Madison Reporter

University of Wisconsin–Madison Chancellor Jennifer L. Mnookin has joined forces with 60 university leaders nationwide to advance civic preparedness and uphold free expression on campus. The initiative, called College Presidents for Civic Preparedness, aims to equip students with the necessary skills to engage in civil discourse and become active citizens in society.

Mnookin expressed her enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “This is a pivotal moment in our country as public confidence in institutions has declined. I look forward to working with my colleagues to encourage and support constructive engagement across differences in beliefs and backgrounds. This important work will strengthen our students as learners and citizens and our democracy.”

The consortium, convened by the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, emphasizes three shared Civic Commitments: educating for democracy, preparing students for a diverse society, and protecting free inquiry. Participating university presidents will implement campus-specific programming to fulfill these commitments, such as new courses, outside speakers, student orientations, and voter education initiatives.

At UW–Madison, several initiatives are already in place to promote civic engagement, including The Discussion Project, Deliberation Dinners, and the Main Street Agenda project in collaboration with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Additionally, the BadgersVote initiative aims to empower students to participate in democracy effectively.

Rajiv Vinnakota, President of the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, highlighted the importance of higher education in developing citizens, stating, “Higher education has a responsibility to provide students with critical civic skills and knowledge to participate effectively in our constitutional democracy.”

The College Presidents for Civic Preparedness initiative has received support from various foundations, including the ECMC Foundation, Knight Foundation, Lumina Foundation, and others, along with individual campus contributions for related projects. The consortium's efforts underscore the commitment of university leaders to prepare students for active civic engagement and uphold free expression on campus.