Understanding Centers & Institutes of Civic Engagement: A Qualitative Approach

• In Event: Pluralism Meets Pluralism: Ethnography, Decolonization, and Civic Engagement

Abstract

In 2016, the authors collaborated on research that examined the role and the activities of civic engagement centers and institutes that exist on college campuses. This work entailed identifying centers and institutes of civic engagement on campuses recognized for their strong record of civic engagement, highlighting their common features, providing a sketch of the nature of the work of these centers and institutes, and pinpointing resources to faculty and campuses who might want to make use of such centers on their campuses or even establish one themselves
This effort made it clear that research regarding such centers and institutes was relatively sparse and often focused only on service-learning or broadly conceived versions of civic engagement. There is good reason to explore systematically the political engagement that takes place in such centers and institutes as well as the role of political scientists in these efforts. As political scientists, we naturally are curious to learn more about the nature and extent of political activities taking place at or through such centers and the role of political science in these endeavors.
Furthermore, there is also reason to expect that the current political climate is pulling centers of civic engagement, as well as political scientists, into campus-wide discussions about campus efforts to engage students in electoral activities (get of the vote, census, voting). It is reasonable to assume that campuses are looking to their centers and institutes of civic engagement as the focal point of these efforts. As such, there is value in knowing more about these centers as well as the role of political scientists
Our research on centers and institutes of civic engagement has continued since the original publication. At APSA 2020, we presented preliminary data from a survey of political science departments and individual political scientists on their interactions with centers and institutes and their own role in political engagement efforts on their campuses. What’s clear is that the scholarship lacks a rich description of center and institutes of civic engagement. What sort of interventions do they lead on a campus? What are the civic and political implications of what they are able to do? How do they navigate through internal and external political pressures? The answers to these questions are best derived from qualitative research.
In order to answer these questions, we are proposing a paper that will present case studies of a selection of civic and political engagement centers and institutes. We will select approximately 5 nationwide to study. We hope that the information we gain from these case studies will allow us to begin to understand the best practices of successful centers and institutes.
We believe that there still is much to learn about civic engagement centers and institutes. As political scientists are being invited to join campus-wide mobilization efforts, there is both scholarly and practical value in determining what makes them successful and how to replicate that success across our campuses.

Authors

• Mary A. McHugh, Merrimack College

• Elizabeth C. Matto, Rutgers University, New Brunswick