Civil Civic Engagement: Integrating Civic Engagement into the College Curriculum

This paper presents the results of a study examining the effectiveness of an interdisciplinary high-impact practice aimed at improving skills central to civic engagement. This interdisciplinary project connects students in political science, sociology, and criminology with our community partner, Braver Angels of Wilmington, NC. Braver Angels is a nationwide citizens' organization that intentionally brings together liberal and conservative Americans in a working alliance to depolarize America. The goal for the project is to develop “soft skills,” like respectful engagement, empathy, community building, and teamwork. In the Fall 2024 semester, students participated in debates on issues of their choosing. Braver Angels provides specific procedures and methods for the respectful exchange of views with an appreciation of the diversity of thought. We will assess the effectiveness of our partnership through pretest/posttest data analysis using course Intentions/Reflections and survey data.