Washington and Lee UniversityStudent Guide

Academic dates, campus language, housing, and student-life references for Washington and Lee University. Core organization is free for students.

Private Non-Profit Liberal Arts College in Lexington, VA. Operating on a semester system.

Looking for dorms? Scroll for the dorm and housing breakdown below.

Lexington, VA
2K+ students
@wlu.edu
12 syllabi analyzed
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2K+

Total Enrollment

Liberal Arts College

Institution Type

15

Housing Buildings

Student guide · Fall Term 2026

The semester, explained for Washington and Lee University

Dates from the active academic calendar, plus the campus language and local details students actually need. Every entry comes from DormWay's approved campus reference library.

Relevant term
Fall Term 2026
Campus terms
16
Local details
15

Academic calendar

Fall Term 2026 runs Sep 3, 2026 – Dec 11, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.

6 entries
  1. Fall Term 2026Relevant now
  2. Winter Term 2027
  3. Spring Term 2027
  4. Fall Term 2027
  5. Winter Term 2028
  6. Spring Term 2028

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Campus language

Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.

16 terms

D

D-Hall
Evans Dining Hall, the main campus dining facility.

E

EC
Executive Committee of the Student Body, the primary student government organization.

F

Fancy Dress
A major annual formal gala and themed ball that is a highlight of the social calendar.
Fieldside
Fieldside Restaurant, a dining location offering made-to-order items near the upperclassman housing.

G

Gaines
Gaines Hall, a prominent first-year residence hall.
GL
Graham-Lees Hall, the primary residence hall for first-year students.

H

Hillel
The dining facility located within the E. Robert Heller Hillel House, known for its specific menu options.

S

SAB
Student Activities Board, the group that organizes campus-wide events and concerts.
SJC
Student Judicial Council, the body responsible for handling non-Honor System student misconduct.
Speaking Tradition
The long-standing custom of greeting everyone you pass on campus with a 'hello' or nod.

T

The Coop
Cafe 77, a casual dining spot located in Elrod Commons known for late-night options.
The Honor System
The student-run system based on the principle that students will not lie, cheat, or steal.
The Phi
The Ring-tum Phi, the university's student-run newspaper.
The Village
The Village, a complex of townhouses and apartments for upperclassmen.

W

WLUR
The student-run radio station (91.5 FM) broadcasting from the Elrod Commons.
Woods
Woods Creek Apartments, upperclassman housing located near the athletic fields.

Places and practicalities

Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.

15 details
C-School
The Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics.
caf_77
Café 77
fireside
Fireside
foodside
Foodside
General's Cash
A debit-like account linked to the student ID card used for laundry, vending, and local merchants.
Leyburn
Leyburn Library, the main university library.
LiveSafe
The mobile safety app used by the campus community to report tips and access emergency services.
sorority_dining
Sorority Dining
Stackhouse
Stackhouse Theater, located inside Elrod Commons.
The Colonnade
The historic row of central campus buildings, including Washington Hall and Lee Chapel.
The Commons
Elrod Commons, the central hub for student life, dining, and organizations.
The White Book
The official student handbook containing the constitution of the student body and Honor System rules.
the_brief_stop
The Brief Stop
the_marketplace
The Marketplace
Traveler
A student-run safe ride service providing transportation for students on weekend nights.

Quick answers

Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.

What academic term is relevant now?
Fall Term 2026 runs Sep 3, 2026 – Dec 11, 2026.
How much campus context is included?
16 approved campus terms and 15 local details are included in full.
Are all approved campus terms included?
Yes. The complete approved glossary is available in the scrollable, searchable campus-language section.
Where does this guide come from?
Calendar dates, campus terms, and local details come from DormWay's approved campus reference library.

Get to know your university

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Find a few communities to try at Washington and Lee University

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Interest filters
  • Major-aligned clubs, pre-professional groups, and research communities.
  • Performing arts, visual arts, student publications, film, and music.
  • Cultural orgs, identity communities, and faith-based groups.
  • Volunteer groups, civic engagement, mutual aid, and student government.
  • Outdoor clubs, intramural sports, club sports, and rec center programs.
  • Entrepreneurship, hackathon teams, makerspaces, and engineering project teams.
  • Casual hangouts, interest groups, and open events without applications.

DormWay is still mapping student communities at this campus.

We only show recommendations once we have enough public sources for Washington and Lee University.

These are things we discovered. We are constantly looking for more.

Tell us what we missed

Recommendations are based on public campus sources. We do not endorse student organizations.

Recent Washington and Lee University Syllabus Analyses

Browse syllabus breakdowns from Washington and Lee University courses

1001

Poverty & Human Capability

Fall 2026

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AFCA 1300-01

Introduction to Africana Studies

Fall

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AFCA 2905/REL 2905

The Black Church in America

Fall 2026

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ARAB 1101

Introductory Arabic I

Fall 2026

View Full Analysis

Biology 1111

Addiction & Drugs of Abuse

Recent semester

View Full Analysis

BIOLOGY 1112

BIOLOGY LABORATORY

Fall 2026-2027

View Full Analysis
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Washington and Lee University on DormWay

Current DormWay activity for this campus

4

Active Students

12

Syllabi Analyzed

12

Courses on DormWay

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Popular Courses

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BIOL 1111Biology LaboratoryENGL 2904General Success: Living and Learning at W&LIntroduction to Africana StudiesIntroduction to Computer ScienceIntroductory Arabic IPoverty & Human Capability

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Life in Lexington for Washington and Lee University Students

Everything you need to know about living and studying in Lexington.

Timezone

Eastern Time (ET)

Median Rent

$1,080

Cost of Living Index

95

Student Population

4,100

City Transportation

Walkability

75

Bikeability

45

Public Transit

Maury Express local bus

Nearest Airports

Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport, Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport

Climate Averages

Climate

Humid subtropical

Avg Annual Temp

54°F

Avg Snowfall

18 in

Campus Operations Snapshot

Parking and Transit

Parking Garage

garage • First-come, first-served

Located across Nelson Street from Lenfest Center; serves Commuter, Sorority, and Woods Creek permits.

Liberty Hall Lot

surface_lot • Permit holders only

Designated for First Year, Upper Division, and RA permits.

University Chapel Lot

surface_lot • Visitor exclusive

Strictly for visitors; students/faculty are never considered visitors.

Campus News

Latest updates from Washington and Lee University

Men's Basketball falls in season opener against Maryville (Tenn.)

The Washington and Lee men's basketball team tipped off the 2026-27 season but fell 72-53 against Maryville.

Nov 8, 2026

Read More

Generals Win ODAC Field Hockey Championship

Washington and Lee field hockey defeated Lynchburg 2-0 to secure the ODAC conference title.

Nov 8, 2026

Read More

Campus Kitchen Looks Back on 20 Years of Growth

The university celebrates the 20th anniversary of its Campus Kitchen program and its impact on the local community.

Nov 4, 2026

Read More

Shelter in place lifted; law enforcement determined report of shots fired at VMI was unfounded. No ongoing threat.

Shelter in place lifted; law enforcement determined report of shots fired at VMI was unfounded. No ongoing threat.

Read More

Upcoming Events

What's happening at Washington and Lee University

Campus Kitchen Turkeypalooza

November 8, 2026

Washington and Lee Campus

An annual seasonal programming kickoff where the community is encouraged to donate and participate.

Social Impact Careers Summit and Inaugural Shepherd Affinity Weekend

November 8, 2026

Harte Center

A summit offering students the opportunity to network with alumni and explore careers in social impact, marking 30 years of the Shepherd Program.

Author Talk: Pooja Thakur-Wernz

November 9, 2026

Anne and Edgar Basse Jr. Author Talk Series

A lecture discussing the impact of geopolitical rivalries on emerging markets.

Beyond the Page: Nadia Ayoub

November 10, 2026

Washington and Lee Campus

Professor Nadia Ayoub discusses circadian light sensitivity in spiders.

Screening: West End's 'Les Liaisons Dangereuses'

November 10, 2026

Lenfest Center for the Arts

A screening of the classic 1782 novel brought to the stage, starring Lesley Manville and Aidan Turner.

Student Production: 'Almost, Maine'

November 11, 2026

Johnson Theatre, Lenfest Center

A student-produced play running through November 14.

University Orchestra: 'Strange Bedfellows'

November 12, 2026

Wilson Concert Hall

A musical performance by the W&L University Orchestra.

Simple Gifts Folk Trio

November 14, 2026

Wilson Concert Hall

A performance showcasing a repertoire of folk music from around the world.

Dorms & On-Campus Housing at Washington and Lee University

Various dorm and housing options are available for students.

15 known dorm and housing options. Every known option is shown below.

Chavis House

Davis Hall

Downtown halls

Fraternity and sorority houses

Gaines Hall

Capacity: 265

Room types: single, double, triple

Gilliam Hall

Graham-Lees Hall

Capacity: 234

Room types: single, double, triple

International House

Outing Club House

Theme houses

The Village

Room types: single, double

The Village apartments and townhouses

Village Apartments

Village Townhouses

Woods Creek Apartments

Room types: single, double

Campus Details

Academic System

Semester

Control

Private Non-Profit

Email Domain

@wlu.edu

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