MSU's Democracy Project Encourages Civic Engagement

In April 2005, Provost Richard Lynde invited several members of the faculty and staff to a join a steering committee to develop an institutional strategy to foster civic engagement at Montclair State University.

Working with over 200 other institutions affiliated with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, the American Democracy Project (ADP) was established on campus.

Freyda Lazarus, director of the Center for Community-Based Learning and Campus Coordinator of the ADP, said, "Our university community has to make a systematic effort to strengthen civic understanding as part of the college experience."

The committee was charged with developing, implementing and coordinating activities on campus that would encourage undergraduates to participate in the civic life of their communities; foster collaboration and communication among those already engaged, and encourage additional members of the faculty, staff and student body to become involved.

The ADP administered a survey to more than 11,000 MSU undergraduates. Among the 911 respondents:

• almost 75 percent indicated that they were not aware of and did not participate in activities pertaining to civic engagement at MSU;
• 85 percent agreed or strongly agreed that they could "make a difference in their community," and
• 79 percent said that "they are comfortable working with cultures other than their own" and "that they have the responsibility to serve their community."

"We are preparing the next generation of citizens," said Lazarus. "This may be our last chance to influence our students to understand the moral and civic dimensions of issues and then make informed judgments and then take action."

To commemorate the signing of the final draft of the Constitution, on September 17, 1787, the Montclair State ADP’s Constitution Programs Planning Committee has put together a guide to online resources about the Constitution. The guide includes information on resources from Sprague Library and beyond, as well as an extensive list of web-accessible video broadcasts. The guide can be found at: http://library.montclair.edu/Rodriguez/constitutionpage.htm

American Democracy Project Webpage