ISU Center for Cyclone Civics receives initial Board of Regents approval
Iowa State University plans to transform its civics education initiative into a full center with approval from the Iowa Board of Regents. (Photo by Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
The Iowa Board of Regents gave initial approval Wednesday to Iowa State University to establish a new center for civic education, completing another directive set by the board in 2023.
Pending full board approval at its April 24 meeting, ISU Provost Jason Keith said what started as the Cyclone Civics Initiative will transform into the expanded ISU Center for Cyclone Civics, which will work with internal and external partners to improve civic literacy and skills across Iowa.
'The proposed center will work to promote civic education and free speech principles across campus, and will work with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach to share programming across the state as well,' Keith said.
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In its current form as an initiative, Keith said Cyclone Civics has already started its work on campus, assessing civic knowledge among the student body and hosting a professional development conference for ISU staff and faculty. With the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence coming up in 2026, Keith said the initiative is planning a year's worth of programming, including guest lectures.
The new center would have a home in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, according to the center proposal, and be staffed with a part-time director and one part-time staff member, with one of their responsibilities being the oversight of interns.
ISU has allocated $250,000 to the center annually over the next five years, according to the proposal, and will seek $122,000 each year from grants, donations and other sources.
'I would highlight that having a board-approved center will be helpful in attracting external funding from foundations and individual donors to support our efforts,' Keith said.
The University of Northern Iowa received approval for its own civic education center in September, following the ninth of 10 directives approved by the board in November 2023 on diversity, equity and inclusion programming. The directive stated universities must 'explore a proposal, including cost, to establish a widespread initiative that includes opportunities for education and research on free speech and civic education.'
Iowa lawmakers have passed legislation to require the University of Iowa to establish its own 'center for intellectual freedom,' which would include education and programming on civic education and civil discourse. The bill awaits Gov. Kim Reynolds' signature.
Keith said there have been discussions about future collaboration among the three centers as well as other centers named in the proposal, including the Culver Public Policy Center at Simpson College and Ron and Jane Olson Institute for Public Democracy at Drake University.
Regent Christine Hensley said she'd like to see information from ISU about how people can donate to the center and if there could be incentives like naming opportunities for certain donation amounts, as it could help in fundraising efforts.
'I'm really excited about this program and appreciate all the work and effort that's gone into it,' Hensley said.
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