Institute for Citizens & Scholars

We're so excited to have America's Government Teacher and #1 New York Times bestselling author Sharon McMahon join our president Rajiv V. on Preamble! Sharon's new book, The Small and the Mighty, spotlights unsung heroes in U.S. history. She says that choosing hope and staying open to engaging with our opponents can bring about positive change. Sharon also shares how she’s built an incredible online following by earning trust and combatting misinformation. You won't want to miss this one! Watch the full interview: https://buff.ly/3YykF2Q

We love seeing the College Presidents for Civic Preparedness Faculty Institute in action in the classroom, helping students have challenging conversations across differences. Great work by James Madison University's Sombo Muzata, Ph.D., MBA, FCCA, and Janett I. Cordovés, Ed.D.! #CSCollegePresidents

Our president Raj Vinnakota visited Claremont McKenna College (a member institution of College Presidents for Civic Preparedness) to see the incredible work happening on campus, including Athenaeum talks with diverse speakers, constructive dialogue sessions, and voter engagement efforts. He also sat down with CMC President Hiram Chodosh and Vernon Grigg to discuss the nation’s overall civic preparedness and the critical role of higher education in developing students into civic leaders. #CSCollegePresidents

Universities have a unique responsibility to foster civic preparedness ???? At the University of Pittsburgh’s recent event on civic engagement, the importance of creating spaces on college campuses that encourage challenging conversations was explored — the kind of conversations across difference that help combat growing polarization. Read insights on this topic and more featuring Pitt experts and our own Rajiv V.: https://buff.ly/4fvGUMK #CivicLearning #Civics #Democracy #CivicEducation #CSCollegePresidents

How do you define “American citizenship?” What are its non-negotiable rights and responsibilities? How does your family inform your idea of what makes a good citizen? We recently launched an initiative inspired by the Mapping Civic Measurement report to help us better understand how people think about citizenship. We began by interviewing 30 individuals in the civic learning space with diverse perspectives and lived experiences. See what they said ?? https://buff.ly/4fTRFbB

?? Are you an MMUF alum ready to dedicate yourself to finishing your dissertation? The MMUF Dissertation Grant provides the financial support to focus on your research and writing. Don't miss this opportunity—apply by December 6th!

?? College Presidents for Civic Preparedness continues to expand its reach by welcoming three new members! University of Vermont President Patricia Prelock Washington and Lee University President William Dudley? Nazareth University President Elizabeth Paul?? Meet the new presidents and see what's happening on their campuses: https://buff.ly/4fnScTc #CSCollegePresidents

Now more than ever, Universities have an important role to play in advancing civic discourse. At a Nov. 7 event, “A Conversation on the Role of Universities in Civic Preparedness.” Carissa Slotterback, dean and professor in the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA) facilitated a conversation between Rajiv Vinnakota, president of the Institute for Citizens & Scholars and Kristin Kanthak, associate professor of political science in the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh. The event was in support of Pitt’s Year of Discourse and Dialogue programming, and it covered a range of topics, including young people’s views of democracy and what students can do to build public trust in higher education. https://lnkd.in/eRjJxUgx

Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway recently sat down with Raj Vinnakota for his Byrne Seminar “Citizenship, Institutions, and the Public.” Together, they discussed the importance of civil discourse, the rise of affective polarization, and the launch of the College Presidents for Civic Preparedness initiative. Raj also noted the results of our Civic Outlook of Young Adults in America survey, showing how Gen Z defines democracy and that young people are more likely to feel comfortable talking to those they disagree with. https://buff.ly/40Lg3HZ

???? Citizenship has always meant different things to different people, but with rapid social, technological, and political shifts, the idea of what makes a "good citizen" is also changing. The recent election provides a timely lens to examine these shifts. In this new series, we'll share three projects inspired by the Mapping Civic Measurement report to uncover what it means to be a good citizen today. See how we're redefining citizenship: https://buff.ly/3AFa5Oc