Educating the Next Generation of Leaders for Iowa
The Center for Civic Education at the University of Northern Iowa enhances civic education among university students, pre-K-12 students and teachers, and the broader public by researching, developing and implementing effective civic learning strategies and encouraging respectful dialogue across differences. The center promotes the values of and offers educational resources on free speech, civic leadership, public service and citizenship.
Key Activities
Promoting civic learning at Iowa’s universities
Researching and encouraging effective curricular innovation and professional development to help members of the campus community develop the knowledge, skills and values necessary to participate meaningfully as citizens.
Enhancing UNI’s civic engagement activities
A wide range of programs and events expose students and members of the public to divergent viewpoints on topics of interest and give them opportunities to engage in meaningful dialogue with one another.
Fostering civic learning among Iowa’s pre-service & in-service teachers
Offering opportunities for continued professional development in civic learning.
UNI is Iowa’s leader in training teachers.
With UNI alumni teaching in all 99 Iowa counties and all but 3 of Iowa’s school districts, UNI produces teachers who instruct future Iowa citizens. The most effective means of increasing civic literacy and cultivating a robust consideration of free speech issues throughout the state comes through UNI.
UNI has a strong foundation in civic education.
It boasts the Civic Literacy, Engagement and the Humanities certificate and minor, implemented after two years of grant-funded course development and training for faculty in civic literacy and fostering free speech in the classroom.
UNI has rich community partnerships and a proven track record of community engagement.
UNI is well positioned to expand on its nationally-recognized success in exposing students to civic processes through activities like Panthers Vote and its robust network of community partners in the Cedar Valley and across the state. UNI is prepared to take civic education and free speech programs out to Iowa communities and to host preK-12 teachers, community leaders, and organizations for programming on campus.
UNI has unique research capacities in Iowa history and politics.
In January 2024, Senator Chuck Grassley announced a gift of his senatorial papers to UNI. These papers will join his U.S. House and Iowa legislative papers and an impressive array of other archival materials and collections that will attract scholars throughout Iowa and beyond, allowing UNI to promote research and scholarship in civic education and free speech.
