Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy and Howard University recently formalized their commitment to collaborate, in part through a new scholarship program. Under the Memorandum of Understanding, Georgetown and Howard—a historically Black university located in Washington, D.C.—agreed to explore partnerships related to students, faculty, and other events and activities.
The Howard Scholar at McCourt
Beginning in fall 2021, the Howard Scholar at McCourt program will provide a full-tuition scholarship for a Howard student or alumnus to one of the McCourt School’s graduate programs. All Howard students and alumni who apply and are admitted to the McCourt School’s master of data science for public policy, international development policy, policy management, or public policy program will automatically be considered for the scholarship.
“The McCourt School aspires to be the most inclusive top public policy program in the world,” said Maria Cancian, dean of the McCourt School. “The creation of the Howard Scholar at McCourt program will help us deliver on our commitment to broadening the diversity of perspective and life experience at McCourt. We are excited to build on our collaboration with Howard University as we prepare to move to the Capital Campus and take advantage of being even closer neighbors.”
Facilitating research collaborations, deepening ties
The agreement also provides a platform to encourage new research collaborations among Georgetown and Howard faculty while deepening existing ties.
For instance, Georgetown and Howard, along with MedStar Health Research Institute, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the Washington Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center, partner in the Georgetown-Howard Universities Center for Clinical and Translational Science. In addition, Georgetown Law’s Innovative Policing Program this past fall partnered with The Lab @ DC and Howard University to co-host the final session of a seven-part workshop series designed to reimagine the role of police stops in public safety.
Georgetown and Howard have agreed to explore other collaborations, such a potential semester-in-DC program to include coursework from both universities, mutual exchanges of access to courses, and events like seminars and conferences.
“We are excited to expand our relationship with the excellent students, scholars, and alumni of Howard University,” said Robert Groves, the provost of Georgetown University. “This partnership creates an additional vehicle for collaboration between two world-class faculties.”
It “deepens the relationship between… two preeminent institutions committed to service and scholarship in the name of improving our local and global communities,” said Anthony K. Wutoh, Howard University’s provost and chief academic officer.