Georgetown University, National Press Club Sign Memorandum of Understanding

News provided by

May 28, 2010, 04:58 ET

WASHINGTON, May 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Two iconic Washington institutions, Georgetown University and the National Press Club, today announced they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) under which Press Club members can enroll and receive a scholarship to take classes at the University's School of Continuing Studies.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080917/NPCLOGO)

"We are delighted to have this agreement with a prestigious university like Georgetown," said NPC President Alan Bjerga. "Our members are looking to upgrade their professional skills and in some cases move to new careers and fields. Having access to the resources and training provided by a great university is a perfect fit for many journalists at this significant moment in our profession. Plus, this is just a great benefit for our members," he said.

The MOU was signed by Bjerga and Robert Manuel, Dean of the School of Continuing Studies at Georgetown. In remarks at a signing ceremony held at the Press Club May 26 Manuel said: "There is a perfect fit here between our missions. We seek to be the connecting tissue that helps attach life-long learners like Press Club members to the business, non-profit or academic communities they may seek to join through training, study and networking. Georgetown's School of Continuing Studies can meet a need for National Press Club members in transition. And these journalists are, at the same time, a great resource for our community," he said.

Bjerga said Georgetown is now using the Press Club's downtown facility to offer classes to the greater Washington community. Some of the faculty who teach those classes are Press Club members, and several in the leadership of the Georgetown School of Continuing Studies, including Manuel himself, have become members of the Press Club. Georgetown is also using Press Club facilities to design other events that introduce the School of Continuing Studies to professionals working downtown.

"There is really no end to what we can do together," said Manuel. "Both communities have so much to offer each other," he said.

"We are really excited about what can be done between our institutions in the years to come," said Bjerga. "We are off to a good start."

ABOUT GEORGETOWN SCHOOL OF CONTINUING STUDIES

The Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies is the place for professionals, students and life-long learners to improve themselves and improve the world. The school provides master's degree programs; a bachelor's, master's and doctor's degree in Liberal Studies; and educational experiences from High School Summer Programs to customized training solutions. The School's offerings address important societal needs. The programs bring top industry experts into the classroom to expose students to current political, ethical and career issues surrounding growing and important professional fields. For more information please visit http://scs.georgetown.edu .

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB

The National Press Club is the World's Leading Professional Organization for Journalists. Founded in 1908, the Club has 3,500 members representing nearly every major journalism outlet. The Club hosts more than 2,000 events per year at its state-of the art meeting and conference facility. More than 250,000 visitors, among them global leaders in business, politics, the arts, government and journalism, come through its doors every year. Online at www.press.org .

SOURCE National Press Club