Comparing First-Year Students’ Civic Engagement Pre- and Post-Pandemic: Insights From the National Survey of Student Engagement 2018 and 2021

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Abstract

This study compares first-year college students’ perceptions of democratic awareness and democratic participation before and post-COVID-19 pandemic using data from the National Survey of Student Engagement of 2018 and 2021 surveys and their Civic Engagement module. It also examines factors associated with democratic awareness and participation at two data points. The findings indicate that educationally purposeful activities, such as having discussions with people holding diverse perspectives in course discussions or assignments, taking courses with service-learning opportunities, engaging in learning community, attending events that address social, economic, or political issues, and doing community service or volunteer work, have significant predictive powers on democratic awareness and participation other than demographic factors. The results remain consistent across two time periods, pre- and post-pandemic.

Authors

• Qingmin Shi, University of Nevada - Las Vegas

• Ashley Guyer, University of Nevada - Las Vegas

• John Crooker, University of Nevada - Las Vegas