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Interested in submitting a course for the Civics Institutions curricular category or Civics attribute but you don't know where to start? Complete this interest form to learn more about the process and to get more information.
Tri-University Civics Rubric
The three in-state universities came together to develop the CIvics Rubric. This rubric was developed to assess Civic Learning happening at the three Arizona four-year institutions. This rubric is a great tool to think through your courses and Civic Learning activities.
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Whether the attribute or the new course category, we are here to support your endeavors. Enroll in the Quick Start Mini-Course to get started on your course proposal.
In 2021, the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) clarified the American Institutions requirements for general education programs offered by Arizona public universities in policy 2-210.
At the University of Arizona, faculty, staff, and students have been working together to develop a premier Civic Learning / Civic Knowledge general education experience. Read more about the history, proposals, and timeline of implementation below!
A History of Civic Engagement
As early as 2018, the University of Arizona was in the process of independently developing a new general education program. Early proposals for the new program emphasized the important roles that Understanding and Valuing Difference would play in the development of civic awareness and engagement.
When ABOR elaborated the requirements for American Institutions in 2021, the University of Arizona worked closely with Regents to develop various proposals (as suggested in the Crosswalk from early 2023) and a timeline for design and implementation.
Since policy 2-210 was adopted, the University of Arizona has taken several steps toward incorporating civic learning within the general education curriculum in a deliberate and inclusive manner. From 2021 to 2022, the Civic Learning Task Force, chaired by Dr. Suzi Dovi, produced civic learning / civic knowledge (CLCK) student learning outcomes. In February 2024, two faculty forums on Civic Learning were convened to gather input. Afterward, the CLCK Advisory Group, headed by Dr. Treya Allen, and later with Dr. Ryan Winet and Dr. Michael McKisson, worked to imagining different configurations of CLCK in general education.
Spring 2025 the CLCK Advisory group submitted their recommendations for a depth Civic Attribute course and a Breadth Civic Institutions currciulum category course to the University Wide General Education Committee (UWGEC) for review and voting. The UWGEC voted on the proposed recommendations during a Fall 2025 meeting and submitted their recommendation up to Faculty Senate for final approval after approval votes from other shared governance groups. Faculty Senate approved the recommendations submitted by the CLCK Advisory Group on October 6, 2025.
Civic Learning Assessment
The process of collecting, assessing, and reporting on civic learning within the general education curriculum follows a distinct path from the design and implementation of new curricular elements.
In 2024, as part of a tri-university effort to assess general education curricula, the University of Arizona began collecting artifacts for the first round of civic learning assessment. Every four years, the three public universities will reassess civic learning.
As of Summer 2025, the University of Arizona completed the Civics Learning Assessment under the guidance of Dr. Elaine Marchello, Director of Assessment in the Office of General Education. Results of the assessment showed that the University of Arizona courses, both general education courses and major courses, were exposing students to civics learning through content and materials. Results of the assessment can be read here.
Fitting Civics into the Gen Ed Program
Inclusion of civics into the current Gen Ed program adjusts programmatic requirements by replacing one Building Connections course with the new Civics Institutions curricular category course and the addition of a new Civics Attribute. The Civics Institutions (CI) course is a three credit course that meets the seven ABOR areas outlined by the ABOR policy 2-210. The new Civic s Attribute course may be applied across disciplines and will cover one or more of the seven areas or adjacent content. Civic Institutions courses cannot carry the Civics Attribute designation.
Learners will have the opportunity to explore civics from a wide range of disciplines and interest areas. The exploration of civics is inclusive of Civic Institutions, Social Movements, and spans across geographic borders. Learners are invited to select courses that expand their application of the study of civics and prepare them to engage in a increasingly globally connected community.
Civics Implementation Timeline (Coming Soon)
The complexity of implementing...