American Democracy Project
Civic Dialogue & Action Cohort
A partnership of the American Democracy Project (ADP) and the National Issues Forums Institute’s What’s Next, America Initiative , the cohort is designed to strengthen campus capacity for democratic engagement.
Apply now.
Convene meaningful conversations about our shared future while building institutional capacity for civic leadership.
As the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, AASCU’s American Democracy Project and the National Issues Forums Institute (NIFI) invite applications for a new ADP Civic Dialogue & Action Cohort designed specifically for AASCU institutions.
This cohort will bring together faculty, staff, and students committed to strengthening democratic engagement, civic learning, and deliberative dialogue on their campuses, with a particular focus on regional public universities (RPUs). Participants will explore how NIFI’s What’s Next, America initiative can help colleges and universities convene meaningful conversations about our shared future while building institutional capacity for civic leadership.
The cohort is designed to strengthen campus capacity for democratic engagement. Faculty, staff, and student leaders will gain practical experience facilitating productive dialogue, supporting civic learning, and fostering shared solution-building.
Who should participate:
Teams from AASCU member campuses who are:
- Leading civic engagement, democratic learning, community engagement, or related initiatives on campus
- Interested in deepening their campus’ commitment to dialogue and deliberation
- Seeking meaningful ways to engage students during the nation’s 250th anniversary
- Eager to connect civic learning with student leadership and community engagement
Benefits of participation:
- Professional learning and networking opportunities
- Access to NIFI and What’s Next, America resources
- A modest stipend supporting participation and campus projects
- Opportunities to showcase work nationally, including through a presentation and knowledge-sharing session at AASCU’s ADP annual meeting in June 2027
Applications are open.
We are seeking eight AASCU campuses to participate in a yearlong learning community, launching in spring 2027 and continuing through fall 2027.
Important dates
- Oct. 23: Applications due
- Nov. 10: Applicants notified
- Spring 2027: Virtual learning sessions
- June 2027: ADP Annual Meeting
- Fall 2027: Campus implementation; virtual learning and coaching sessions
- December 2027: Campus team outcome report due
What to Expect
Each campus team will include:
- Two faculty and/or staff members
- One student who will support campus engagement efforts and help shape student-centered programming
Cohort members will:
- Learn, experiment, and share practices for fostering constructive dialogue on issues that matter to their campus communities
- Participate in 2–3 virtual peer-learning sessions throughout the year
- Receive training and support in the use of What’s Next, America discussion and deliberation tools
- Facilitate at least one What’s Next, America dialogue, forum, or civic engagement initiative on their campus in 2027
- Engage students as joint partners in planning, facilitation, and reflection
- Share lessons learned and emerging practices with fellow cohort members
- Contribute insights about how deliberative civic engagement works within RPUs and community-centered institutions
- Participants will have the flexibility to adapt the What’s Next, America framework to issues, questions, and convenings that make sense within their own institutional and community contexts
Program Partner
Questions about the ADP Civic Dialogue & Action Cohort? Let us know.
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