ACA Members Survey
Thank you for being a member of the ACA! Please fill out this short survey, which will help the ACA Executive Committee better understand what currently works, areas for improvement, and how to best support your civic education work. All responses will remain anonymous.
WEBINAR
“Civic education, of any field, is the field that is least possible to do well in the ivory tower because, by its very nature, it has to engage with the civic body. [...] Insofar as people at elite institutions want to do this, they need to find ways to get out of the bubble [...] so they can learn what’s going on, on the ground.”
—Scott Arcenas
“Beyond the Ivory Tower: What Elite and Non-Selective Colleges Can Teach Each Other About Civics” with Thomas Schnaubelt, J. Cherie Strachan, Scott Arcenas, and Josiah Ober on January 14, 2026
WEBINAR - Season 2
What’s New in Civics (2026)? – September 10, 2026, 9-10 a.m. PT
To inaugurate the second season of Civics in the Academy, we explore some of the new civics programs emerging across American higher education. ACA Executive Committee member Jenna Storey speaks with Roosevelt Montás (Bard College) and William Howell (Johns Hopkins University) about their respective programs and takes a pulse of the broader movement to strengthen civic education in higher education. Registration link forthcoming.
SYLLABI
- Mansfield Civics Institute (University of Montana)
- This summer civics program engages high school students in close readings of classical and founding-era texts, structured debates, and perspective-taking exercises to deepen their understanding of democracy, constitutional government, and citizenship while cultivating the skills of civil discourse, critical inquiry, and empathetic engagement with opposing viewpoints.
- Civicus: Advancing Civic Education (Southern Oregon University)
- This course explores the evolution and practice of citizenship as an active, participatory commitment to the common good. Through the study of democracy’s philosophical roots, historical development, and contemporary challenges, the course equips students to think critically about the responsibilities of citizens and the conditions that sustain democratic life.
- Introduction to Civil Discourse (University of New Hampshire)
- This course examines the practice and challenges of civil discourse in democratic contexts, exploring how dialogue, deliberation, and collaborative inquiry can foster meaningful engagement on contentious issues. Through case studies, discussion, and hands-on practice, students develop skills for facilitating productive conversations in politics, organizations, and communities.
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
- Does reflective patriotism depend on a positive assessment of one’s country’s history? by Peter Levine (Aug 21, 2026)
- Renovating America’s Universities by Danielle Allen via The Renovator (Aug 12, 2026)
- Patrick Deneen’s Conflicting Accounts of Liberalism in America by Peter Berkowitz via RealClearPolitics (Aug 2, 2026)
- UNI hosts regional workshop exploring history’s role in civic education via University of Northern Iowa (July 29, 2026)
- Institute of American Civics to Launch First Undergraduate Degree Program via University of Tennessee (July 23, 2026)
UPCOMING EVENTS
- 2026 American Political Science Association’s (APSA’s) Annual Meeting
- Join the 122nd Annual Meeting & Exhibition in Boston, Massachusetts, September 3–6, 2026, to address the latest scholarship in political science and explore this year’s conference theme, “Democracy Under Threat: How to Understand, Protect, and Rebuild.”
- Programming will include:
- New Perspectives on Citizenship and Statesmanship (September 4)
- Author Meets Critics: Paul Carrese, “Teaching America” (September 5)
- Approaches to Civic Studies (September 6)
- From Theory to Action: A Symposium for Civic and Community Engagement
- Higher education’s public purpose is realized when institutional power is leveraged to promote social impact, community flourishing, and a thriving democracy. This in-person symposium brings together key leaders from Campus Compact Campus Action Planning (CAP), Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development, and Building Theory to Practice (BTtoP) networks for a collaborative day of strategic learning and institutional planning.
- Hosted by Campus Compact on September 10 at Temple University (Mitten Hall)
- 2026 Conference on Civic Thought
- The Conference on Civic Thought is a national annual scholarly conference on civic thought in higher education. This conference brings together scholars from multiple disciplines and across the nation to present their research on citizenship. The event features keynote addresses, plenary sessions, and concurrent panels, offering a dynamic platform for dialogue and collaboration across disciplines.
- Hosted by The Ohio State University Chase Center for Civics, Culture, and Society on September 23-24 at The Blackwell Inn
- Frontiers of Democracy 2026 - “The United States at 250: Meeting the Moment for Democracy, in the US and Around the World”
- At a moment of significant political change in the United States and around the world, the Frontiers of Democracy 2026 convening will explore the essential elements of democratic process, policy, and partnership. Drawing on global, historical, and youth perspectives, and using the framework of generous listening, we will examine the intersections of political pluralism, activism, and academia—and consider how to meet this pivotal moment in history.
- Hosted by Tufts University’s Tisch College of Civic Life on October 2–4 at Tufts University in Medford, MA
- 2026 Service-Learning and Civic Engagement (SLCE) Conference
- The SLCE Conference seeks to cultivate a thriving network of students, faculty, staff, and community partners who work together to advance the public purposes of higher education through authentic, reciprocal community partnerships. By connecting best practices in service-learning, community engagement, and professional development, the conference elevates innovative approaches that deepen relationships between campuses and the communities they serve.
- Hosted by American University on October 17 at American University, DC.
Want to highlight your event in next month’s newsletter? Send us an email at aca-hoover@stanford.edu.
THE CIVIC PROFILE
In March, the Center for Revitalizing American Institutions (RAI) launched the Civic Profile! Akin to a “civics Myers-Briggs,” the Civic Profile is an online educational and research tool that helps individuals explore their civic identity across three dimensions: civic values, knowledge, and engagement.
Discover your Civic Profile now!
GET INVOLVED
Help make our community of practice as useful and impactful for educators as possible by sharing your work, ideas, and experiences!
- Visit our website to access course syllabi developed by ACA members, civics program descriptions, research and policy proposals, op-eds, book reviews, and more.
- Contribute to our community of practice by submitting your syllabi, research, commentary, and other field-building materials to aca-hoover@stanford.edu.
- Apply to host an ACA-sponsored conference.
- Apply or nominate a colleague for membership in the ACA.
WHO WE ARE
The Alliance for Civics in the Academy (ACA) is a nonpartisan network of instructors dedicated to strengthening postsecondary civic education. Drawing together faculty from across disciplines, regions, and viewpoints, the ACA fosters a community of practice devoted to improving the teaching of citizenship in a constitutional democracy—through shared resources, collaborative learning, and open inquiry.
