Students of Georgetown, Inc., more commonly known as The Corp, is a student organization that runs several storefronts on campus, including coffee shops and a small grocery store. It describes itself as "the world's largest entirely student-run 501(c)3 non-profit corporation1." The Corp currently employs about 350 undergraduate students2 and has a reputation as one of Georgetown's most selective clubs.
History and Background
The Corp was formed in 1972 to advocate on behalf of Vietnam War protesters who were harassed by city police. The student body president and vice president created Students of Georgetown, Inc., a non-profit organization that sought "to assert and protect the inherent rights of its members and the community." 3
The Corp initially raised money by selling yogurt and Coca-Cola to students3. This eventually developed into a full-fledged grocery storefront now called Vital Vittles, which was officially established in 19744. While Vittles remains a Corp staple, other Corp businesses eventually folded. The Corp once ran book, audio, and furniture co-ops5, none of which operate today.
In 1991, the Corp reached $1,000,000 in assets and officially became the largest student-run organizations in the country. Despite its transition from an advocacy organization to a business, its motto, "students serving students," remains to this day.
The Corp eventually dissolved its connections with student government in the 1990s6, the same decade it opened two new coffee storefronts. The Corp continued its on-campus expansion in 2003, opening both Midnight Mug and Hoya Snaxa that year7. The Corp's most recent storefront addition is Hilltoss, opened in 2014 as a healthier dining option8.
In 2004, the Corp expanded into two new sectors -- IT and transportation. The Corp established its Information Technology department to better serve the needs of the community in the digital age. Members of the IT department created New Access for internal employment management, and created Classy, a class registration service. The Corp also began providing Georgetown students rides to Reagan, Dulles, and BWI for Thanksgiving and Easter break through their "Turkey Shuttles" and "Bunny Shuttles" service. This shuttle program predated the University-run shuttle service now known as the Georgetown University Transportation Shuttle (GUTS)9.
In February 2022, the Corp celebrated its 50th anniversary through an exhibition at the Museum of American Art and the Smithsonian and a special event in Riggs library. More than 450 Corp alumni returned to the Hilltop to partake in the festivities.
Locations and services
The Corp currently operates six storefronts on the Georgetown campus. Vital Vittles, originally named the Saxa Sundires, was the Corp's first storefront, remains the only grocery store on campus10. Hoya Snaxa, as one might guess from its name, is dedicated to selling snacks in the Southwest Quad11. Uncommon Grounds, located on the 2nd floor of the Leavey Center, sells coffee and pastries12. UG is one of the Corp's three coffee-focused storefronts; the others are MUG in the Intercultural Center and Midnight Mug on the 2nd floor of Lau13inger Library. Hilltoss, the Corp's newest storefront, was conceived with a focus on salad and smoothies; it also sells coffee and pastries like other Corp locations14. Hilltoss and its connected coffeeshop, Grounded, are nominally separate entities hosted in the same storefront. While the Corp is best known for its various storefronts across campus, it also provides catering and storage services for students15.
Since the establishment of the Corp Philanthropy Committee (CPC), the Corp has developed multiple philanthropy initiatives in the past few years, including textbook and travel scholarships for students. It frequently partners with other student organizations to help them raise funds by donating the proceeds from Corp drinks.
- 1The Corp, Mission. https://www.thecorp.org/mission.
- 2The Corp, Mission. https://www.thecorp.org/mission.
- 3Kamensky, Dan. "A Milestone Reached: The Corp Celebrates 20 Years of 'Students Serving Students,'" The Hoya, Jan 28, 1992.https://repository.library.georgetown.edu/bitstream/handle/10822/1063598/19920128.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
- 3The Corp, Mission. https://www.thecorp.org/mission.
- 4The Corp, Mission. https://www.thecorp.org/mission.
- 5The Corp, Mission. https://www.thecorp.org/mission.
- 6The Corp, Mission. https://www.thecorp.org/mission.
- 7The Corp, Storefronts. https://www.thecorp.org/storefronts.
- 8The Corp, Storefronts. https://www.thecorp.org/storefronts.
- 9The Corp, Mission. https://www.thecorp.org/mission.
- 10The Corp, Storefronts. https://www.thecorp.org/storefronts.
- 11The Corp, Storefronts. https://www.thecorp.org/storefronts.
- 12The Corp, Storefronts. https://www.thecorp.org/storefronts.
- 13The Corp, Storefronts. https://www.thecorp.org/storefronts.
- 14The Corp, Storefronts. https://www.thecorp.org/storefronts.
- 15The Corp. https://www.thecorp.org/.
