James Madison University

For a long time, there was an elephant in the room at James Madison University: Conservative students were hesitant to speak up on campus because they felt like part of an ideological minority. Instead of letting the situation fester, administrators are addressing it proactively. Now, at first-year orientation, facilitators lead new students in a session called Better Conversations Together.

There’s no one-size-fits-all way to foster student motivation. Ultimately, it takes understanding your students, their needs, and what fires them up. There are, however, some good places for any campus to start.

Confidence in higher education is being tested like never before. Poll after poll shows that the public increasingly questions whether colleges are worth the cost or whether students leave prepared for life beyond the classroom.

A new group of six presidents of diverse higher education institutions from across the country have joined the College Presidents for Civic Preparedness.

For dialogue initiatives to take root, it’s essential to have leadership from the president’s office. Hear from these university presidents and chancellor’s on their schools productive dialogue efforts: 

A new group of 10 presidents of diverse higher education institutions from across the country have joined the College Presidents for Civic Preparedness.

James Madison University welcomes Raj Vinnakota, president of the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, as the keynote speaker for Constitution Day.

Inaugural progress report highlights the remarkable strides college presidents have made in fostering free expression, critical inquiry, and civil discourse during an exceptionally challenging year for higher education.

Faculty are provided the resources, support, and opportunities to hear and work with experts and one another and to apply and practice civil discourse.

Measurement Working Group participants were provided tools, resources, support, and peer convenings to strengthen their own approaches to assessing civic learning and leadership.

Presidents have implemented programming on their campuses to advance the principles of free expression, civil discourse, and critical inquiry.

Participating presidents will take campus-specific and collective action, reflecting three shared Civic Commitments.

The Faculty Institute is having a positive impact on creating a network of faculty, as well as pedagogical and practical changes to classroom design and the field of higher education in general.

Dr. Britt shares insights into her Faculty Institute experience and how it has impacted her classroom instruction.

Dispatch from the from the College Presidents for Civic Preparedness convening at Howard University.

Wide-ranging conversation touches on free speech, ways to equip students with civic skills and how to prepare faculty to facilitate deliberative debate in their classrooms.

From facilitating guest lectures to introducing faculty training on civil discourse and creating student programming around civic skills, participating institutions are recentering their commitment to developing thoughtful, effective citizens.

Attendees shared ideas on how to support free speech and intellectual diversity on their respective campuses.

Media highlights of the launch of Campus Call for Free Expression.

Check out media highlights from the launch of Campus Call for Free Expression.

Presidents from public flagship universities, Ivy-plus campuses, HBCUs, STEM-focused schools, liberal arts colleges, and faith-based institutions are uniting to prepare today’s youth to be well-informed, engaged, and committed citizens