Tag Archives: Civics

Civics Literacy Conference Returning to SPC this Fall

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It has been almost two years since Closing the Gap: The Florida College System Civics Literacy Initiative was officially launched at a workshop conducted by the St. Petersburg College Institute for Strategic Policy Solutions. Many of the FCS representatives who attended, went home inspired to advance civics literacy across their college’s curricula as well as into the community they serve. Many excellent ideas on how to do that emerged from the conference.

So, how have we done since October 2013? Have we had success at closing the gap? And how can we continue to expand civics literacy across the Florida College System? We will attempt to answer those questions at a follow-up Civics Literacy Initiative conference this fall at St. Petersburg College. The meeting has been approved by the Council of Presidents, and a COP advisory committee is working with the Institute as we plan for this event. Partners will include the Education Commission of the States, the Bob Graham Center for Public Service, the Lou Frey Institute for Politics and Government, Campus Compact and the Florida Department of Education.

The best dates for this conference appear to be Oct. 29-30th, a Thursday and Friday. Those dates are just over halfway into the fall semester, and they avoid conflicting with two related conferences scheduled in November: Campus Compact and Association of Florida Colleges. Ending the conference on a Friday afternoon allows any who wish to enjoy Pinellas County’s great beaches to extend their stay into the weekend.

While the agenda for the conference is still being developed, I hope you will save the dates on your fall calendar now in order to join your FCS colleagues at this important conference. I encourage you to consider attending as a team with your counterpart in Student Affairs/Academic Affairs if possible. We expect to provide a session in team-building to maximize civics literacy reach into both of these key strategic components of FCS operations. As in 2013, registration will be free, and some meals will be included.

If you have thoughts on topics you would like to be taken up at the conference, please feel free to reply to this post to share your ideas or you can email policysolutionsinstitute@spcollege.edu. Also, click HERE to view resources from the 2013 conference .

Institute Awarded Campus Compact Democracy Project Grant

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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. 2nd. 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.