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.

 

ADP

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 (ADP) 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’s 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.

Apply by Oct. 23

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

National Issues Forums

Questions about the ADP Civic Dialogue & Action Cohort? Let us know.

"*" indicates required fields