College Presidents Sound Off: Civic Development Is Taking Center Stage on Campus

PRINCETON, NJ, DECEMBER 03, 2025 —A new snapshot from College Presidents for Civic Preparedness, a national coalition of more than 100 college leaders convened by the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, reveals a powerful surge in college leaders’ commitment to fostering an active civic culture on campuses nationwide.

Key findings include: 

• 85% of colleges in our coalition increased their investment in civic preparedness compared to last year. 61% reported investment “increased somewhat,” 24% “increased substantially,” and 15% said investments “stayed about the same.” None of the institutions reported a decrease. 

• Colleges that increased investment saw the greatest improvements in campus climate for civil discourse: Of those presidents who increased investment substantially at their institution, 62% reported a more positive campus climate. 

• Nearly all campuses (93%) report a stable or improving climate for civil discourse. Specifically, 46% of the presidents noted a more positive climate, 50% said it remained about the same, and only 4% reported a less positive environment. 

• In their responses, presidents highlighted the importance of civic development across campus, directing the most support toward students (91%) and faculty (89%), with additional attention to staff (47%) and administrators (45%) 

• The national political climate overwhelmingly influences students’ civic outlook, cited in 90% of responses as the top factor shaping student engagement and outpacing concerns like mental health, social media, and economic pressures. 

“The findings are clear: college presidents are working with faculty, staff, students, and their surrounding communities to make civic preparedness a core part of the student experience both inside and outside the classroom,” said Rajiv Vinnakota, president of the Institute for Citizens & Scholars. “We’re seeing it in redesigned courses, campus conversations, and community partnerships. This survey shows that colleges are taking practical, meaningful steps to help students build the civic skills they need to contribute to today’s world.” 

Participants reported that civic efforts are woven throughout campus life—showing up in classrooms, campus-wide events, residence halls, and community partnerships. These efforts bring faculty, students, staff, and administrators together around a shared commitment to helping students practice essential civic skills like having respectful discussions about difficult political topics and collaborating across differences. Even in a challenging national environment, presidents expressed confidence that higher education can model respectful dialogue and prepare students for meaningful civic participation.  

The findings are based on a 2025 survey administered by the Institute for Citizens & Scholars to members of the College Presidents for Civic Preparedness network. A total of 55 college presidents participated, representing a wide range of campuses committed to advancing civic engagement and civil discourse initiatives throughout higher education. This sample provides timely insights into how institutional leaders are responding to the evolving civic needs of students and faculty.

For more information, please visit: https://citizensandscholars.org/colleges-are-stepping-up-new-snapshot-shows-rising-investment-in-civic-preparedness/

About College Presidents for Civic Preparedness 
Convened by the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, this coalition of over 100 campus leaders from diverse ideologies, backgrounds, and institutions is committed to preparing students for active civic engagement. The group is dedicated to providing students regular opportunities to navigate difficult conversations on sensitive issues in today’s society.  

About the Institute for Citizens & Scholars
The Institute for Citizens & Scholars cultivates talent, ideas, and networks that develop young people as effective, lifelong citizens. We unite the left, right, and center to develop breakthrough solutions that create stronger citizens in our country, and we bring these solutions to life by forming strategic partnerships with an intentionally diverse group of young people, scholars and education leaders, and civic and business leaders—including the 27,000 world-leading Fellows in our network. Together, we’re on a mission to ensure that Americans everywhere are civically well-informed, productively engaged, and committed to democracy.  

Media Contact:
Zach Coville Carney
Brodeur Partners for Citizens and Scholars
zcarney@brodeur.com or press@citizensandscholars.org