Washington and Lee UniversityStudent Guide

Academic dates, campus language, housing, and student-life references for Washington and Lee University. 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
7 syllabi analyzed
Read the student guideTrack deadlines

Free for all Washington and Lee University students. No credit card required.

Download the app

2K+

Total Enrollment

Liberal Arts College

Institution Type

12

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

Add dates to DormWay

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

Assisted

Find a few communities to try at Washington and Lee University

These are things we discovered from public campus sources. We are constantly looking for more.

Tell us what we missed
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

AFCA 1300-01

Introduction to Africana Studies

Fall

View Full Analysis

AFCA 2905/REL 2905

The Black Church in America

Fall 2026

View Full Analysis

ARAB 1101

Introductory Arabic I

Fall 2026

View Full Analysis

CS 1100

Introduction to Computer Science

Recent semester

View Full Analysis

ECON 1001

Principles of Microeconomics

Fall 2026

View Full Analysis

FYE 1000

General Success: Living and Learning at W&L

Fall Term 2026

View Full Analysis
Browse all Washington and Lee University courses

Using DormWay at Washington and Lee University

What the product handles for students.

Syllabus to schedule

Upload any Washington and Lee University syllabus and get a complete semester breakdown in seconds

Workload planning

Balance your courseload with helpful workload distribution

Free student access

No premium tiers, no paywalls. Free for all Washington and Lee University students

Washington and Lee University on DormWay

Current DormWay activity for this campus

3

Active Students

7

Syllabi Analyzed

7

Courses on DormWay

Browse all courses →

Popular Courses

Browse all →
General Success: Living and Learning at W&LIntroduction to Africana StudiesIntroduction to Computer ScienceIntroductory Arabic IPrinciples of MicroeconomicsThe Black Church in AmericaWorlds of Music

DormWay integrates with Washington and Lee University's LMS

Connect your learning management system for automatic assignment syncing

Canvas

Supported

Connect your Canvas account to automatically sync assignments, grades, and course schedules.

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; overflow to Boneyard

Primary parking for Lenfest Center; permits C, S, WC, RA accepted.

Boneyard

surface_lot • Designated overflow

Used when designated lots are full.

Liberty Hall Lot

surface_lot • First-come, first-served

Permits FY, UD, RA accepted.

Davidson Park

surface_lot • First-come, first-served

Permit DP required.

Campus News

Latest updates from Washington and Lee University

Men's Soccer Posts Shutout at Johns Hopkins

The Generals secured a 1-0 victory over Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, completing a successful 2-0 road trip.

Sep 6, 2026

Read More

Football Secures Overtime Win over Wittenberg in Season Opener

W&L football kicked off the 2026 campaign with a 13-7 overtime victory against Wittenberg University.

Sep 5, 2026

Read More

Field Hockey Defeats Dickinson 2-1

The Washington and Lee field hockey team earned a road win against Dickinson College with goals from Anna Treese and Madeline Lancione.

Sep 5, 2026

Read More

Lindley Center for Student Wellness Earns LEED Gold Certification

The building, which opened in August 2025, has become the university's second facility to earn the global sustainability certification.

Sep 2, 2026

Read More

W&L Chief Public Safety Officer Alex Rabar Profiled by IACLEA

Chief Alex Rabar was featured in the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators' 'Behind the Uniform' spotlight series.

Sep 1, 2026

Read More

Upcoming Events

What's happening at Washington and Lee University

Campus Kitchen Just Food Series

September 14, 2026

Washington and Lee University Campus

The annual event series examines how food systems interact with issues of social justice.

Lenfest Center Screening: 'BASQUIAT'

September 15, 2026

Stackhouse Theater, Elrod Commons

A screening of the 1996 biopic starring Jeffrey Wright as the visionary artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Constitution Day Panel: Supreme Court Cases

September 16, 2026

Northen Auditorium

A Liberating Ideas panel discussion focusing on Supreme Court cases from the 2025-26 term.

Meet the Press Panel with Virginia News Leaders

September 16, 2026

Washington and Lee University Campus

Journalists from six Virginia news outlets discuss the current state of local journalism, moderated by Eric Deggans.

Maya Lin: Roger Mudd Center for Ethics & Lenfest Series

September 17, 2026

Lenfest Center for the Arts

A featured presentation by artist and designer Maya Lin as part of the Mudd Center's lecture series.

National Theater Live: 'All My Sons'

September 22, 2026

Lenfest Center for the Arts

A screening of the National Theater Live production of Arthur Miller's 'All My Sons'.

LENFEST EVENT: 'In Honor of Jean-Michel Basquiat'

September 28, 2026

Lenfest Center for the Arts

A special event held in honor of the artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Parents and Family Weekend 2026

October 1, 2026

Various Campus Locations

A multi-day event for families including book sales, open classes, and department meet-and-greets.

Dorms & On-Campus Housing at Washington and Lee University

Various dorm and housing options are available for students.

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

Chavis House

Davis Hall

Downtown halls

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

The Village

Room types: single, double

Village Apartments

Village Townhouses

Woods Creek Apartments

Room types: single, double

Campus Details

Academic System

Semester

Control

Private Non-Profit

Email Domain

@wlu.edu

Plan your semester at Washington and Lee University

Upload a syllabus, collect the important dates, and build a schedule around the work ahead.

Sign Up FreeDownload the App