Students at UTM are about to show more of their civic side. The American Association of State Colleges and Universities, of which UTM is a member, along with The New York Times and the Carnegie Foundation, are sponsoring the American Democracy Project.

UTM joins Middle Tennessee State University and the University of Memphis as one of only three institutions in the state participating and the only University of Tennessee campus involved.

The American Democracy Project is a multi-campus initiative that seeks to create an intellectual and experiential understanding of civic engagement in the United States in the 21st century. The project aims to increase the number of undergraduate students who understand and are committed to engaging in meaningful civic actions.

The initiative grows out of a concern about decreasing rates of participation in voting, in advocacy, in volunteerism in local grassroots associations, and in other forms of civic engagement that are necessary for the vitality of U.S. democracy.

“As a coordinating group, AASCU has assembled a group of experts and opportunities for some 146 individual institutions to review the effort and discuss possible involvement,” said Dr. Tom Rakes, UTM vice chancellor for academic affairs.

Several study groups will be formed to review materials such as Educating Citizens: Preparing America's Undergraduates for Lives of Moral and Civic Responsibility written by Anne Colby, Thomas Ehrlich, Elizabeth Beaumont and Jason Stephens. The groups, including students, faculty and other interested campus representatives, will study the concept to determine what extent UTM will become involved in the project.

The American Democracy Project will ask participating institutions to review and restructure academic programs and processes; extracurricular programs and activities; the institutional culture; and to focus the attention of policy makers and opinion leaders on the civic value of the college experience.

“As a global goal, I would expect our involvement to consolidate many existing opportunities and expand experiences for students that will develop civic engagement and understanding of how democracy works,” said Rakes.

The project will initially involve AASCU-member campuses, representing more than 1.3 million students. Direction and support will come from a national group of university presidents and chancellors, including UTM Chancellor Nick Dunagan who serves on the AASCU Committee on the Undergraduate Experience. Operational guidance is provided from a group of chief academic officers who serve as the Implementation Committee that includes UTM’s Rakes.

UTM is already recognized on the American Democracy Project Web site (link</A>). The WestStar Leadership Program, headed by Dunagan, is prominently featured on the left sidebar.