Mission Statement:

The American Democracy Project for Civic Engagement is a national, multi-campus initiative that seeks to foster informed civic engagement in the United States. The project seeks to create a greater intellectual understanding and commitment to participate in the civic life of the United States.

Focused on undergraduates at public colleges and universities, the American Democracy Project has created a collaborative network of 166 public colleges and universities, representing more than 1.5 million students that are member institutions of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). The three-year project, sponsored by AASCU in collaboration with The New York Times, will provide opportunities for participating campuses to engage in activities and projects designed to increase the number of undergraduate students are committed to meaningful civic actions.

What is civic engagement?

 Part of NGCSU's strategic vision is to create engaged citizens. According to NGCSU's Strategic Plan 2008-2013,

"Effective citizens are active participants in their communities, knowledgeable about issues and inspired by an ethic of social responsibility and service to others. The development of engaged citizens requires practice and involvement beyond the classroom that extends into the community. Experiential learning opportunities associated with community life are essential to this civic objective. We must provide students with structured activities that encourage participation and organized reflection on these experiences. We must also provide students with basic knowledge of ours and others’ history and with the range of positions on key public issues." (NGCSU's Strategic Plan 2008-2013, p. 11)

ADP is committed to promoting civic engagement at NGCSU as both a vehicle of communication about campus activities and through ADP initiatives designed to generate interested in student involvement in democracy.