Join us for an insightful webinar that delves into Complete College America’s white paper, Complete College, America: Harnessing the Power of Higher Education to Renew American Democracy. This session will explore actionable strategies for colleges and universities to prepare students for active, informed participation in civic life. We’ll discuss how faculty, staff, and administrators can enhance civic engagement through curriculum development, on-campus programming, community partnerships, and experiential learning opportunities. By fostering environments that encourage volunteerism, service, and civic-minded careers, higher education institutions can play a pivotal role in strengthening democracy.
Key Takeaways:
- Understanding the Interconnection: Recognize the intrinsic link between higher education and a robust democracy, emphasizing the role institutions play in promoting civic engagement.
- Actionable Strategies: Learn practical steps to integrate civic learning into curricula, develop impactful on-campus programs, and establish partnerships with community organizations to provide students with real-world civic experiences.
- Addressing Inequities: Explore methods to ensure all students, regardless of background, have access to civic learning and democratic engagement opportunities, thereby promoting equity and inclusivity.
- Holistic Education Vision: Embrace a comprehensive approach to education that combines academic learning with civic responsibility, preparing students not only for the workforce but also for active citizenship.
- Institutional Commitment: Understand the importance of institutional investment in public colleges and universities as engines of social mobility and democratic renewal, and how policy reforms can support these efforts.
Intended Audience:
This webinar is essential for educators, administrators, policymakers, and anyone interested in the vital role of higher education in fostering an engaged and informed citizenry.
Please Note: While attending the webinar live is free for OLC members and non-members, on-demand recordings will be available post-webinar for Professional and Institutional Members only. Consider becoming an OLC member for access to these and many other great benefits!
Speaker Bio
Charles AnsellVice President for Research, Policy, and Advocacy – Complete College America
Charles Ansell has dedicated his career to educational justice and equity. In his current role at Complete College America, Charles uses research to advocate for legislation and resources that help students graduate college, closing socioeconomic, racial or generational disparities that exist in college completion. As the Chief Operating Officer of the Community College System of New Hampshire, Charles directed research, strategy, finance and technology for a statewide system of colleges. In this role, he developed a data and reporting infrastructure that enabled an evidence-driven policy agenda to influence state legislation and appropriations to higher education. A student success agenda drove all projects and operations, resulting in more students graduating college and having career and continued academic success after graduation. Prior to this, Charles led student success efforts at the City Colleges of Chicago. There, he oversaw the development of a pathways program that ensured students enrolled for classes along semester-by-semester plans, aligned with individual academic aspirations. These plans embedded academic readiness requirements in Math and English that innovated traditional developmental education so students did not stall out in coursework that did not count to graduation requirements. Before the City Colleges of Chicago, Charles worked in various positions in higher education administration and information technology. He holds an M.S. in Business Information Technology from DePaul University and a B.A. from Carleton College. He is engaged in numerous local boards devoted to education and workforce.
Nicola Blake, Ph.D.Senior Fellow for Strategic Initiatives and Student Success – City University of New York (CUNY)
Dr. Nicola Blake is an accomplished leader with over 23 years of experience in instruction, academic administration, and institutional advancement at both four-year and community colleges. Notably, she played a pivotal role in launching and building Guttman, New York’s first new community college in over four decades. In this groundbreaking position, Nicola led collaborative efforts to establish a student-centered and equity-driven environment, significantly improving retention and graduation rates by removing barriers to completion. Currently overseeing the transformation of the academic landscape at Guttman, Nicola is dedicated to enhancing the college’s influence and expanding its reach in alignment with the overarching mission of the City University of New York. Central to her strategic approach is a commitment to fostering innovative thinking and cross-divisional collaboration. Nicola’s multifaceted leadership extends to overseeing the academic departments, the Career Innovation Hub, Center for Career Preparation, assessment, academic technology, workload and scheduling, faculty development and mentorship, as well as the Library and the digital Center for Practice, Technology, and Innovation. Nicola has a B.A. with honors in English and psychology from the City College of New York, CUNY, and a Ph.D. in medieval literature from Rutgers University. An accomplished author, she has contributed multiple articles in her field and the scholarship of teaching and learning.
