Building Civic Literacy and Engagement: Reflections on a Semester of Impact at App State
About the Session
The purpose of this program is to provide an overview of the Civic Literacy Initiative currently being implemented at Appalachian State University. The initiative, established in the Summer of 2024, seeks to foster a nonpartisan, civically engaged, and informed campus community. The initiative aims to support all students as they develop into leaders who can skillfully navigate complex conversations, increase democratic engagement, and build strong community ties through experiential learning.
The following three pillars represent our campus approach to Civic Literacy:
- Freedom of Speech
- App Votes: Voter Awareness and Education
- Dialogue across Difference.
The need for civic literacy programming is increasingly relevant in the context of higher education. As universities seek to prepare students not only for careers but also for active participation in society, the role of student affairs professionals in fostering civic engagement has become more critical. Civic Literacy plays an essential part in developing students into responsible and engaged citizens. The session will provide an in-depth exploration of the civic literacy initiatives implemented this semester, with a focus on the three foundational pillars. Also, in this session, participants will explore the challenges of implementing civic literacy initiatives in an academic and social environment, as well as how to overcome these barriers to create a more engaging and impactful student development experience. They will have the opportunity to reflect on these efforts and identify practical approaches to integrating civic literacy into their own functional areas.
Session III, Anne Belk Hall, Room 110
Learning Outcomes
- Participants will be able to identify key strategies and activities used in civic literacy initiatives at Appalachian State University this semester
- Participants will leave with a clear understanding of how civic literacy relates to the broader goals of student development and community engagement at Appalachian State
- Participants will understand the impact of civic literacy efforts on student engagement and articulate ways to apply similar approaches within their roles
