Center for Washington Area Studies records

The Center for Washington Area Studies (CWAS) is a multi-disciplinary university-wide research center whose purpose is to encourage, promote and engage in research related to Washington, D.C. and surrounding region. Its primary activities include 1) support of efforts by The George Washington University (GW) faculty to seek external funding for research on the Washington region or that includes the Washington region in more general research, 2) support of research by GW faculty and students that is of relevance to the Washington area, and 3) support for GW faculty seeking to incorporate the Washington region into their courses by maintaining and disseminating resource materials. CWAS is located within the George Washington Institute of Public Policy, a university-wide public policy research institute.

The Center for Washington Area Studies was established in 1980 to bring the resources of George Washington University to bear on the development of a fuller understanding of the Washington area as a locality, with its own economy, history, politics, and culture. As a regional studies institute, CWAS' purpose has been to encourage scholarly inquiry, both disciplinary and interdisciplinary, on a broad range of matters relating to the national capital area. The Center has supported faculty and student research, conferences and symposia, and a publications program.

In addition, CWAS has supported programs to enrich the collections of the University's Gelman Library related to the Washington area.

CWAS was initiated as part of the University's former Division of Experimental Programs efforts to draw faculty and students from many disciplines into common discourse and endeavors and to encourage exchange among the social sciences, the humanities, and professional fields. While the Center was, until 2004, organized as a scholarly unit within the Columbia College of Arts and Sciences, it encouraged and facilitated participation by faculty from other schools within the University. As of July 2004, CWAS has moved organizationally from the Columbian College and is now located within the George Washington Institute of Public Policy, a university-wide public policy research institute reporting to the Executive Vice-President for Academic Affairs.

This was taken from the GW website.