Institute for Citizens & Scholars

🚨 Big News! 🚨 We're excited to announce that the College Presidents for Civic Preparedness inaugural progress report has just been released! In an exceptionally difficult year for higher education, college presidents have been leading meaningful change. Here's just a few of the highlights: 🎓 The coalition has grown from 15 to 77 members by June 30, representing 530,000 students across 30 states & D.C., in private and public institutions. 🎓 All member institutions are taking bold steps — offering civil discourse courses, launching new civic research and initiatives, hosting speaker series and debates, and/or organizing civic and political engagement events. 🎓 Every president is committed to equipping students with the skills, social support, and motivation to engage in civil discourse. By the end of 2025, 20% of members will reach every undergrad student on their campuses. See the incredible work these institutions are doing and what's next for the coalition: https://buff.ly/3X5aH8e #CSCollegePresidents

🙋 Are you a 3rd-year, tenure-track faculty member committed to campus diversity and innovative research in the humanities & humanistic social sciences? The Career Enhancement Fellowship offers stipends up to $35,000, travel and research funding, and a retreat to connect with scholars and mentors. 🗓️ Learn more & apply by November 1st! #Fellowships #CSFellows #HigherEd

We're thrilled to announce the winners of the Youth Civic Solutions Competition! 🎊 Supported by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, this national competition invited young people to submit a written response or a video addressing one of three pressing topics: improving civic knowledge and media literacy, increasing civic and political engagement, or building trust in one another and democratic institutions. Meet the winners and see their bold ideas: https://buff.ly/4dTkNhP

💬 "Leadership & governing in the 21st century require new skills." Tune in to the Hedgeye Risk Management, LLC CIO Corner to hear our President, Rajiv V., discuss the challenges, insights, and opportunities of leading and governing complex institutions today. #Leadership #Philanthropy #Nonprofit

We're so excited to have America's Government Teacher and #1 New York Times bestselling author Sharon McMahon join our president Rajiv V. on Preamble! Sharon's new book, The Small and the Mighty, spotlights unsung heroes in U.S. history. She says that choosing hope and staying open to engaging with our opponents can bring about positive change. Sharon also shares how she’s built an incredible online following by earning trust and combatting misinformation. You won't want to miss this one! Watch the full interview: https://buff.ly/3YykF2Q

📣 The 2025 Career Enhancement Fellowship are open for applications! This prestigious program supports outstanding junior faculty committed to diversity and innovative humanities and humanistic social sciences research. Applications close on November 1st, so apply today!

🎓 A new group of presidents has joined the College Presidents for Civic Preparedness initiative! These campus leaders are championing critical inquiry, free expression, and civil discourse on their campuses: Fordham University President Tania Tetlow The George Washington University President Ellen Granberg Hofstra University President Susan Poser Hudson County Community College President Chris Reber James Madison University President Charlie King Trinity University President Vanessa Beasley The University of Findlay President Katherine Fell University of Minnesota President Rebecca Cunningham University of Nebraska at Omaha Chancellor Joanne Li Wheaton College Massachusetts President Michaele Whelan Learn more: https://buff.ly/4h3NRpH

Our president Raj Vinnakota joined Gregg Behr on the Remake Learning "Remaking Tomorrow" podcast for a conversation on developing the next generation of informed and engaged citizens. The discussion spanned Citizens & Scholars' commitment to talent development through Fellowships and investing in young people, as well as advancing the democratic mission of higher education with the College Presidents for Civic Preparedness initiative. 🎧 Listen to the episode: https://buff.ly/487dhP5

C&S President Raj Vinnakota recently delivered a powerful Constitution Day lecture at James Madison University, a member institution of College Presidents for Civic Preparedness. He emphasized the critical role of civil discourse in preparing students for active citizenship and effective problem-solving. The lecture was followed by a Fireside Chat with JMU faculty and a student Democracy Fellow, providing a platform for deeper discussion and engagement while fostering civil discourse and preparing students for the challenges and opportunities of our democracy. #CSCollegePresidents #ConstitutionDay #Democracy #CivicLearning

College Presidents for Civic Preparedness Faculty Institute equips educators with the skills and confidence to promote dialogue across differences. In this interview series, Faculty Institute leaders share their insights on how this work can transform college campuses into more inclusive and engaged communities. They emphasize the importance of preparing students for active citizenship and fostering a sense of belonging. It's a valuable read for anyone passionate about the future of higher education and its role in strengthening our democracy. #CSCollegePresidents #HigherEd #CivicLearning