University Culture

The George Washington University is a community of learning dedicated to communication, respect, service, and teamwork. By incorporating the following characteristics into their daily operations, supervisors maintain and promote the values that define The George Washington University.

Communication
We strive to freely share information and ideas in an open, consistent, and effective manner. We:

• Foster an environment that supports a continual, candid exchange among all members of the University community
• Encourage expression of new and creative ideas
• Listen without interruption
• Regularly share useful, well organized, and accurate information
• Provide regular, timely, and constructive feedback in a straightforward, sensitive manner

Community
We engage members in building a culture that connects people around shared interests. We:

• Cultivate an enjoyable, intellectually challenging, rewarding work experience
• Recognize the value and take advantage of available work-life programs that support balance and benefit both the individual and the University
• Share responsibility for building unity, morale, and a cooperative spirit
• Encourage a supportive work environment that recognizes and celebrates accomplishments
• Set clear expectations and high performance standards and hold people accountable for their actions

Respect
We value diverse contributions and treat others with courtesy and dignity. We:

• Demonstrate civility, integrity, caring, and compassion to all
• Value others by listening, understanding, and treating them with kindness and consideration
• Recognize and encourage the importance of contributions from everyone
• Maintain a commitment to diversity and recognize the uniqueness of individuals
• Encourage a harassment-free work place

Service
We strive for excellence and understand our responsibility to exceed the expectations of others who depend on our actions. We:

• Solve problems at the first point of contact whenever possible; if unable to do so, refer the customer to an appropriate resource
• Respond to all customer requests in a timely manner
• Consider customer feedback and explore creative approaches to enhance service and increase efficiency
• Assume responsibility for all work-related actions

Teamwork
We encourage collaboration to meet common goals and produce a sense of shared responsibility. We:

• Optimize a cooperative spirit in our work activities
• Understand how collaborative work efforts contribute to the success of the University
• Encourage the expression of different points of view, resolve disagreements in a collegial manner, and support decisions once they are made
• Contribute to the success of the team by working effectively, helping solve problems, and meeting deadlines
• Develop the capacity of others through mentoring and coaching

Learning
We support opportunities for continuous development that maximize the potential of the individual and strengthen the University. We:

• Demonstrate a commitment to intellectual growth and professional development
• Recognize the varied learning styles of different individuals
• Continually acquire interpersonal and technical knowledge, skills, and competencies required to perform the job effectively
• Take initiative to seek out and use available learning resources, both internal to the University and external, to enhance professional development and work performance
• Recognize the value of change for continual improvement