Community Scholars Program

Program Overview

The Community Scholars Program (CSP) has led Georgetown’s efforts to promote social justice for 50+ years by enrolling a more diverse student body. Managed by the Center for Multicultural Equity & Access (CMEA), the program provides enhanced educational opportunities for a multicultural cohort of first-generation college students who have achieved the dream of higher education through personal initiative, service, and academic excellence.

The Community Scholars experience begins with a five-week academic summer program prior to the students’ first year at Georgetown designed to aid their transition to higher education. During the summer they take classes for credit, attend orientation workshops, and begin forming bonds with one another, teachers, and administrators that will help sustain them through college. The program supports its students throughout their Georgetown careers with academic advising, mentoring and personal counseling, study groups, workshops and seminars.

Program Goal

The Community Scholars Program aims to contribute to the successful retention and graduation of first-generation undergraduate students who typically represent a wide variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds.

CSP News

“For the Community Scholars Program, success depends on students both being prepared for challenging coursework and feeling a sense of purpose and belonging on the Hilltop throughout their four years at Georgetown.”

A bridge program to ensure that every student can thrive

““Beyond providing an academic-intensive experience that allowed students to succeed and excel, this program was also an early and direct response to racial injustice,” says Charlene Brown-McKenzie (C’95), director of the university’s Center for Multicultural Equity and Access and a former Community Scholar herself.”

Pursuing the Dream—the Legacy Continues

“Georgetown’s four- to six-year overall graduation rate is 94 percent. The university is among the top three universities with the highest four-year graduation rates, according to U.S. News and World Report. Community Scholars also graduate at a rate higher than the national average at about 91 percent.”

First-Generation Students Thrive in Program Celebrating 50 Years

““There are so many lived experiences and journeys here,” said Brown-Mckenzie, also a Community Scholars alumna. “It is one hope, institutionally, that we can continue to bring in students from all over this country that have their own unique story to share and [show them] why Georgetown is a better place for them and because of them.””

Alumni Reminisce, Celebrate 50 Years of First-Gen Support, Success