Less than two years ago, the International Development Certificate in the School of Foreign Service was thriving. It sponsored campus events, hosted résumé reviews, and helped students connect with alumni working in development-related fields. Today, 80 seniors in the School of Foreign Service are enrolled in the program, making it the most popular certificate in the SFS by far. But even so, the program is a mere shadow of what it used to be—and what it could be. Because of budget shortfalls, the SFS has slashed the program’s funding by more than 50 percent.
It is not too late to restore the program—but in order to do so the SFS must commit to giving the certificate the resources it requires and deserves. The certificate is incredibly popular, the cost of supporting it is not daunting, and its mission embodies the best of what the SFS is about. Increased funding would be a good start, but ultimately International Development should be more than a certificate. It is time to create a new program in International Development, open the program to students in other undergraduate schools, and utilize Georgetown’s extensive alumni network in this field more effectively.
If International Development were a program, it would ensure that its students would have access to resources such as individualized career services, alumni networking events, and internship placement. It would also allow students in other undergraduate schools to receive a minor in international development. Given the certificate’s overwhelming popularity among SFS students, it is likely that students in other schools would also jump at the chance to learn about development.
Students studying international development at Georgetown have made a commitment to combat some of the most important challenges in the world today—global poverty and inequality—and deserve support for doing so. These students typify the Jesuit ideal of “men and women for others.” Through their work with organizations such as the World Bank, International Development alumni increase the international reputation of Georgetown.
Instead of giving International Development students the support the deserve, though, the University has dramatically reduced its financial support for the certificate over the last two years. If it weren’t for the herculean efforts of a single program coordinator, Zara Khan (SFS ’07), students would have lost access to program resources long ago. When Khan resigned this week, the program lost its strongest voice and its only staff member. With Khan’s departure, the SFS will have to redouble its efforts to keep the program operating.
By so drastically underfunding popular programs, the SFS is alienating many of the students who have already committed to the certificate as well as future students who may be interested in pursuing the subject. The SFS must increase its institutional support for the International Development certificate, instead of abandoning one of its most popular programs to save a few thousand dollars.
