Global Learning as a Pathway to Civic Education
Building global affairs literacy to prepare students as civic leaders in today’s interconnected world.
American Democracy Project at Compact26
Join us in Chicago to focus on civic learning at regional public universities.
Voter Education & Engagement
AASCU Members are empowering students as informed, active participants in the democratic process, from voter registration to lifelong civic engagement.
The Value
- Making voter registration as accessible and seamless as possible gives students a clear path to influence the issues that shape their daily lives, like housing and healthcare.
- When students understand what’s on their ballot, they make voting decisions with confidence and motivation to play their part.
- Getting involved in elections through volunteering at polls or helping friends register engages students as civic leaders.
The Practice
- Make voter registration part of campus life. Include it during orientation, course sign-up, or residence hall check-in so students can register with ease.
- Help students understand the ballot, issue by issue. Share clear, fact-based resources that go beyond candidates to what’s actually being decided.
- Bring voting to campus. Work with local officials to offer on-campus polling places or early voting sites so students don’t have to choose between class and civic duty.
- Train students to register their peers. Support student ambassadors who organize registration drives, classroom shout-outs, or voter education campaigns.
- Encourage election-season “energy.” Host debate watch parties, town hall discussions, or “vote together” walks to build momentum and community around participation.
Values in Practice
Member Impact
70%
of AASCU campus students exercise the right to vote, compared to 50% of students at other colleges.
Member Spotlights
Stewardship of Place
AASCU Members are deepening their institution’s role as a community anchor, fostering connections that link student learning with local impact.
The Value
- Universities thrive when they partner with communities, fostering mutual growth and shared success.
- Embedding community engagement into campus culture enriches learning and strengthens regional ties.
- Equitable collaboration between campuses and communities drives innovation and addresses local challenges.
The Practice
- Integrate community engagement into curriculum. Embed service-learning, applied research, and civic projects into coursework across disciplines.
- Build reciprocal partnerships with local organizations. Co-create initiatives with community partners that address shared challenges and center local expertise.
- Use data to inform regional engagement efforts. Track economic, health, and social indicators to align institutional strategies with community priorities.
- Recognize and reward public engagement. Incentivize faculty and staff who advance the university’s public mission through teaching, research, or service.
- Align institutional strategy with regional needs. Make community impact a strategic priority—reflected in planning, budgeting, and leadership development.
- Support student leadership in community work. Provide pathways for students to lead public projects, internships, and dialogue that advance the common good.
Values in Practice
Member Spotlights
Related Programs
Explore issues of civic engagement and public lands at Glacier National Park.
Leadership & Culture
AASCU Members are fostering campus environments where democratic values, civic responsibility, and inclusive participation shape student learning and engagement.
The Value
- Integrating democratic values into campus culture empowers students to become active, engaged citizens committed to the public good.
- Equipping students with civic skills and agency prepares them to navigate complex societal challenges and contribute meaningfully to democracy.
- Fostering inclusive, participatory learning environments strengthens democratic engagement and cultivates a sense of community responsibility.
The Practice
- Align mission and strategy with democratic values. Ensure institutional plans reflect a public purpose and commitment to civic learning and social responsibility.
- Create space for participatory governance. Involve students, faculty, and staff in shared decision-making to model democratic processes on campus.
- Support civic learning across all disciplines. Embed opportunities for public problem-solving and civic inquiry into courses beyond political science or public affairs.
- Develop leadership with a civic lens. Equip institutional leaders to champion democracy, build trust, and advance inclusive campus culture.
- Foster campus dialogue on democratic challenges. Host regular forums where the campus community can engage different viewpoints and explore pressing public issues.
- Build community partnerships for the common good. Collaborate with local organizations to connect students with real-world efforts that strengthen democracy.
Values in Practice
MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS
Civic Literacy & Inquiry
AASCU Members are supporting students’ critical thinking, civic awareness, and reflective engagement as they navigate complex social and political issues.
The Value
- Empowering students as co-creators of democracy gives them real-world experience shaping policy, leading change, and taking civic action now—not later.
- Embedding civic learning across the curriculum equips graduates to make thoughtful decisions in their workplaces, communities, and daily lives.
- Building welcoming campus cultures strengthens trust across lines of difference, laying the groundwork for more resilient, united communities.
The Practice
- Embed civic learning across disciplines. Integrate civic inquiry, public problem-solving, and policy literacy into courses from STEM to the humanities.
- Support student-led civic action. Provide resources and mentorship for students to organize, advocate, and lead change in their communities.
- Center democratic participation in campus life. Host voter registration drives, town halls, and deliberative forums to make civic engagement part of the student experience.
- Equip faculty to foster civic development. Support educators in designing courses that explore social responsibility, power, and public voice.
- Collaborate with local communities. Build partnerships that allow students to engage with real-world challenges and contribute to public solutions.
- Help students see their role in shaping democracy. Design programs that affirm their experiences and inspire agency in civic and community life.
Related Programs
Support assessment, research, and programmatic efforts that further ADP’s mission.
Bridge Building
AASCU members are cultivating spaces for meaningful conversations and collaborative problem-solving that foster empathy, respect, and deeper understanding across differences.
The Value
- Practicing dialogue across differences sharpens students’ ability to listen, question, and collaborate—skills employers and communities urgently need.
- Bringing global perspectives into campus conversations broadens thinking and expands students’ capacity to solve complex, cross-border challenges.
- Creating space for many voices on campus builds a culture where students feel more engaged, more connected, and more likely to stay and succeed.
The Practice
- Integrate dialogue into the classroom. Incorporate structured, research-backed dialogue practices into courses to deepen learning and build trust.
- Prepare faculty to facilitate tough conversations. Offer professional development that equips educators to guide discussions across differences with empathy and skill.
- Partner across departments and disciplines. Collaborate with faculty, student affairs, and global programs to embed dialogue into both academic and co-curricular experiences.
- Connect campus dialogue to global issues. Use international case studies and global perspectives to help students explore shared challenges and democratic solutions.
- Make space for different backgrounds and perspectives. Create forums where students feel seen, heard, and confident expressing different perspectives.
- Measure impact and adapt over time. Track student participation, learning outcomes, and campus climate data to improve dialogue practices.
Related Programs
AASCU Announces Winners of the 2025 Civic Engagement Awards
Honoring ADP campuses doing extraordinary work to promote and re-imagine civic engagement.
American Democracy Project
The Latest
Discover the latest news, events, and resources designed to help AASCU members advance civic engagement. Filter by focus area to find timely insights and practical tools you can apply in your own context.
Resources
Stewardship of Public Lands Past Cohorts
Return to program landing page.2024 Cohort
Scott W.
Bonham
Associate Professor
Western Kentucky University
Paul
Cook
Professor of English
Indiana University Kokomo
Tiffany
Deater
Assistant Professor of Environmental Film & Literature
State University of New York at Oswego
Kyle
Fredrick
Professor of Geology
Pennsylvania Western University
Lesley
Graybeal
Director of Service-Learning
University of Central Arkansas
Jarrod
Hagadorn
Professor, Cinema and Screen Studies
State University of New York at Oswego
Hannah
Hanshaw
AmeriCorps Program Director
University of Central Arkansas
Ian
Kaleoʻokalani Pilago
Center for Maunakea Stewardship: Education and Outreach Coordinator
University of Hawai’i at Hilo
Steven
Koether
Assistant Professor – Biological Sciences; ADP Coordinator
Sam Houston State University (TX)
Katrina
Lacher
Chair and Professor; Director, Sustainability Studies
University of Central Oklahoma
Julie
Lester
Associate Professor of Political Science and MPA Program Coordinator
Valdosta State University (GA)
Matthew S.
Makley
Professor and Chair, Department of History
Metropolitan State University of Denver (CO)
Cayle
Moreo
Sustainability Director
Indiana State University
Alana
Ortiz
DEI Specialist
University of Hawai’i at Hilo
Sarah
Praskievicz
Associate Professor
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Nathan A.
Schaumleffel
Associate Professor & Program Coordinator, Public Lands & Recreation Administration Program & Nonprofit Leadership Program
Indiana State University
Nona
Shipman
Co-Director, One World One Water Center
Metropolitan State University of Denver (CO)
Jennifer
Stotter
Director, Office of Equal Opportunity
University of Hawai’i at Hilo
Scott
Turner
Professor of Political Science
University of Montevallo (AL)
Jeffrey
Wozniak
Associate Professor
Sam Houston State University (TX)
Kim
Yates
Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Environmental Education
Northern Kentucky University
Katherine
Young
Professor and Chair, Department of Administration of Justice
University of Hawai’i at Hilo
