Earlier this week, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities’ (AASCU) American Democracy Project, The Democracy Commitment (TDC) and NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education announced a partnership to strengthen and deepen both public and private institutional commitments to advancing the civic learning and democratic engagement of college students. Leaders from AASCU’s American Democracy Project (ADP), TDC and NASPA will provide direction for the partnership and the combined national meeting, to be held June 4-6 in New Orleans, La.

The associations are committed to ensuring that students graduate from institutions of higher education as informed, engaged citizens. This partnership will foster academic and student affairs collaborations in ways that promote seamless learning environments for students.

“The 2015 ADP/TDC/NASPA Civic Learning & Democratic Engagement Meeting combines two previously separate conferences in ways that allow the organizations to build momentum and energy around our collective work,” says Jennifer Domagal-Goldman, national manager of AASCU’s American Democracy Project.

“We continue the tradition of providing professional development opportunities that are true exchanges of knowledge and develop a sense of community around our shared civic learning and democratic engagement efforts,” says Stephanie Gordon, vice president for professional development at NASPA.

This year’s meeting theme, “Stewardship of Place: A Civic Mission of Higher Education,” will focus on partnerships between academic and student affairs; civic pathways; engaging diverse students; developing community partnerships; and assessment of civic learning and democratic engagement.

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AASCU is a Washington-based higher education association of more than 400 public colleges, universities and systems whose members share a learning- and teaching-centered culture, a historic commitment to underserved student populations and a dedication to research and creativity that advances their regions’ economic progress and cultural development.

AASCU’s American Democracy Project is a national initiative focused on public higher education’s role in preparing the next generation of informed, engaged citizens for our democracy. The project began in 2003 in partnership with The New York Times and involves more than 250 colleges and universities.
The Democracy Commitment is a national initiative, housed at AASCU, providing a platform for development and expansion of community college programs, projects and curricula aiming at engaging students in civic learning and democratic practice across the country.

NASPA is the leading association for the advancement, health, and sustainability ofthe student affairs profession. Our work provides high-quality professional development, advocacy, and research for 14,000 members in all 50 states, 25 countries, and 8 U.S. territories.