View in EDS

Assessing the Civic Campus: The Link between Higher Education and Democracy

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Assessing the Civic Campus: The Link between Higher Education and Democracy
Language: English
Authors: Ioana G. Hulbert, Deirdre Harkins, Ithaka S+R, American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU)
Source: ITHAKA S+R. 2024.
Availability: ITHAKA S+R. Available from: ITHAKA. One Liberty Plaza, 165 Broadway 5th Floor, New York, NY 10006. Tel: 212-500-2355; e-mail: ithakasr@ithaka.org; Web site: https://sr.ithaka.org
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 52
Publication Date: 2024
Document Type: Information Analyses
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Higher Education, Democracy, College Attendance, Educational Attainment, Citizen Participation, Political Attitudes, Behavior, Definitions, Relationship, College Graduates
DOI: 10.18665/sr.320850
Abstract: The link between higher education and participation in and attitudes toward democracy is well-documented in the literature. Those with a college degree are more likely to vote, more civically active, and politically knowledgeable. They are also less likely to favor authoritarian political stances. While the aspects of higher education--whether instruction in critical thinking, service-learning opportunities, enhanced economic stability, or upward mobility--that lead to these outcomes are less clear, it is clear that higher education can play a fundamental role in upholding democracy and shaping informed, active citizens, and postsecondary education is often cited as a significant factor in shaping the civic fabric of society. Yet in recent decades, observers have voiced concerns about the dearth of college courses that deal with topics related to civics or fundamental concepts of a democratic and free society. Notably, "A Crucible Moment," a 2012 report by the National Task Force on Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement, issued a national call to action aimed to "reclaim and reinvest in the fundamental civic and democratic mission of schools and of all sectors within higher education." Furthermore, political polarization, mis/disinformation, censorship, and uncivil discourse have turned academic campuses into proxy settings where these larger political battles are increasing in prevalence and frequency. Against this backdrop, Ithaka S+R, in collaboration with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, undertook a research project focused on the link between higher education, civic engagement, and democratic attitudes and behaviors. Below, we present a landscape review of the relevant literature on the topic, guided by the following research questions: (1) What is the impact of postsecondary education on civic engagement and democratic attitudes and behaviors?; (2) How have researchers defined, operationalized, and measured civic engagement in the context of higher education?; (3) How are postsecondary institutions and key stakeholders institutionalizing civic engagement as part of their curricular and co-curricular programming? In our landscape review, drawing on studies from the past few decades, we focus on how researchers and practitioners define civic engagement, the nature of the relationship between higher education and civic behaviors and attitudes, the differential impact of civic education on different groups, and the effectiveness of different types of civic engagement programming. Below we present our key findings and areas of strategic priority for higher education institutions, as well as directions for future research.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2024
Accession Number: ED652741
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: ED652741
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Report
PubTypeId: report
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Assessing the Civic Campus: The Link between Higher Education and Democracy
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ioana+G%2E+Hulbert%22">Ioana G. Hulbert</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Deirdre+Harkins%22">Deirdre Harkins</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ithaka+S%2BR%22">Ithaka S+R</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22American+Association+of+State+Colleges+and+Universities+%28AASCU%29%22">American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU)</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22ITHAKA+S%2BR%22"><i>ITHAKA S+R</i></searchLink>. 2024.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: ITHAKA S+R. Available from: ITHAKA. One Liberty Plaza, 165 Broadway 5th Floor, New York, NY 10006. Tel: 212-500-2355; e-mail: ithakasr@ithaka.org; Web site: https://sr.ithaka.org
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: N
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 52
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2024
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Information Analyses<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Democracy%22">Democracy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Attendance%22">College Attendance</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Attainment%22">Educational Attainment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Citizen+Participation%22">Citizen Participation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Political+Attitudes%22">Political Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Behavior%22">Behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Definitions%22">Definitions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Relationship%22">Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Graduates%22">College Graduates</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.18665/sr.320850
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The link between higher education and participation in and attitudes toward democracy is well-documented in the literature. Those with a college degree are more likely to vote, more civically active, and politically knowledgeable. They are also less likely to favor authoritarian political stances. While the aspects of higher education--whether instruction in critical thinking, service-learning opportunities, enhanced economic stability, or upward mobility--that lead to these outcomes are less clear, it is clear that higher education can play a fundamental role in upholding democracy and shaping informed, active citizens, and postsecondary education is often cited as a significant factor in shaping the civic fabric of society. Yet in recent decades, observers have voiced concerns about the dearth of college courses that deal with topics related to civics or fundamental concepts of a democratic and free society. Notably, "A Crucible Moment," a 2012 report by the National Task Force on Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement, issued a national call to action aimed to "reclaim and reinvest in the fundamental civic and democratic mission of schools and of all sectors within higher education." Furthermore, political polarization, mis/disinformation, censorship, and uncivil discourse have turned academic campuses into proxy settings where these larger political battles are increasing in prevalence and frequency. Against this backdrop, Ithaka S+R, in collaboration with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, undertook a research project focused on the link between higher education, civic engagement, and democratic attitudes and behaviors. Below, we present a landscape review of the relevant literature on the topic, guided by the following research questions: (1) What is the impact of postsecondary education on civic engagement and democratic attitudes and behaviors?; (2) How have researchers defined, operationalized, and measured civic engagement in the context of higher education?; (3) How are postsecondary institutions and key stakeholders institutionalizing civic engagement as part of their curricular and co-curricular programming? In our landscape review, drawing on studies from the past few decades, we focus on how researchers and practitioners define civic engagement, the nature of the relationship between higher education and civic behaviors and attitudes, the differential impact of civic education on different groups, and the effectiveness of different types of civic engagement programming. Below we present our key findings and areas of strategic priority for higher education institutions, as well as directions for future research.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2024
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: ED652741
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=ED652741
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.18665/sr.320850
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 52
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Higher Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Democracy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Attendance
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Attainment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Citizen Participation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Political Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Behavior
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Definitions
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Relationship
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Graduates
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Assessing the Civic Campus: The Link between Higher Education and Democracy
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Ithaka S+R
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU)
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Ioana G. Hulbert
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Deirdre Harkins
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 04
              M: 06
              Type: published
              Y: 2024
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: ITHAKA S+R
              Type: main
ResultId 1