Civic House

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The Civic House Academic Residential Community is GW's highly-selective first-year scholar program for students interested in developing themselves as active citizens who are engaged in their communities. The three core values of Civic House are Live, Learn, and Serve.

Live

Living together as a residential community, Civic House Scholars shape their own community informally, outside of the structured parts of the program. Students deepen relationships among themselves in their residence hall, on campus, and while exploring D.C.’s many civic engagement opportunities and cultural wealth.

Civic House students live together on the Mount Vernon Campus in Merriweather Hall.

• Formerly the campus of a small women’s liberal arts college, the Mount Vernon Campus provides a more traditional college campus experience with open green spaces and favorite spots to gather and socialize. About one-third of GW’s first year class lives on “the Vern,” which is located 3 miles from the Foggy Bottom campus.
• The Mount Vernon Express, or the “Vex,” runs 24/7 to transport students between campuses.
• Refer to the office of Campus Living and Residential Education’s Housing Rates for up-to-date cost of living 
   

Learn

The program challenges students to learn about the unique culture, strengths and needs of communities in Washington, DC as well as to build collaborative relationships with students, faculty, and community-based organizations to meet those needs through the many pathways of community service.

The Civic House students take one course together in the Fall semester and in many years, they take a Spring course together too. In the Fall, students take UW 1020, a University Writing course that includes a service-learning component. All GW students are required to take a UW 1020 course their first year. The professors of the Civic House section are very well regarded in their field and are frequently sought after by GW students. In the Spring, another course designed for all Civic House students is usually offered. In this course students work in teams with a local community organization to plan and implement a project.

In addition to courses, Civic House Saturdays are monthly activities just for Civic House Scholars held on campus or across the city in which students learn about a variety of social issues and opportunities to engage in social change.  Civic House members also explore their own social issue and service interests, attending at least ten Learn Events per semester. There are a wide variety of options for Learn Events, such as on-campus speakers, visits with local DC neighborhoods through festivals or townhall meetings, and arts activities. Students attend these events on their own in small groups or with sophomores and juniors who are alumni of the Civic House program.

"Through our fall course 'Principles of Ethical Leadership' we are able to explore how our past experiences have shaped our current leadership styles and build on our knowledge to become more effective leaders for our future endeavors."

Civic House Scholar '21-'22

Serve

Civic House students participate in service through service-learning courses, Civic House Saturdays, and large-scale GW service events like Welcome Day of Service and Martin Luther King, Jr Day of Service and Leadership. There are multiple opportunities through the Nashman Center and student organizations. Students who complete service-learning courses and participate in Civic House Saturdays will easily complete the expectations for community service.

Additional service projects are largely up to students to choose based on their interests and have included working with organizations like Miriam’s Kitchen, Latin American Youth Center, Little Friends for Peace, the Grow Garden, and others. Lots of information on local nonprofit service partners can be found on the GWServes platform – log in using Single Sign On with your GW email address.

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Alumni

Involvement with Civic House does not have to stop after students complete their first year at GW. Civic House alumni are encouraged to stay involved, and there are a variety of ways to do so.

In general, Alumni are also often sought out to share their GW experiences with Scholars with regard to getting involved with student organizations on campus, studying abroad, applying to internships, and other relevant topics.

Additionally, each year a small group of recent Alumni is selected to mentor the current academic year’s cohort of Scholars in formal and informal ways, such as monthly “Mentor Meet-Ups,” which are open to the entire cohort, or outings with a small group of scholars.

Also, in years past, some cohorts of scholars have enjoyed the experience of living together so much that they choose to continue to live together into their Sophomore and Junior years by taking the initiative of organizing affinity housing accommodations in District House.

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Gaby Martin
2024-25 Cohort

From Boyertown, PA

Other Engagements: 2025 Civic Changemaker Intern, 2025-26 EngageDC Co-Site Leader for Little Friends for Peace

“Civic House and the Nashman Center has provided me with a reliable community of lifelong friends and life changing civic engagement experiences that have truly laid the foundation for my journey at the George Washington University.”

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Ethan Tsui
2017-18 Cohort

From San Diego, CA

Consultant and Former Special Advisor at the US Department of Agriculture

“My Civic House relationships were the foundation for some of my closest friendships and greatest experiences at GW. It laid the groundwork for my career and every step it took to get there! From serving with GW’s EMeRG as a volunteer EMT, to my work in the nonprofit sector, and as recently as my service in the federal government, all of it has been grounded by service.

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Shawn Wu
2023-24 Cohort

From Concord, MA

Other Engagements: Lead Tutor with GW Math Matters. 2025-26 Transform Mid-Atlantic Civic Fellow

“My time at Civic House gave me a welcoming community from the start of college and over the course of the year, I was able to grow with my service oriented and like-minded peers. This program helped me deepen my understanding of the DC community and begin my journey as a GW student and DC resident.”

Students after the first Civic House Saturday,
“Asset mapping and being in Ward 7 gave me the opportunity to see the ward in a new light and gain my own perspective…. I was able to see the positives in the community for myself. The biggest impact on me was seeing the church event. It was very community-based, with live music and a BBQ, and it showed the support and unity that the community has for each other.”

Students during Service with Charlie’s Place,
“I really enjoy working with this organization. I feel like I am really building a rapport with the people I am working with, as well as building connections with the community as a whole. I am developing useful skills for myself as well. This is one of the best things I have done at GWU so far."

About Us

Each year, the Civic House Program is coordinated by undergraduate and graduate student staff and professional staff members housed in the Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service. To get in touch with the current Civic House Staff, please email civichousegwu [dot] edu (civichouse[at]gwu[dot]edu) or call 202-994-9900 and ask to speak with the Civic House Program.

How to Apply

The application process for Civic House is done at the same time as completing the GW-specific section of the Common Application. There is a section on the Common Application that asks if you are interested in applying to any special programs at GW, such as Civic House, the Honors Program, and the Women’s Leadership Program. To apply, please select the box next to Civic House, and you will be prompted to complete a supplemental essay specific to the Civic House Program.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the application process, please email civichousegwu [dot] edu (civichouse[at]gwu[dot]edu) or call 202-994-9900 and ask to speak with a Civic House team member.