La Roche President Joins University Leaders Committed to Civic Preparedness

La Roche University President Christina Clark Joins 91 College Presidents to
Advance Civic Preparedness and Uphold Free Expression on U.S. Campuses

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 4, 2024 – Recognizing this urgent moment for American higher education and our democracy, La Roche University President Christina Clark, Ph.D., has joined 91 other college presidents of diverse institutions from across the country to advance higher education’s pivotal role in preparing students to be engaged citizens and to uphold free expression on campus.
 
Through College Presidents for Civic Preparedness, a unique consortium designed by the presidents and convened by the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, participating presidents are dedicated to preparing the next generation of well-informed, productively engaged and committed citizens; defending free expression, civil discourse and critical inquiry as essential civic norms; and increasing thoughtful engagement and better understanding by students for the effective functioning of our democracy. The consortium, first announced with 15 members in August 2023, has grown significantly, demonstrating momentum for this movement.
 
Participating presidents will take campus-specific and collective action, reflecting three shared Civic Commitments:

• Educating for democracy is central to our mission. 
• We will prepare our students for a vibrant, diverse, and contentious society. 
• We will protect and defend free inquiry. 

 
Taken together, these fresh commitments embrace both free speech and diversity by emphasizing meaningful engagement and inquiry with different voices and viewpoints. The commitments stress diversity as a strength of both American democracy and campus life and affirm the truth-seeking role of higher education through curiosity and inquiry. They also enable campus leaders to take substantive action to promote democratic engagement among students, with public accountability for progress through publication of an annual impact report. 
 
“Civic preparedness is fundamental to La Roche University’s mission to empower all members of our community to promote justice and peace in a constantly changing global society,” Dr. Clark said. “I’m proud to join more than 90 college presidents across the country in making a commitment to plan campus-specific and collective action on this. A vital component of preparing our students to be good, active citizens in a vibrant, diverse and contentious society is teaching them the skill of civil discourse.”
 
Presidents are developing campus-specific programming to advance the Civic Commitments in 2024, including new courses, outside speakers, student orientations, presidential speeches, technology tools and voter education initiatives. A complete listing appears on the consortium website. At La Roche planned programs include:
 

• In the academic year 2024-2025, Freshmen Convocation highlighted La Roche’s educational focus on free inquiry, constructive dialogue, and student agency in shaping democracy.
• Throughout the Fall 2024 semester, La Roche will partner with the League of Women Voters and the American Association of University Women to assist with voter registration.
• La Roche will host debate watch parties for students with faculty facilitated discussions on topics involving democracy and political issues.

 
In addition to championing these commitments on their campuses, the presidents will undertake together and through the Institute a set of collective actions:
 

• Meet regularly and confidentially for peer learning and the exchange of information, ideas, practices and tools, including on such topics as the 2024 elections and student activism;
• Help faculty engage effectively with free expression and civil discourse in the classroom by participating in the Faculty Institute on Dialogue Across Difference; and
• Create and seize opportunities for shared advocacy and public outreach on civic preparedness in higher education.

 
“Higher education has a responsibility to provide students with critical civic skills and knowledge to participate effectively in our constitutional democracy,” said Rajiv Vinnakota, president of the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, a nonprofit that cultivates talent, ideas and networks that develop young people as effective, lifelong citizens. “College campuses are among the most diverse spaces in our country, and college is an important time for students to develop the habits, practices and norms to live in a multicultural and interconnected democracy. Doing so can create a ripple effect, making young people more optimistic and increasingly committed about their future and our nation.”  
 
College Presidents for Civic Preparedness has been supported by ECMC Foundation, Einhorn Collaborative, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, One8 Foundation, Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, Lumina Foundation, Charles Koch Foundation and Teagle Foundation, with individual campuses providing support for their own related projects.   
 
 
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About La Roche University: A private liberal arts university in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, La Roche University offers 68 undergraduate programs of study, seven master’s degrees and two doctoral degrees, with particular strengths in education, business, criminal justice, psychology, nursing, and health and medical sciences as well as interior architecture & design and graphic design. This residential university provides a vibrant campus community for women and men enjoying 30-plus student organizations and an exciting NCAA Div. III athletics program. Founded by the Sisters of Divine Providence in 1963, La Roche University embraces its Catholic heritage while welcoming people of all faiths and backgrounds. With a legacy of social justice and a commitment to international exchange, La Roche University educates students to be lifelong learners and achievers in an increasingly diverse and global society.