Recognizing this urgent moment for American higher education and democracy, Stetson University President Christopher F. Roellke is joining 70 other college presidents of diverse institutions from across the country to advance higher education’s pivotal role in preparing students to be engaged citizens and to uphold free expression on campus.
Through College Presidents for Civic Preparedness, a unique consortium designed by the presidents and convened by the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, participating presidents are dedicated to preparing the next generation of well-informed, productively engaged, and committed citizens; defending free expression, civil discourse, and critical inquiry as essential civic norms; and increasing thoughtful engagement and better understanding by students for the effective functioning of our democracy.
The consortium, first announced with 15 members in August 2023, has grown significantly, demonstrating momentum for this movement. It includes the presidents of Amherst, Bennington, Grinnell, Middlebury, Rollins, Sarah Lawrence Vassar and Wellesley college and Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Georgetown, Howard, Johns Hopkins, Notre Dame, and the University of Virginia, among many others.
Participating presidents will take campus-specific and collective action, reflecting three shared Civic Commitments:
- Educating for democracy is central to our mission.
- We will prepare our students for a vibrant, diverse, and contentious society.
- We will protect and defend free inquiry.
Taken together, these fresh commitments embrace both free speech and diversity, two values often pitted against each other, by instead emphasizing meaningful engagement and free inquiry with different voices and viewpoints. The commitments stress diversity as a strength of both American democracy and campus life and affirm the truth-seeking role of higher education through curiosity and inquiry. They also enable campus leaders to take substantive action to promote democratic engagement among students, with public accountability for progress through publication of an annual impact report.
“At Stetson, we share a deep commitment to inclusive excellence, promoting a sense of belonging for all our students, and forming bridges across our differences,” Roellke said. “This kindness not only matters, it enables us to listen, to engage with others unlike ourselves, and to consider paths we can forge together to make our community, in fact, the world, a better place.”
Presidents are developing campus-specific programming to advance the Civic Commitments in 2024, including new courses, outside speakers, student orientations, presidential speeches, technology tools, and voter education initiatives. A complete listing appears on the consortium website. Other initiatives include:
- Stetson University has launched a highly innovative Center for Public Opinion Research (CPOR), which is part of its ongoing efforts to promote deliberative democracy in Central Florida and beyond.
- Stetson has long been recognized for civil and productive discourse and current initiatives, including the strategic priorities through 2030, which focuses intentionally on dialogues across difference.
- Stetson will have a deliberative dialogue on the community’s values. Over 500 members of the community will engage in facilitated roundtable discussions to reaffirm and reconsider the institution’s values.
In addition to championing these commitments on their campuses, the presidents will undertake together and through the Institute a set of collective actions:
- Meet regularly and confidentially for peer learning and the exchange of information, ideas, practices, and tools, including on such topics as the 2024 elections and student activism.
- Help faculty engage effectively with free expression and civil discourse in the classroom by participating in the Faculty Institute on Dialogue Across Difference.
- Create and seize opportunities for shared advocacy and public outreach on civic preparedness in higher education.
“Higher education has a responsibility to provide students with critical civic skills and knowledge to participate effectively in our constitutional democracy,” said Rajiv Vinnakota, President of the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, a nonprofit that cultivates talent, ideas, and networks that develop young people as effective, lifelong citizens. “College campuses are among the most diverse spaces in our country, and college is an important time for students to develop the habits, practices, and norms to live in a multicultural and interconnected democracy. Doing so can create a ripple effect, making young people more optimistic and increasingly committed about their future and our nation.”
College Presidents for Civic Preparedness has been supported by ECMC Foundation, Einhorn Collaborative, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, One8 Foundation, Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, Lumina Foundation, Charles Koch Foundation, and Teagle Foundation, with individual campuses providing support for their own related projects.
Pogo says
@No byline?
Oh, well.
Joe D says
At least other institutions (even if NOT in EDUCATIONALLY SUPPRESSED Florida) are VALUING the education of the leaders of tomorrow in diversity, and inclusion.
If Governor DeSantis thinks that his repression of DEI instruction within Florida is going to STAMP OUT the REALITY of diversity equity and inclusion in current education, he’s only going to DOWNGRADE the already sliding quality and reputations of Florida Public Colleges. Distinguished College (and high school) Educators will locate outside the state to less restricted institutions. Qualified students will look outside the State to attend college ( and out of state potential students will look elsewhere for their college careers …removing highly needed skilled and talented student pools from attending (and REMAINING after graduation from) Florida Public Colleges. Our Governor’s restrictions on classroom teaching, and penalties (both by removing professors and instructors from tenure positions, or actual CRIMINAL PENALTIES), are gradually driving away Florida’s best Higher Educators, and Highest achieving college students.
This entire process is downgrading the quality of Florida higher education…both NOW and in the FUTURE for years to come. Thank you Governor DeSantis ( that was SARCASM for those not able to pick that up by just reading).
Joe D says
To Pogo:
Can you BLAME someone being somewhat ANONYMOUS given what DISNEY elicited as a REVENGE response from the Governor and the Rubber Stamp Florida Legislature, for voicing dissent toward other recent diversity legislation.
Not EVERYONE has the funds to DEFEND against the WRATH of a VINDICTIVE Governor armed with his Rubber Stamp Legislature.
Kind of like using “POGO” or “Joe D” for entries on this media site (although, I’m afraid, if they REALLY WANTED to, “they” could get a court Supeana for the ACTUAL identification email, and actual personal identity of posters to this site).
At LEAST the INFORMATION in this article is verifiable and traceable, even without a specific byline.
Michael J Cocchiola says
You go, Hatters! Way to stand up for intellectual and educational freedom.
Are you ready for DeSaSatan’s hissy fit, white boots and all?
Pogo says
@As stated
https://www.google.com/search?q=journalism
Joe D says
For Pogo:
?…don’t understand the reply…
I think MOST people ALREADY understand the dictionary definition of JOURNALISM… not sure why you added the Google Link?
Was there a POINT you wished to make?
Laurel says
Thank goodness! Finally, some hope for sanity still exists!