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On Wednesday the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s (UTK) Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs released the findings of a statewide survey examining civic knowledge and participation by Tennesseans.

Then two days later, the University announced that Chancellor Donde Plowman is among 24 of the newest university leaders across the country joining College Presidents for Civic Preparedness to advance higher education’s role in preparing students to be engaged citizens and to uphold American democracy on campus.

“Universities have always been a place to engage with bold ideas and embrace hard questions. Now more than ever, it’s critical that we uphold these values and help our students and our community understand the importance of civic engagement and respectful debate,” said Plowman about joining the group.

Through the nonprofit Institute for Citizens and Scholars, which oversees the program, participating university leaders are dedicated to preparing the next generation of well-informed, productively engaged, and committed citizens in upholding free expression, civil discourse and critical inquiry as essential civic norms. The leaders pledge to take campus-specific and collective actions that reflect educating for democracy; preparing for a vibrant, diverse and contentious society; and protecting and defending free inquiry.

The survey found that:

• Only about half of respondents knew that Tennessee has a state constitution;
• Fewer than half of respondents said they know who their state legislators are, and only around one-third said they knew their county commissioner or city council member; and
• Nearly half of respondents said they were somewhat or extremely worried about their reputation being harmed by a political opinion they post on social media or say at work, and a third said they were less likely to discuss politics with friends and family than 10 years ago.

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