Democracy, Civic Engagement, and Citizenship in Higher Education: Reclaiming Our Civic Purpose

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In the most recent Democracy Index, the Economic Intelligence Unit downgraded the United States from a full democracy to a flawed democracy. Democracy, Civic Engagement, and Citizenship in Higher Education takes a hard look at the state of American democracy today through the lens of one of the nations most important actors: colleges and universities. Democracy is more than voting: it includes a wide range of democratic practices and depends on a culture of civic participation. Critical for strengthening democracy is the role that higher education leaders play in educating their constituencies about their responsibilities of citizenship. During a period of time when higher education is under pressure to meet 21^st century workforce needs, the authors here exhort to remember the public mission of education to serve the needs of the democracy, a government by the people means that the people must be ready to govern. It is in this spirit that these stories are offered to show how institutions across the country are reclaiming and reinvigorating one of the essential pillars upon which American democracy is based.

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Democracy, Civic Engagement, and Citizenship in Higher Education is a useful essay collectionthat comes at an opportune time. Our democracy is in urgent need of repair. Colleges and universities have a critical role to play in providing their students with the knowledge, skills, and attributes to be engaged citizens. Too often that responsibility is evident in mission statements, but not in how students are actually educated. This volume provides a wealth of wise counsel to help correct that failing. -- Thomas Ehrlich, President Emeritus, Indiana University
Democracy, Civic Engagement, and Citizenship in Higher Education is a must-read for any college president, faculty member or staff person committed to instilling civic engagement in the next generation of American leaders. The book asks and answers the question of how we can leverage the good will and talent of our countrys latest generation of young adults to impact the quality of life in our communities, reminding us that our colleges and universities must be active participants in pursuing the public good, instilling values in our students while demonstrating a commitment to making a difference beyond our campuses. -- Elsa M. Nez, President, Eastern Connecticut State University
This invaluable resource, with its cast of diverse, experienced change-makers and educators, is crucial for paving the road for higher education to renew its commitment to our democracy and to educate our students to be the social capital and leaders of their communities. Democracy, Civic Engagement, and Citizenship in Higher Education is a manual for a path forward in civic education and inspires the reader to forge a pathway for our students, empowering them to take their rightful places in transforming our democracy into the one that we want instead of the democracy that we have. This work is critical, thoughtful, and important as well as timely." -- Verdis Robinson, Director of Community College Engagement, Campus Compact

Author Bio

William V. Flores is former president of the University of HoustonDowntown.

Katrina S. Rogers is president of Fielding Graduate University.