The Institute for Strategic Policy Solutions at SPC has been selected as a winner of a Florida Campus Compact 2014 Campus Democracy Project Mini-Grant. The grant of $1,000 will support four of ISPS’ fall programs centered on student and citizen involvement in the fall elections and key policy issues.

The purpose of the 2014 Campus Democracy Project is “to promote civil discourse and critical inquiry in collegiate non-partisan, issue-based civic dialogue,” according to Florida Campus Compact. Applicants are expected to host a series of one to four non-partisan dialogues during the election cycle that “inspire leadership and civic responsibility for conscientious citizenship in a participatory democracy. . .”

The grant requirements meshed perfectly with the Institute’s fall agenda of election-oriented programs, said David Klement, Executive Director.  “Selection for this grant for our fall events validates the work the Institute does year around to promote civic engagement and civil discourse.”

The four events that qualified for the grant are:

• The Great Debate. This debate competition among teams on five SPC campuses focuses on policy issues in play in the fall election or in the national conversation.  Topics selected for the preliminaries which will be held the week of Oct. 13, by campus: Medical Marijuana (Amendment 2 on the Florida ballot), Seminole; Stand Your Ground Law, Clearwater; and Guns on Campus, Tarpon Springs, Downtown/Midtown, and St. Pete Gibbs. The topic for the final debate competition on Nov. 13 at Seminole is Immigration Reform.
• Dealing with Gridlock, a series of debates on the Pinellas County sales tax referendum to support public transit improvements. ISPS has already hosted two debates on the issue, at Seminole and Midtown, and plans a third on Sept. 30 at the Clearwater campus.
• Candidate Debates: Candidates for local office will debate the issues in a 3 ½-hour forum sponsored by the Institute on Oct. 2^nd. Candidates include those seeking seats on the Pinellas County Commission, Florida House and Florida Senate. In addition, two proposed amendments to the Florida Constitution will be discussed.
• Gubernatorial Debate Watch Party: A facilitated discussion among SPC students of points raised during the Oct. 15 debate by gubernatorial candidates, incumbent Rick Scott and challenger Charlie Crist. Soft drinks and pizza provided, in UP 303 at Seminole.

Florida Campus Compact (FL|CC), part of a national presidential membership organization, is comprised of over 50 college and university presidents who are committed to helping students develop the values and skills of active citizenship through participation in public and community service. FL|CC works with these presidents and their campuses to integrate service with academic study and to provide a collegial experience for intercampus and community collaborations. Its goals are:

• To enrich the quality of academic instruction through a broader, more engaged collegiate learning experience.
• To strengthen academics and civic engagement through reciprocal campus-community partnerships.
• To support communities in Florida through symbiotic campus-community collaboration.
• To inspire leadership and civic responsibility for conscientious citizenship in a participatory democracy.
• To contribute to the development of a better prepared and more knowledgeable workforce.