Programs

The Center for Civic Engagement participates in several programs including:

Candidate Forums

Candidates and elected officials visit campuses to discuss topical issues and encourage electoral participation.

Deliberative Dialogues

Deliberative Dialogues provide a way for community members of diverse views and experiences to search for common ground for action by engaging in civil discourse on sometimes controversial topics in a safe space that promotes understanding, critical thinking, and the importance of voting on and discussing community issues.

Common Read

Common Read programs are designed to create a shared intellectual experience for the students at Lone Star College. A campuswide book is selected as the "Common Read" for that school year, and events and programs are facilitated to foster a deeper understanding of the relevancy of the material to today's world.

Human Library

The Human Library seeks to challenge prejudice by facilitating a conversation between two people: Books and Readers. Individuals volunteer as 'human books', sharing their unique experiences to foster dialogue, reduce prejudices, and encourage understanding.

Speaker Series

Guest speakers including scholars and authors present on contemporary civic engagement issues. Also called the Lyceum Lecture Series.

Hunger Banquet

When guests arrive at the Oxfam America Hunger Banquet, they draw tickets at random that assign each to a high-, middle, or low-income tier – based on the latest statistics about the number of people living in poverty. Participants gain insight into global wealth and food distribution based on their assigned income level, fostering awareness of policy and legislation that addresses socioeconomic disparities.

Internships

Each year Lone Star College students may choose to do internships in the offices of local, state, or national elected officials, with campaigns or staff assistance, or in community service, nonprofit & charity organizations spanning across all areas of civic participation. The Center for Civic Engagement has compiled a list of over a hundred such opportunities. These experiences provide excellent opportunities for developing job skills, connections, and a deep understanding of becoming an engaged citizen, as well as helping others do the same.

Service Learning

Service Learning is an experiential learning component to a student’s educational program which weds academic concepts with a real civic experiences.

Constitution Day

A day commemorating the U.S. Constitution and its ongoing relevance, with workshops, interactive exhibits, and guest speakers.

National Model United Nations (NMUN)

National Model United Nations provides a diverse group of informed college/university students and faculty from all over the world a forum for addressing global concerns in a real world context.

Debate Watch Parties

Big-screen & virtual viewing of candidate debates.

Global Citizenship Activities

Activities such as Story Circles, Global Coffee Hour, and Intercultural Competency sessions foster global understanding and empathy, and encourage students to vote with a broader global perspective (considering the global significance of their vote).

National Society of Leadership & Success (NSLS)

Students who participate in this leadership development opportunity participate in civic engagement-related events such as debates and presentations.

Democracy Classroom Initiative

Civic Engagement faculty & other instructors integrate modules on civic engagement and the democratic process into course curriculum, providing students with foundational knowledge and inspiring active participation.

Free Speech Week

A week of activities including guest speakers on media literacy and civic engagement issues, deliberative dialogues, free speech walls on campus, debate or speaker rebroadcasts, library "Banned Books" displays, and open mic poetry slams.

Enhanced+ Library Card

A full-service library card that may be used as a form of ID for electoral participation locally.

Up to Us

Net Impact/Up to Us is a national leadership development competition that aims to increase public awareness and understanding of fiscal and economic challenges in the U.S.

Unify America Challenge

Students participate in online conversations with politically opposite college students, fostering critical thinking, empathy, and understanding of contemporary issues.

Street Law Program

This organization provides training materials that assist students and individuals in understanding law and government, foster the rule of law, and empower marginalized communities. 

Immersive Technology

Immersive VR (virtual reality) technology provides students with historical and civic engagement experiences.

Constitution Day

Electoral education and participation activities during September 17, commemorating the day the U.S. Constitution was signed. 

Election Day Campus Events

Campuses host events on election days to celebrate democracy, including watch parties for election results, discussions, and booths providing information about the electoral process.

New Citizens' Guide to Voting

Lone Star College's Center for Civic Engagement works with partnering public libraries to provide citizenship preparation classes and pathways, to encourage electoral participation, and to demonstrate the voting process.

Walk the Vote

Students walk to the early voting location to cast votes together (or, on Election Day, to participating on-campus polling places). 

Community Partnerships

LSC-Center for Civic Engagement works with community partners such as Mi Familia Vota and Women League of Voters to increase electoral participation within the community of the greater service area of Lone Star College.