College Presidents for Civic Preparedness | Impact Report 2025–26

Campus by Campus

The Path to 500 Campuses and 5 Million Students

College Presidents for Civic Preparedness brings together 142 presidents — public and private, from community colleges to state systems, across 33 states — all committed to making civic preparedness part of every student’s education. Convened and led by C&S, the coalition has now reached more than one million students.

And for the first time, 23 of those campuses have measured student civic skills against a common baseline, benchmarked nationally: students at those campuses outpace both college students nationally and the American public on every core measure.

This report shows how they’re doing it — campus by campus.

Civic skills aren’t a byproduct of higher education: they’re built on purpose. We are well on our way toward our goal of reaching 500 campuses and 5 million students over the next five years.

Measuring What Matters

For the first time, 23 campuses in our coalition measured student civic skills with a shared framework, and benchmarked the results against college students nationally and the American public.

“We must ensure that students can encounter the best arguments, assess evidence and reach their own conclusions."

“The Faculty Institute allowed me to subtly but meaningfully reshape our first-year program, which reaches every incoming student."

“As a young person, if I’m pouring into my community, or I’m advocating for more civic participation or engaging in clubs that help other individuals, then other people around me will also be inspired to do the same.”

What Building Civic Skills On Purpose Looks Like

President Koppell & Seeing Possibility in Politics

What if every college student saw civic participation as part of their education—not an extracurricular? Montclair State University President Jonathan Koppell wants every student to leave campus knowing they have

The Power of &: Intent & Impact

What if understanding mattered more than winning? The Power of & is about bringing people and ideas together through listening, understanding, and connection. https://vimeo.com/1204208366/0ccf7b3324?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci At the University of Pittsburgh,

Mark & Letting Students Lead

What if students weren’t just showing up to learn, but helping lead the conversation? Mark Allman has spent years watching his students challenge assumptions and make room for more honest,

"We invite more college presidents to join us and help make civic preparation a defining part of every student’s experience.”

Ready to move student interest into civic action?

Download the full report and connect with C&S to go deeper.

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