A Progress Report for the Inaugural Year of College Presidents for Civic Preparedness
In an exceptionally difficult year for higher education, with heightened campus polarization following the Israel-Hamas conflict, college presidents have been leading meaningful change.
This progress report for the academic year August 2023–June 2024 shows how this initiative is working towards improving campus life and fostering a civic revival that reverberates throughout society, with a goal of creating a lasting impact beyond our campuses.
A Year of Growth
At the start of the 2023–24 academic year, 15 college presidents from a diverse array of institutions came together to launch College Presidents for Civic Preparedness. They committed to advancing critical inquiry, free expression, and civil discourse on campuses across the country. By the end of the spring semester, their numbers had grown to 77 (and counting).
Campus Momentum
All member institutions are offering civil discourse courses, launching new civic research and initiatives, hosting speaker series and debates, and/or organizing civic and political engagement events.
Strategic Vision
The campuses where College Presidents for Civic Preparedness lead are emerging as beacons of free inquiry and civil discourse. This ongoing transformation is not only enhancing campus life but also paving the way for a civic revival across America.
Look Ahead
As the new academic year begins, it brings with it a period of heightened unrest. With one of the most contentious federal elections in recent history on the horizon, college campuses are at the forefront of this crucial moment.
Among the many priorities coalition presidents will address this year, 77% have identified advancing civil discourse as a top priority. Coalition leaders are working together to foster a productive atmosphere on campuses nationwide, with the goal of making a lasting impact that extends beyond the November election.
By the end of the academic year, 20% of the institutions in the coalition will have reached every student on their campuses, equipping them with the motivation, social support, and skills needed for engaging in civil discourse. The remaining institutions will continue to make substantial progress toward this goal.
This crucial work will not only enhance campus life but also ignite a civic revival across America.