The Office of the Dean of Student Achievement and Success helps students solve problems that interfere with their academic progress. We also help connect students with enrichment opportunities like funding for internships and experiential learning. Working collaboratively with Academic Advising, the Registrar, Student Affairs, the Writing and Quantitative Skills Centers, and other departments at the college, the Dean oversees programs, support, and interventions that help students learn and grow. 

• Academic Advising
• OAS
• Disability Services
• Quantitative Skills Center
• Writing Center

A number of fellowships are awarded for summer research, internships, and other specialized educational opportunities. The College’s three Signature Centers—CES, the Lit House, and the Starr Center offer dedicated fellowships in special areas, such as Quill & Compass for Writers, Environment & Society Fellows, Ornithology Fellows, and more.

The Roy Ans Fellowship in Jewish-American Studies

The Roy Ans Fellowship in Jewish-American Studies is under the purview of the Institute for Religion, Politics, and Culture in conjunction with Washington College Hillel.  We jointly solicit and review applications each fall.  Presentations of the work occur each spring in the Hillel House, in accordance with the directives of the donation.

Margaret Bennett Fellowships in International Studies

Margaret Bennett Fellowships in International Studies support experiential learning abroad for international studies majors and others pursuing concentrations in international studies. The fellowships provide small grants to partially offset the cost of short-term and semester-long study abroad, internships abroad, and student participation in Model U.N. programs and international conferences on world affairs. It is administered by the Director of the International Studies Program.

The Gerda Blumenthal Phi Beta Kappa Award 

The Gerda Blumenthal Phi Beta Kappa Award is awarded annually to a rising sophomore or junior to support special scholarly work in the humanities, such as collaborative faculty-student research or study abroad. The award is overseen by the Phi Beta Kappa chapter at Washington College.

The Libby & Douglass Cater Society of Junior Fellows 

The Libby & Douglass Cater Society of Junior Fellows, established in 1990, provides special grant-funded opportunities for outstanding student leaders. The purpose of the Society is to foster intellectual exchange beyond the classroom and to encourage creative projects beyond particular course requirements. The Society funds independent projects designed by its membership and meets regularly throughout the year to engage in intellectual exchange around student research and creative endeavors. Students become eligible for membership at the end of their sophomore year. Applications to the Society are made in February each year. The Libby & Douglass Cater Society of Junior Fellows is directed by Dr. Sara Clarke De Reza, Associate Professor of Education.

The Explore America Summer Internship Program

The Explore America Summer Internship Program provides Washington College students with unique opportunities to integrate their academic work with real-world practice, resulting in experiences that often alter their life paths. Internship placements include some of the nation’s leading historical and cultural institutions. Participating institutions have included the Smithsonian, the National Archives, the Library of Congress, the U.S. House of Representatives (Office of the Historian), the National Constitution Center, the National Park Service, George Washington’s Mount Vernon, and others. Most positions are open to students of all class years, including graduating seniors, although preference is given to sophomores and above. The program is administered by the Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience.

The Friends of Miller Library Research Fellowship 

The Friends of Miller Library Research Fellowship is awarded to a rising sophomore or junior in high academic standing to support research in their chosen discipline that requires extensive use of the resources of Miller Library. The fellowship is administered by the Board of Friends of Miller Library. The student will be mentored in research competency by a faculty member and a librarian.

The Goldstein Program in Public Affairs 

The Louis L. Goldstein Program in Public Affairs was established in 1990 to encourage students to enter public service by introducing them to exemplary leaders both in and out of government. The Goldstein Program sponsors lectures, symposia, visiting fellows, student participation in models and conferences, and other projects that bring students and faculty together with leaders experienced in developing public policy. Recent speakers have included Kweisi Mfume, President and CEO of the NAACP; Jeff Birnbaum, Washington Bureau Chief for Fortune magazine; Anita Perez Ferguson, former president of the National Women’s Political Caucus; Ruben Zamora, El Salvador’s Ambassador to the United States, and Dr. Robert Jones, CEO of the Public Religion Research Institute. The Goldstein Program is directed by Christine Wade, Professor of Political Science, and International Studies.

The Richard L. Harwood Fellowship in Journalism

The Richard L. Harwood Fellowship in Journalism is awarded annually to the editor-elect of the Washington College student newspaper, The Elm, and other editors-elect as funds permit. The fellowship helps to underwrite summer internships at newspapers selected by the student editors and approved by the faculty advisor to The Elm. The fellowship is administered by the Rose O’Neill Literary House.

The Clarence Hodson Prize 

The Clarence Hodson Prize It is the aim of The Clarence Hodson Prize to reward creativity, initiative, and intellectual curiosity with a competitive grant to support an internship, undergraduate research project, or other form of study anywhere in the world. Requiring an overall grade point average of 3.0 or better and a grade point average in the major of 3.5 (the equivalent of Dean’s List), the Prize is offered to a sophomore, junior, or senior majoring in the fine or performing arts, with a preference to a student majoring in music, who has achieved distinction among Washington College’s top scholars.

John S. Toll Science and Mathematics Program Fellowships 

John S. Toll Science and Mathematics Program Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis during the academic year and summer. The Fellowships provide stipends and research supply funds for student-faculty collaborative work in the natural sciences, mathematics, and computer science. Fellows present their research during a seminar series (summer fellows) and during a fall poster presentation (academic year and summer fellows). Some Fellows also present their work at national and regional meetings of scientific societies and organizations. The Program is administered by the faculty of the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

The William B. Johnson Business Internship Awards 

The William B. Johnson Business Internship Awards fund summer internships for students interested in pursuing careers in business. The award is open to all majors, but recipients should possess the three values that motivated William Johnson to achieve great success in business and industry: scholarship, service, and character. Selection is made by the Chair of the Department of Business Management.

The Sophie Kerr Fund

The Sophie Kerr Fund offers to incoming freshmen merit awards that may be renewed for four consecutive years. The program is administered by the English faculty.

The Guy F. Goodfellow Fellowship in History

The Guy F. Goodfellow Fellowship in History, awarded annually, provides up to $1,000 toward the costs of research and/or experiential learning opportunities such as defraying the costs of travel, purchase of research materials and photocopies, microfilm for a History major working on her/his senior thesis. The award may also be used to supplement income for an otherwise unpaid internship at a historical national park, library, museum, or other appropriate venue. Endowed by the Goodfellow family in memory of Dr. Guy F. Goodfellow, former Professor of History at Washington College, the Fellowship Program complements the ongoing Guy Goodfellow lecture series through which the History Department of Washington College brings nationally-renowned scholars in American history to campus. The Guy F. Goodfellow Fellows may pursue projects in the full range of historical studies, however, and are not limited to American History topics. For more information, please contact the chair of the History Department.

The Conrad M. Wingate ’23 Memorial Fellowship

The Conrad M. Wingate ’23 Memorial Fellowship, awarded annually, provides up to $2,500 toward the costs of research and/or experiential learning opportunities such as defraying the costs of travel, purchase of research materials and photocopies, microfilm for a History major working on her/his senior thesis. The award may also be used to supplement the income for an otherwise unpaid internship at a historical national park, library, museum, or other appropriate venue. Endowed by Washington College Visitor Emeritus Phillip J. Wingate ’33 in memory of his late brother Conrad Meade Wingate ’23, the Wingate Fellowship complements the ongoing Conrad M. Wingate ’23 lecture series through which the History Department of Washington College continues to bring nationally-renowned scholars in history to campus. For more information, please contact the History department chair, Dr. Janet Sorrentino, jsorrentino2@washcoll.edu

The Louise and Rodney Layton Fund 

The Louise and Rodney Layton Fund supports summer research or travel for upperclassmen who are science majors. It is administered by the faculty of the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

The Mary Martin Student Fellowships

The Mary Martin Student Fellowships provide the opportunity for students majoring or minoring in theatre to pursue independent learning experiences. Students may apply for a grant to support, for instance, summer internships or research. Upon completion of their project, students will be asked to share their learning with peers.

The Office of Academic Skills, located on the second floor of Miller Library, is available to all students who wish to acquire learning strategies and receive support as they progress through the Washington College academic program. Through individualized guidance, the OAS Director and Peer Tutors partner with students as they learn and practice the skills needed to become active and independent learners in a collegiate environment. Examples of these skills include discipline-specific study strategies, strategies for time management, test-taking, and managing test anxiety, and reading skills for comprehension and retention. Additionally, Peer Tutors are available to provide assistances in a variety of subjects including natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities based content.

Disability Access

Disability Services, a part of the Office of Academic Skills, provides information, support, and accessibility accommodations for individuals with disabilities on campus. Our mission is to ensure that all students, employees, and visitors have equal access to programs and services available at Washington College.