The Lone Star College Center for Civic Engagement has partnered with the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) and The Democracy Commitment (TDC) to sponsor a local public forum entitled “Citizenship Under Siege”.
William O’ Rourke, emeritus professor, The University of Notre Dame and Dr. Nancy Beck Young, University of Houston history professor will speak on the subject of inequality and broaden the discussion from political or economic perspectives to how it effects the humanities. After they speak, there will be question and answer period followed by deliberative dialogue.
The event will take place April 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the LSC-North Harris Student Services Building.
“We are delighted to offer Lone Star College students and members of the community the opportunity to take part in this very important dialogue on how inequality impacts citizenship,” said Dr. John Theis, director, LSC Center for Civic Engagement. “These public forums are grounded in the nation’s history and explore creative ways to use the power of the humanities to bridge differences and build strong communities.”
The AAC&U and TDC recently received a $200,000 grant from the National Endowment for Humanities (NEH) to sponsor a series of public forums across the country. LSC was one of seven community colleges selected to host a forum.
“We need the humanities, now more than ever, because they give us access to the most fundamental and consequential dimensions and forces of our experience,” said William D. Adams, NEH chairman.
In addition to LSC, City University Kingsborough Community College, New York; Middlesex Community College, Massachusetts; County College of Morris, New Jersey; Santa Fe College, Florida; Mount Wachusett Community College, Massachusetts; and Miami Dade College, Florida will also participate and host similar forums.
"Community college students represent the broadest diversity of our nation's students and our communities, and they are deeply interested in developing their own voice,” said Brian Murphy, De Anza Community College president and co-founder of TDC. “Community college students seek to build more generous and caring communities, where one people is built out of many. This grant will enable us to expand and augment the excellent work already underway on so many of our campuses."
“The Lone Star College Center for Civic Engagement helps students engage in issues facing our community,” said Theis. “Students who participate in civic engagement tend to earn higher grade point averages and are more likely to complete their college degree.”
About NEH
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is an independent federal agency created in 1965. It is one of the largest funders of humanities programs in the United States. Because democracy demands wisdom, NEH serves and strengthens our republic by promoting excellence in the humanities and conveying the lessons of history to all Americans. The Endowment accomplishes this mission by awarding grants for top-rated proposals examined by panels of independent, external reviewers. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the NEH.
About AAC&U
AAC&U is the leading national association concerned with the quality, vitality, and public standing of undergraduate liberal education. Its members are committed to extending the advantages of a liberal education to all students, regardless of academic specialization or intended career. Founded in 1915, AAC&U now comprises more than 1,300 member institutions—including accredited public and private colleges, community colleges, research universities, and comprehensive universities of every type and size.
AAC&U functions as a catalyst and facilitator, forging links among presidents, administrators, and faculty members who are engaged in institutional and curricular planning. Its mission is to reinforce the collective commitment to liberal education and inclusive excellence at both the national and local levels, and to help individual institutions keep the quality of student learning at the core of their work as they evolve to meet new economic and social challenges.
Information about AAC&U membership, programs, and publications can be found at http://www.aacu.org/.
About The Democracy Commitment
The Democracy Commitment (TDC) is a national initiative providing a platform for the development and expansion of community college programs, projects and curricula aiming at engaging students in civic learning and democratic practice across the country.
The goal of TDC is that every graduate of an American community college shall have had an education in democracy. This includes all of our students, whether they aim to transfer to university, achieve an associate degree or obtain a certificate.
For more information about The Democracy Commitment’s mission, activities and members, visit http://thedemocracycommitment.org/.
Known for its leadership, innovation and steadfast commitment to student success, Lone Star College provides high-quality academic transfer and workforce education / career training programs to more than 83,000 credit students each semester, and a total enrollment of 95,000 students. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to promote student success and economic prosperity. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., is the chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area, which consists of six colleges, eight centers, two university centers, Lone Star Corporate College and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.
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