Exploring the Contribution of Facilitated Civic Engagement Experiences on Civic Life and Values

• In Event: Engagement in Higher Education

Abstract

Advancing the development of a civic identity in today’s college student is more crucial than ever for building a just and vibrant democracy (Musil, 2009). This study analyzes the civic outcomes of a treatment group (n=107) of students who participated in a facilitated civic mentoring program and a control group (n=111). Students in both groups received a survey to assess their civic proclivities. Preliminary findings revealed that those in the treatment group had significantly higher interaction with civic experiences since entering college, and indicated more importance to civic values and civic life than their control group peers. These results indicate that a facilitated civic mentoring model has the potential to increase students’ civic mindedness and values in college.

Authors

• Sarah E Kurz, University of Pittsburgh

• Linda DeAngelo, University of Pittsburgh