February 8, 2019
University Senate to consider civics requirement
In response to widespread concerns regarding the slippage in citizen awareness and understanding of the basic workings of American democracy and political institutions, the Purdue University Senate announced on Wednesday (Feb. 6) that it will study the feasibility of implementing a campus-wide approach to addressing the issue among future Purdue students.
“At the moment, nothing is yet decided,” says Gerald Shively, Senate Steering Committee chair and professor of agricultural economics. “Multiple Senate committees will be working with University leadership, the Purdue faculty, Purdue Student Government, and the larger campus community to study a range of possible approaches, and their advantages and disadvantages.”
The University Senate plans to hold one or more town hall listening sessions on the subject later this semester and to collect ideas and feedback electronically. Details, including dates, times and locations of listening sessions, will be announced in a future edition of Purdue Today.