Civics In Gen Ed
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 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 Treya Allen and later with Ryan Winet and Michael McKisson, worked to imagining different configurations of CLCK in general education.
The culmination of these efforts resulted in a "depth and breadth" model proposal. On October 6th, Faculty Senate voted to approve the proposed civics additions to the general education curriculum. The new Civic Institutions course category satisfies the Arizona Board of Regents’ American Institutions requirement in general education. The Civic Exploration Attribute enables students to further engage with civic-related content from a variety of different disciplinary and social perspectives.
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 and Director of Learning Assessment for the University Center for Assessment, Teaching and Technology. 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.
Incorporating Civics into the General Education Program
Inclusion of civics into the current Gen Ed program adjusts programmatic requirements by reducing one of the Building Connections course requirements (-3 units) and adding the new Civic Institutions curricular category (+3 units) to graduation requirements. The Civic Exploration Attribute has been added to the current list of GE Attributes for incorporation into Exploring Perspectives and Building Connections courses.
Tri-University Civics Rubric
This rubric was developed by ASU, NAU, and UA to assess civic learning happening at Arizona's three four-year institutions. This rubric may be useful as you think through your civic learning activities for your Civic Institutions or Civic Exploration Attribute course!
Civics Rubric
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