Democratic government cannot thrive without robust participation in civic life. We are currently experiencing declining levels of civic engagement and knowledge across the country. According to a 2022 survey by the  Annenberg Public Policy Center less than half of U.S. adults (47%) could name all three branches of government. The American Bar Association’s Survey of Civic Literacy concluded that nearly three-quarters of respondents viewed American democracy as weaker than it was five years ago due to the spread of misinformation and disinformation. The College of Arts and Sciences is dedicated to reversing these trends. 

 

The College has a partnership with South Anchorage High School to increase civic engagement as well as awareness and knowledge of the nation’s governing institutions and its history. The Civic Leadership Pathway (CLP) is a dual enrollment program where South High students take courses in History, English, Political Science, and Philosophy with the goal of cultivating leadership skills and greater civic participation. UAA faculty work directly with South High educators and serve as guest lecturers or lead seminar-style discussions in the high school classes. The goal is to build a scholarly community among the students, teachers, and professors. Students in the program have taken part in the Alaska Young Philosophers competition, attended the UAA Ethics Bowl and traveled to Washington DC this spring to participate in the National History Day competition.

 

The South Anchorage High School CLP is also a direct bridge to the College of Arts and Science’s new Civics Leadership pathway within our interdisciplinary degree. The degree is designed for students with an interest in politics, public policy, and civic engagement. It prepares students through broad exposure to a variety of disciplines in CAS to assume leadership positions in the public and private sector. The courses will also make use of the Alaska Leaders Archive and the extensive congressional records of Senator Ted Stevens to provide greater insight into leadership styles, the process of crafting public policy and engaging in self-government. It is a critical time to raise the profile of civics education, and with these initiatives, the College of Arts and Sciences is doing precisely that.