Campuswide Immersion
Campuswide Immersion is a first-of-its-kind, multi-year initiative that helps members of College Presidents for Civic Preparedness instill a renewed civic culture on campus.
INTRODUCTION
Preparing Every Student for Civic Life
College doesn’t just prepare students for careers; it shapes them into the citizens they will become.
Campuswide Immersion is an offering for members of College Presidents for Civic Preparedness—our coalition of 125+ campus leaders committed to strengthening their campus culture.
Campuswide Immersion supports presidents in working alongside trusted campus leaders to create a plan that reaches as many students as possible and measure how students are developing essential civic skills.
Whether your college is just getting started or building on existing efforts, Campuswide Immersion provides the playbook and peer community needed to lead lasting change.
The Challenge
Too often civic readiness is treated as optional, or as a one-off class, project or workshop. Students need spaces to practice core civic skills—and conditions to make this culture of civic readiness possible.
The Experience
Guided by C&S, participating colleges join a cohort of peer schools to create plans, trade ideas, and learn from each other—helping campuses move further, faster.
The Impact
Students graduate ready to strengthen their communities and tackle the challenges of their generation.
WHY PARTICIPATE?
A cohort-led program driving real, lasting change
Help students learn to see tough issues as shared problems to solve, not battles to win. Through Campuswide Immersion, you can design experiences that help them build trust, credibility, and connection with one another, preparing them to create bold civic solutions in their communities and beyond.
- Campuswide Strategy: Coordinate civic initiatives across the student experience, giving students regular chances to practice civic skills.
- Clear Structure: Get organized by forming an Action Council, an Action Plan, and using shared evaluation metrics to map success.
- Practical Tools & Support: Campuses receive templates, initiative examples, coaching, project management, and guidance from C&S.
- Broad Range of Voices: Campuswide Immersion supports public, private, community, faith-based, and minority-serving colleges.
- Real Impact: A common survey and simple progress check-ins help colleges identify what’s working and learn from others in their cohort.
How It Works
Schools are accepted in the early fall during each academic year. Campuswide Immersion is a flexible program that supports all higher education institutions, whether your institution is just starting to instill civic culture or wants to boost existing initiatives.
- Pre-Year 1: Build Your Baseline
- Years 1 & 2: Analysis and Experimentation
- Year 3 & Beyond: Review and Share
Participating institutions commit to developing an action plan; forming an Action Council of faculty, staff, and students to lead the work; and engaging in shared evaluation to track impact and strengthen their efforts over time. Institutions will move through several phases (Building Baseline, Analysis & Experimentation, and Refining & Sharing) during the 4+ years of engagement.
Campuses will collaborate closely with the C&S team through virtual support sessions, accountability calls, and an annual in-person meeting each January. The program follows a hybrid format, operates on a multi-year timeline, and is completely free for all College Presidents for Civic Preparedness campuses. Campuswide Immersion routinely works to provide support, including grants, to our participating institutions.
Meet Derigan Silver
“We want students to come to their own truths and own decisions about what they value and what they see as important. We also want to learn from what they’ve been able to do as we work alongside them as educators and mentors."
Derigan Silver
Faculty, University of Denver
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can participate in Campuswide Immersion?
Any member of College Presidents for Civic Preparedness that is committed to strengthening civic culture and preparing all students with essential civic skills can join a cohort.
What do colleges gain by participating?
Campuswide Immersion provides a coordinated strategy, hands-on support, practical tools, and a network of peer colleges working toward similar goals.
What does participation look like?
Campus leaders work with an Action Council to design initiatives, evaluate progress, and take part in shared learning sessions with their cohort.
How can I learn more or get in touch?
Learn more about Campuswide Immersion by emailing Cathy Copeland, copeland@cands.org.
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