James Madison University is a national leader in civic discourse and free speech and continued partnership and participation in the College Presidents for Civic Preparedness consortium will only make our campus stronger. JMU's mission statement emphasizes the need for preparing students to be educated and enlightened democratic citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives. We are committed to providing our students with the tools and resources they need to become engaged citizens who value free speech, democracy, and lifelong learning. Our core campus values are directly reflected in the consortium’s Civic Commitments, and it is my honor to join this group as we pledge our shared commitment to the pursuit of the common good.
- James C. Schmidt
Activation Plan
Below is an overview of some campus activities:
- Better Conversations Together: Every first-year student at JMU and transfer student participates. These are peer-led deliberations where students come together to discuss important issues across differences.
- Assessment: We assess every student in civic engagement and civic preparedness with the Center for Assessment and Research Studies on campus. We also conduct pre- post post-surveys of the students who attend BCT deliberations to measure their attitudes before and after participation.
- Civic Leadership Minor: Reaches all 8 academic colleges at JMU.
- Better Conversation over Dinner: Dialogue dinner for students from across campus to come and talk across differences.
- Civic and voter education programming: Comprehensive, nonpartisan voter education and engagement programming that reaches across campus.
Highlights:
JMU received a large federal grant in collaboration with the Madison Center for Civic Engagement and
the Department of Education to help bolster civics education ahead of the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding. https://www.dnronline.com/news/politics_and_government/jmu-receives-large-federal-grant-ahead-of-nations-250th-anniversary/article_8433b331-a39e-5244-adeb-47804bae0eb6.html
James C. Schmidt
President, James Madison University
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Join the growing consoritum of campus leaders urgently committed to collectively restoring higher education’s role in democracy.
James C. Schmidt
President, James Madison University
Below is an overview of some campus activities:
- Better Conversations Together: Every first-year student at JMU and transfer student participates. These are peer-led deliberations where students come together to discuss important issues across differences.
- Assessment: We assess every student in civic engagement and civic preparedness with the Center for Assessment and Research Studies on campus. We also conduct pre- post post-surveys of the students who attend BCT deliberations to measure their attitudes before and after participation.
- Civic Leadership Minor: Reaches all 8 academic colleges at JMU.
- Better Conversation over Dinner: Dialogue dinner for students from across campus to come and talk across differences.
- Civic and voter education programming: Comprehensive, nonpartisan voter education and engagement programming that reaches across campus.
Highlights:
JMU received a large federal grant in collaboration with the Madison Center for Civic Engagement and
the Department of Education to help bolster civics education ahead of the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding. https://www.dnronline.com/news/politics_and_government/jmu-receives-large-federal-grant-ahead-of-nations-250th-anniversary/article_8433b331-a39e-5244-adeb-47804bae0eb6.html
James Madison University is a national leader in civic discourse and free speech and continued partnership and participation in the College Presidents for Civic Preparedness consortium will only make our campus stronger. JMU's mission statement emphasizes the need for preparing students to be educated and enlightened democratic citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives. We are committed to providing our students with the tools and resources they need to become engaged citizens who value free speech, democracy, and lifelong learning. Our core campus values are directly reflected in the consortium’s Civic Commitments, and it is my honor to join this group as we pledge our shared commitment to the pursuit of the common good.
- James C. Schmidt