CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Iowa Board of Regents has officially approved the establishment of the Center for Civic Education at the University of Northern Iowa. This new initiative is aimed at fostering civic engagement among students, faculty and community members. 

The center builds on UNI’s strong foundation in civic education. UNI already has civic education curriculum in place, created by a multidisciplinary team of faculty members with the support of a competitive National Endowment for the Humanities grant. The university also offers strong co-curricular programs that help students and the public engage in civic discourse. UNI’s tradition as the state’s teacher education leader gives it the opportunity to expand that reach to K-12 education. 

“UNI’s impressive archival collections, commitment to recognizing the value of public service, and excellence in teacher preparation position UNI to be a leader in civic education and free speech curriculum development and research,” said Jennifer McNabb, professor and head of the Department of History at UNI.

The center’s activities this year will include sponsoring speakers and supporting UNI’s award-winning Panthers Vote program and other civic engagement efforts. The center will also continue to offer professional development opportunities for faculty and staff, including sponsoring a three-day workshop in the spring for 30 faculty members to learn how to more effectively integrate discussion activities into their courses. This year UNI will conduct a national search for a full-time director to be in place in the 2025-26 academic year.

The university has proposed that the center be housed within the Commons, renovating the building into a hub for outreach and civic education. The Commons has long been used as a center point for civic and community building, first serving as a campus dining center and union building and more recently as a home for the UNI Foundation and a meeting place for community events.

Serving as a hub for outreach activities and K-12 educational programs that promote civic literacy, the center’s impact will go beyond UNI campus. It will:

• Help members of the campus community develop the knowledge, skills and values necessary to participate meaningfully as citizens.
• Enhance UNI's civic engagement activities through a wide range of programs and events that expose students and members of the public to differing viewpoints and give them opportunities to engage in meaningful dialogue with one another. 
• Foster civic learning among Iowa's pre-service and in-service teachers, offering them opportunities for continued professional development in civic learning.

The Center for Civic Education is UNI’s response to the Board of Regents’ November 2023 directive to Regent institutions “to establish a widespread initiative that includes opportunities for education and research on free speech and civic education.” It reflects significant university initiatives in this area both before and since this directive was established.

“The creation of the Center for Civic Education is an exciting step forward for UNI,” said Scott Peters, professor and head of the Department of Political Science at UNI. “It reflects our university’s dedication to preparing students not just for their careers, but for their roles as informed and active citizens.”