The National Task Force on Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement is holding an audioconference on Wednesday, Feb. 22 featuring Caryn McTighe Musil to discuss the task force’s recent report, “A Crucible Moment,” which is the latest to argue that civic education is lacking in the experience of most American college students.
Tests of students reveal embarrassing levels of ignorance – and many educators fear that students aren’t interested. The report argues that civic education is vital, and that colleges have ways to integrate it into all aspects of education – general education, majors and extracurricular life.
Beyond learning the facts and ideas of American democracy, the report urges colleges to teach students how to work together on public problems (at the national and local levels). And the report argues that these kinds of experiences will serve students well not just for civics knowledge, but in their careers.
On Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 3:30 p.m., Inside Higher Ed will present an audio conference on the report’s implications for colleges and how they can successfully implement civic education programs and practices. Guest Caryn McTighe Musil – who played a key role in preparing the report – will discuss:
- The evidence that civic education is lacking in American colleges and universities.
- The impact of this missing part of higher education.
- Successful programs that exist today.
- How colleges can evaluate opportunities to add civic education to their programs. (The ideas in the report and this presentation will be applicable to all kinds of colleges, public and private, two-year and four-year, liberal arts and professionally oriented.)
The program will also feature perspectives from campus practitioners working to implement civic learning programs and courses on different kinds of campuses. The program will feature a 30-minute presentation and a 30-minute question-and-answer period. The entire program will last one hour.
The program will be ideal for:
- Academic affairs administrators
- Faculty members
- Deans
- Department chairs
- Student affairs professionals
If you’re interested in participating, please contact Bud Warner, associate professor of human service studies, at dwarner@elon.edu by Monday, Feb. 20 at 5 p.m.