The Community Scholars Program (CSP) at Georgetown University celebrates its 50th anniversary this weekend, shining attention on the program’s longstanding success in enrolling, retaining, and graduating racially and ethnically diverse, first-generation students.
Community Scholars—who come mostly from underresourced schools and are selected for their academic achievements, personal initiative, and service—have a 91 percent graduation rate, which far exceeds the national average for first-generation students, and a first-to-second-year retention rate of 98.5 percent.
The October 5 event welcomed hundreds of alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of CSP to campus for faculty dialogues, a walking tour of campus, and an alumni panel highlighting the legacy and accomplishments of this groundbreaking program. (Watch for highlights from the event in next week’s issue of THE FEED.)
Background
Founded in 1968 after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., and uprisings around the country, CSP sought to start to address the extreme disparities experienced by Black Americans living in Washington, D.C., and other cities. The first cohort comprised six Black students from Washington, D.C.; today, the program includes students from across the country and a wide range of cultures and ethnicities. Managed by the Center for Multicultural Equity & Access, the program provides enhanced educational opportunity to first-generation college students from pre-orientation through graduation and beyond.
The CSP experience begins with a five-week academic summer program designed to aid students’ transition to higher education. Community Scholars take classes for credit, attend orientation workshops, and begin forming bonds with one another, teachers, and administrators. Once the regular academic year begins, the program supports its students throughout their Georgetown careers with advising, mentoring and personal counseling, study groups, workshops, and seminars.
Learn more about CSP
- Follow #GUCommunityScholars to take part in the conversation (see tweets below).
- Read about CSP in the latest issue of Georgetown Magazine.
- Watch the stories of 2018 CSP alumni Taylor Franklin and Josué Coronado.
- Dive into the history of CSP exhibited online by the Georgetown library.
- Read personal narratives from CSP members Emmanuel Thomas, Toddchelle Young, Jason Low, Donna Hernandez, and Elizabeth Velez.
- Catch up on previous news from CSP in THE FEED.
- Stay tuned for more stories about CSP in the next issue of THE FEED.
- Become a supporter.
Follow the Conversation on Twitter
The national graduation rate for first-time, full-time bachelor’s-degree-seeking students is only 59 percent, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. For Georgetown’s Community Scholars? That number is about 91%. #GUCommunityScholars pic.twitter.com/SoGX1tEXPM
— Georgetown Univ. (@Georgetown) April 3, 2018
The #GUCommunityScholars Program has a lasting impact on its students, providing them with the tools necessary to excel at Georgetown and in their future careers. pic.twitter.com/NBsQN15Gry
— Georgetown Univ. (@Georgetown) April 3, 2018
The #GUCommunityScholars Program provides academic support for a multicultural cohort of about 50 incoming Georgetown students each year. pic.twitter.com/nyfoIHrpqi
— Georgetown Univ. (@Georgetown) April 3, 2018