August 8, 2003
Contact: Charles Johnson, UCO News Bureau Director (405) 974-2315
 
UCO LEADING THE WAY IN NATIONAL CIVIC ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE
  
The University of Central Oklahoma, in partnership with other members of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and The New York Times, will help lead a national initiative to encourage civic participation and engagement in American life.

The initiative, titled “The American Democracy Project,” targets undergraduates enrolled at AASCU institutions.

“We are concerned about the long-term national trend that shows decreasing rates of participation in civic life in America,” said UCO President W. Roger Webb.

“Research shows that, when compared to just 10 or 20 years ago, students are less likely to vote, less likely to volunteer, less likely to join an organization, or even a social club. Civic engagement is absolutely necessary for the vitality of our democracy, and we hope to help build that understanding through participation in The American Democracy Project.”

UCO Provost Don Betz said the initiative is designed to rebuild a sense of community and the accompanying commitment of that community to act together to accomplish collective goals.

“We must all have a well-developed understanding of the role of the citizen and his or her engagement in the life of the nation,” Betz said.

The initiative seeks to increase the number of undergraduate students who understand and are committed to engaging in meaningful civic actions and to focus the attention of policy makers and opinion leaders on the civic value of the college experience.

Participating institutions will be asked to review and restructure academic programs and processes, extracurricular programs and activities and the institutional culture to achieve those goals.

In addition, The New York Times will use its resources to link remote campuses, will provide journalists and commentators to share ideas, and will host an interactive website for the project.

“We plan to develop an institutional commitment at UCO and to participate in the national conversation among the AASCU institutions about the theory and practice of civic engagement,” Betz said.

The project will initially involve 140 member campuses of the AASCU, ultimately involving 140 presidents and chancellors, 140 chief academic officers, a minimum of 2,800 faculty and staff and more than 100,000 students.

“In higher education, we often talk about trying to develop a commitment to life-long learning among our graduates,” Betz said.

“But it is life-long learning and life-long participation that creates a substantive, long-lasting impact on the quality of civil life and social well-being of our communities.”

The design phase of the initiative began in February 2002 and will continue through this summer with some campuses launching activities as early as next fall, while others plan to commence activities in summer 2004.

UCO’s initial effort will be to produce a statewide gathering with the other Oklahoma AASCU institutions involved in the American Democracy Project to explore ways of enriching the conversation of civic engagement in the state.

Betz said UCO hopes to extend the program to other members of the Oklahoma educational family, including other baccalaureate institutions, community colleges and to the career-technology centers.

“I believe this effort has the potential to counter shirt-sleeve patriotism with building solid, involved citizens who understand and embrace a revitalized concept of civic responsibility and civic engagement,” he said.

“The importance of the creation of informed, active citizens can not be overemphasized. It reaches to the very core of preserving our republic.”