Academic Civic Engagement
“If there is knowledge, it lies in the fusion of the book and the streets.” -Studs Terkel
“This country cannot afford to educate a generation that acquires knowledge without ever understanding how that knowledge can benefit society or how to influence democratic decision-making.” - Presidents' Declaration on Civic Responsibility in Higher Education
What is academic civic engagement? At Carleton College, it is the academic relationship between Carleton and its community, both on-campus and off-campus. It encompasses the many ways that students and faculty interact with the larger community through academic activities such as classes, independent studies, and comprehensive projects. Academic civic engagement may include:
- Community-Based Learning--academic work that includes a community as a site for observation and reflection and community members as subjects for such observation.
- Community-Based Research--academic work that uses a community as a site for study and community members as subjects for such study.
- Service-Learning--a combination of community service and academic learning that meets a community-identified need.
Read the Carleton's Voice article about Carleton and Academic Civic Engagement
Carleton's ACT Center coordinates Academic Civic Engagement and other volunteer programs