Georgetown’s board of directors approved a historic increase to financial aid, toured the Capitol Campus and greenlit several new degree programs in its annual summer meeting.
In the coming fiscal year, Georgetown will increase its financial aid budget by 8% to $285 million, the largest-ever commitment to financial aid in Georgetown’s history. As part of a balanced budget, the increase in financial aid will continue to support the university’s need-blind admissions policy while increasing the enrollment of Pell-eligible students.
Touring the Capitol Campus
During the meeting, board members got an inside look at the Capitol Campus in downtown Washington, DC.
The Capitol Campus is home to Georgetown Law, the McCourt School of Public Policy and a host of programs from across the university. One of the buildings the Board was able to visit was 111 Massachusetts Ave., which was approved for additional funding to complete the renovation of that project. Over the next year, 111 Massachusetts Ave. will become the home of the Earth Commons Institute, School of Continuing Studies, the Capitol Applied Learning Labs (CALL) Program and programs from the McDonough School of Business, the School of Health and the School of Nursing, among others.
Learn more about each of the new buildings on the Capitol Campus.
500 First St.
At 500 First St., academic programs and research centers from Georgetown Law, the McCourt School, the Medical Center and other university-wide initiatives like Tech & Society collaborate to push the boundaries of their fields. The space is complete with fully renovated classrooms, office space and places for meeting and collaboration.
125 E St.
Home to the McCourt School of Public Policy, 125 E St. serves as the base for McCourt’s expanding graduate programs and its new undergraduate major in public policy. The space features an auditorium, rooftop event space and a terrace with views of the U.S. Capitol.
55 H St.
Opened in August 2022, 55 H St. is Georgetown’s newest residence hall with capacity for over 450 students. The building features a mix of studio, two-bedroom and four-bedroom apartment-style units. Students also have access to a penthouse level with a fitness center, contemplation space and spaces for studying and socializing.
111 Massachusetts Ave.
Slated to open by the fall 2025 semester, 111 Massachusetts Ave. will be the future home for the Earth Commons Institute, School of Continuing Studies and a host of other offerings, including programs from the McDonough School of Business, the School of Health and the School of Nursing.
Hilltop Renovations
The board received updates on the renovation project on Healy and Copley Lawn that began this month and will continue through the spring of 2027. The renovation is part of Georgetown’s long-term commitment to advance sustainability on campus.
The three-year project will replace underground utilities and convert the aging network of piping from steam to hot water. The conversion will reduce energy and water usage, as well as enhance the reliability of Georgetown’s heating and cooling systems and improve drainage throughout campus.
The renovation project will occur in phases to have portions of the lawn open to members of the community at all times.
The board also approved additional funding for the renovation of the Pierce Reading Room in Georgetown’s Lauinger Library. The renovated space will include a modern design for student learning and collaboration with natural light and views of the Potomac River and northern Virginia.
New Degree Programs
The board authorized the creation of four new degree programs at Georgetown.
The College of Arts & Sciences now offers a major in East Asian languages and cultures, which complements existing department majors in Chinese, Japanese and Korean.
The School of Continuing Studies will also offer a new executive master’s in humanitarian crisis and emergency management, as well as a master’s in artificial intelligence management. The Graduate School of Arts & Sciences will also offer a new master’s program in financial economics.
Departing Board Members
In the summer meeting, the board also expressed gratitude for the service of nine outgoing members of the board:
Suzanne Donohoe (C’92), chief commercial officer and global head of EQT-Ext at EQT Group; Rev. Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator, S.J. (G’16), dean of the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University; Bruce Blume (L’80), founder and chairman of the Blume Company Real Estate; Amy Goldman (SFS’86), CEO and chair of the GHR Foundation; Thomas Farley (C’97), chairman and CEO of Far Peak Acquisition; Fernando Zobel de Ayala, former chairman and CEO of the Ayala Corporation; Rev. John Fitzgibbons, S.J., chancellor and chief mission officer at the University of San Francisco; Kevin Clark (C’76, L’79), chair of the Board of Regents; and Kelly Mulvoy Mangan (SFS’91), president and trustee at the Harrison Central School District.