email addresses and phone numbers so that friends or family may also receive GW emergency alerts. Visit GW Alert FAQs for instructions on how to manage your account. In addition, the GW Guardian App will push GW emergency alerts directly to the app, as well as other safety information.

Sign Up for GW Alert Texts

Election Day 2024 Frequently Asked Questions

What should the community expect on Election Day, and what is the university doing to prepare for it?

Election Day in a presidential election year is an important moment in history—for the country, the District, and our campus community. Given its significance, we expect to see increased activity in and around the District. In previous years for these and similar events, we have seen road closures or limited pedestrian access in various areas. We also see increased demonstration activity and the possibility of conflict between people with different perspectives, or between demonstrators and the police.

To support our preparedness, the university plans to stand up its Emergency Operations Center on Election Day. The center coordinates among our university stakeholders, monitors events around campus and across the area, and recommends changes to university operations when needed to keep all members of our community safe. To enhance security proactively on campus, we also plan to ensure full staffing of our GW Police Department and additional security personnel, and we will lock buildings to restrict access to only GW community members. Finally, given the complexity of Election Day and all the partners involved, the university continues to stay in close coordination with our local, state, and federal partners.

Is the university concerned about a specific threat to GW in connection with Election Day?

We do not have any reason at this time to believe there are any threats targeting GW or other District institutions in connection to Election Day.

How does GW coordinate with partners and what teams at GW are involved in this?

At GW, we are really fortunate to have strong relationships with our colleagues in District and federal departments and agencies. Our dedicated teams in the Office of Emergency Management and GW Police Department are in constant communication with their counterparts to receive updates and, whenever relevant, we share those updates with our community.

How can students, faculty, staff and others ensure they are informed of these updates?

The No. 1 way to receive important information from the university related to campus safety, changes in operations, or other impacts is to monitor Campus Advisories and GW Alerts. If you have not already, we strongly recommend everyone sign up to receive GW Alerts by text. Anyone in the community can also add numbers for loved ones who may also want to receive GW Alerts. It is the best and fastest way to get information that may impact your safety on campus.

What is the university’s current operating plan for Election Day?

As the university shared previously, Election Day is a university holiday. This means that synchronous classes will not be held, and offices will be closed as a paid day off. Additional information about building hours or other operating adjustments will be posted as it is available.

What should students or others know if they plan to participate in a demonstration?

Demonstration activity is common around important events in history, and Election Day in the District may draw crowds of individuals who want to express their First Amendment rights. We encourage anyone who plans to participate in a demonstration to review our personal safety and preparedness resources.

In part, we recommend that you report suspicious behavior, share your plan with others, stay with a group, have a meeting point if you are separated, and always follow the instructions of on-site law enforcement. Also, always carry your GWorld card and another form of identification. And anytime you feel unsafe, you should trust your instinct and leave the area.

Is there anything community members can do now to prepare for Election Day?

Over the next few days, we hope everyone in our community will continue to monitor email for updates and continue to stay informed with the latest information about campus operations and the environment in the District. Review our safety information. And make sure you are signed up for GW Alert texts!