The work Georgetown students, faculty and staff do to help underserved students in its surrounding community made the honor roll in a new report that evaluates civically engaged institutions nationwide.
"Saviors of Our Cities: Survey of Best College and University Civic Partnerships," a report compiled by Westfield State College in Massachusetts, also noted other kinds of work the university does to help its surrounding community.
The report examined positive economic, social and cultural effects of universities' work in communities.
"It's very gratifying to earn a place on the honor roll," said
Jeanne Lord, associate vice president of student affairs. Her office oversees much of the service work Georgetown students perform in Washington.
"We're proud of the work Georgetown does with our neighbors -- it really is a collaborative effort on the part of the university and the communities we work with," Lord added.
Students prune trees along the Capital
Crescent Trail in August during a service
project for new resident assistants.
The university's commitment in Washington runs the gamut from sweeping initiatives to smaller community projects. Many of the projects center around education and helping Washington's students prepare for and succeed at college.
The Ward 7 Initiative, for example, is one cornerstone venture that partners Georgetown with students, families and schools in Washington's eastern neighborhoods. Younger students receive academic support and older students are helped with college preparation. Georgetown students, faculty and staff also participate in and design literacy, research and other assistance programs for the Ward 7 students.
Other programs Georgetown runs include Kids 2 College, which has undergraduates volunteering in a college preparation initiative for D.C. sixth-graders; the Marine Discovery Program, where biology doctoral candidates conduct marine biology labs with Washington fifth-graders; and the Georgetown Law Center Street Law Clinic, where law student teach courses and conduct mock trial competitions in Washington high schools.
Georgetown partners with a local
performing arts high school to stage
performances and other opportunities
for students to collaborate.
In addition to more than 24 ongoing civic partnerships and projects, Georgetown's faculty, staff and students volunteer their time for other causes, including tutoring schoolchildren in reading, math and science and cleaning up local parks during the university's Community Service Day.
"At Georgetown, we know we have a responsibility to our community and we're fortunate to have so many people here excited to take part in these projects," Lord said. "Seeing that recognized on the honor roll shows we've been successful in our mission to partner with the community, and that's a wonderful feeling."
