Pulse Strategies for Measuring and Advancing Belonging for All
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Associate Professor
Western Kentucky University
Professor of English
Indiana University Kokomo
Assistant Professor of Environmental Film & Literature
State University of New York at Oswego
Professor of Geology
Pennsylvania Western University
Director of Service-Learning
University of Central Arkansas
Professor, Cinema and Screen Studies
State University of New York at Oswego
AmeriCorps Program Director
University of Central Arkansas
Center for Maunakea Stewardship: Education and Outreach Coordinator
University of Hawai’i at Hilo
Assistant Professor – Biological Sciences; ADP Coordinator
Sam Houston State University (TX)
Chair and Professor; Director, Sustainability Studies
University of Central Oklahoma
Professor, Political Science
Middle Georgia State University
Professor and Chair, Department of History
Metropolitan State University of Denver (CO)
Sustainability Director
Indiana State University
DEI Specialist
University of Hawai’i at Hilo
Associate Professor
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Associate Professor & Program Coordinator, Public Lands & Recreation Administration Program & Nonprofit Leadership Program
Indiana State University
Co-Director, One World One Water Center
Metropolitan State University of Denver (CO)
Director, Office of Equal Opportunity
University of Hawai’i at Hilo
Professor of Political Science
University of Montevallo (AL)
Associate Professor
Sam Houston State University (TX)
Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Environmental Education
Northern Kentucky University
Professor and Chair, Department of Administration of Justice
University of Hawai’i at Hilo
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Preliminary schedule subject to change.
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Journalists from The New York Times discuss media literacy, AI, and misinformation.
Regional public university colleagues learn from each other’s challenges and successes.
Interfaith America is collaborating with AASCU to gather a set of institutions seeking to become exemplars of campus pluralism.
Contact us.
We live in a deeply divided country with rising levels of distrust and isolation, in which religious, cultural, and ideological diversity are often seen as sources of division rather than as a foundation for cooperation. In these fraught times, we need leaders who can foster pluralism as an antidote to rising prejudice and polarization. Institutions of higher education, a treasure of American civic life, are uniquely situated to promote and practice pluralism and serve as models for the rest of society.
University campuses can be places where people from diverse identities and divergent ideologies learn from one another, and places that actively equip students with the knowledge base, mindset, and skillset to serve as bridgebuilders in a divided world. From the admissions process to first-year orientation to the general education curriculum, students should understand that the university seeks to model pluralism and to teach the skills for constructive engagement across differences. When a university president shakes the hand of a graduating student, they should be confident that the graduate is equipped to be a bridgebuilder who can lead effectively in diverse civic and professional settings, including in the most contentious and challenging situations.
AASCU’s partner Interfaith America seeks 8-10 institutions to committed to becoming exemplary campuses in the practice of pluralism. Each campus will receive $25,000 to support their efforts.
The Advancing Campus Pluralism Cohort (AASCU) will consist of eight to ten member institutions. Each will identify a three-person Core Team in the application process, which includes at least one senior administrator appointed directly by the president or chancellor. After acceptance, the Core Team will be responsible for participating in convenings. Each institution in the cohort then creates a five to eight-person Pluralism Working Group that will include at least three senior administrators. This group will be responsible for submitting and implementing the strategic plan.
The Core Teams will participate in a series of in-person and virtual convenings over the course of 2025-2026:
Grant funds may not be used for:
Pre-work for the Pluralism Working Group will include:
IA will provide guiding materials to successfully complete the pre-work. The anticipated time commitment for pre-work is 10-12 hours but will vary. Campuses that have already begun to develop a pluralism infrastructure, for example, may find that they need less time to complete the pre-work. IA will make office hours available in March for campus-specific questions and clarifications on the project.
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A call to action for leaders and institutions to foster civic learning and democratic engagement.
AASCU invites submissions to present at the American Democracy Project Summit, happening July 13-14, 2025 in Indianapolis, IN. We seek a diversity of perspectives and experiences, and we especially encourage presentations that include students and feature teams.
Democracy can be frustrating, slow, and contentious. Often, the civic engagement work done on a campus can feel isolated and be un- or under-appreciated. This meeting will change that narrative by showcasing that, through AASCU’s American Democracy Project, there are resources and a community that exists to help build and grow civic engagement within higher education.
Meeting details.Topical Sessions (45-minute sessions): Presentations, which could be led by an individual or a group, designed to share best practices and/or facilitate conversations about the practical application of civic and community engagement projects. If accepted, you may be paired with another concurrent session to share the 45-minute time block.
Ignite Talks (5-minute sessions): Designed for individuals to share compelling, innovative practices on a large stage, ignite talks use 20 slides that automatically advance every 15 seconds and requires speakers to be concise, prepared, and dynamic.
Poster Sessions: Textual and graphical presentations of civic engagement projects or research.
We recognize how interconnected the field of civic engagement is. This topic selection allows us to maintain a diverse portfolio of options.
What are the key features of the thriving democracy we hope to enact and support through our work?
What knowledge, skills, and dispositions contribute to a thriving democracy, and how do we embed this in our work?
How can we build the institutional culture, infrastructure, and relationships needed to support learning that enables a thriving democracy?
Note that you will need to complete this form in one sitting, and we recommend that you prepare your materials in a word document and then copy/paste into the form.
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Join a community that builds and supports civic engagement within higher education.
Explore past initiatives that support a well-rounded education rooted in local and global community.
Opportunities to expand our community and to increase civic awareness and work on campuses.
Explore the history, outcomes, and impact of these ADP programs.
Find tools to support students in the Up to Us Case Competition.
Access resources to promote civil discourse within classrooms and across campus.
Join a cohort of campus leaders committed to operationalizing civic and community engagement.