Teleconference
Background Reading Ideas

Educating for Citizenship
By Caryn McTighe Musil, vice president for diversity, equity, and global initiatives, Association of American Colleges and Universities.
“There has been a quiet revolution occurring in the academy over the last two decades. Civic concerns have achieved new visibility alongside the traditional academic mission of higher education. It is difficult to find a college campus that does not tout a coordinating center for community service, service-learning courses, or research centers devoted to distinctly civic issues. Institutions have redefined themselves to be more responsible citizens in their communities. Nearly a thousand college presidents are members of Campus Compact, an organization created to promote greater campus-community involvement. Seventy-eight percent of students participate in some sort of service experience before they graduate…”

Civic Responsibility in Higher Education.
T. Ehrlich, ed. 448 pages. $45.95.
Available from ACE/Oryx Press at www.oryxpress.com.
“An examination of the issues and prospects for enhancing civic responsibility through institutions of higher learning, including planning, programming, and implementing initiatives.” Includes “Civic Renewal in Higher Education: The State of the Movement and the Need for a National Network,” co-authored by Campus Compact Executive Director Elizabeth Hollander.

President's Declaration on the Civic Responsibility of Higher Education
Campus Compact. www.compact.org
“The purpose of this statement is to articulate the commitment of all sectors of higher education-public and private, two- and four-year-to their civic purposes. The statement was reviewed, refined, and endorsed at a Presidents' Leadership Colloquium convened by Campus Compact and the American Council on Education in July 1999.” (Campus Compact), 2000.

Rethinking Civic Education for the 21st Century
By Todd Clark

“Educational Missions and Civic Responsibility: Toward the Engaged Academy” from Civic Responsibility and Higher Education
By Carol Geary Schneider. (Phoenix, Arizona: Oryx Press), 2000. ISBN 1-57356-289-0.
“More than a century ago, John Dewey challenged the education community to look to civic involvement for the betterment of both community and campus. Today, the challenge remains. In this landmark book, editor Thomas Ehrlich has collected essays from national leaders who have focused on civic responsibility and higher education. Imparting both philosophy and working example, Ehrlich provides the inspiration for innovative new programs in this essential area of learning.”

The New Citizenship: Unconventional Politics, Activism, and Service
By Craig Rimmerman. Paperback, 1997, 160 pages. Published by Westview Press
“Beginning with the question, 'What role should the citizenry play in the American political system?' Rimmerman contends that a strong public life is fundamental to liberal democracy. But political participation, he argues, must be conceptualized 'far more broadly than mere participation in periodic elections.' The text explains why the lack of citizen participation is such a problem and outlines its sources, suggesting ways in which Americans may conquer their apathy toward government.

Everyday Politics: Reconnecting Citizens and Public Life. Discussion Guide for Higher Education
”The book Everyday Politics offers the opportunity to discuss issues of politics, education, service, civic learning, and community building with multiple constituencies on your campus. Dialogues can reinforce a key theme of the book, that citizens can engage in productive ways to build democratic communities. We suggest that dialogues can be created among groups of students, faculty, staff, administrators, boards of trustees, and groups that represent cross sections of these affiliations as well as representation from community partners. The value of exploring the themes of the book is to collectively explore ways in which to operationalize civic engagement on campus - in courses and programs - in a way that deliberately includes politics and aims at fostering civic learning…”

Smart Communities: How Citizens and Local Leaders Can Use Strategic Thinking to Build a Brighter Future
By Suzanne W. Morse, Executive Director of the Pew Partnership for Civic Change (Jossey-Bass, 2004)
"Based on the results of more than a decade of research by the Pew Partnership for Civic Change, Smart Communities provides directions for strategic decision-making and outlines the key strategies used by thousands of leaders who have worked to create successful communities. Smart Communities offers leaders from both the public and private sectors the tools they need to create a better future for all the community's citizens."

Soul of a Citizen: Living With Conviction in a Cynical Time By Paul Loeb. Paperback, 1999, 362 pages. Published by St. Martins Press
“Soul of a Citizen is an antidote to the twin scourges of modern life - powerlessness and cynicism. But at the book's core are moving stories of ordinary Americans who've found unexpected fulfillment in social involvement. Believing that personal stories, not politics, capture people's attention, Loeb seamlessly weaves in inspiring examples of "unexpected heroism in ordinary people" and successful activism. Through their example and Loeb's reflections, Soul of a Citizen awakens within us the desire and the ability to make our voices heard and our actions count. Informed by his lifelong participation in peace, justice, and environmental causes, Loeb argues that democratic citizenship is not an inborn proclivity, but a learned social behavior. Moreover, he demonstrates that social change is the product of time and enduring public commitment.”

After the Votes are Counted: A Post-Election Guide to Maintaining College Student Civic Engagement
Campus Compact, www.compact.org
“A resource for community service directors, presidents, and students on ways to continue civic engagement in non-election years. Highlights best practices from campus efforts around the 2000 election and offers curricular, co-curricular, and institutional strategies for connecting students with political participation.” (2001. 48 pages.)

“Structured Reflection”
Campus Compact, www.compact.org
This website provides facts and tips on how to incorporate structured reflection into your service activities.

Please address all questions to:
Sherita Moses, Student Projects Coordinator, Campus Compact
smoses@compact.org, 401.867.3932