What Is the American Democracy Project?

The American Democracy Project (ADP) is a multi-campus initiative of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). Its mission is to create an intellectual and experiential understanding of civic engagement for undergraduates enrolled at AASCU member institutions in order to produce graduates who understand and are committed to engaging in meaningful actions as citizens in a democracy.

Begun in 2002, ADP now has affiliates on the campuses of over 200 institutions. George L. Mehaffy, Vice President for Academic Leadership and Change at AASCU, is the National ADP Project Director.

The University of Northern Iowa American Democracy Project (UNI APD) was initiated by Aaron Podolefsky, Provost and Vice-President of Academic Affairs, in 2003-2004.  An ADP committee was formed and since 2004 the committee and its members have been responsible for initiating a variety of courses, workshops, and presentations on topics and issues related to civic engagement. For more information on ADP, scroll toward the bottom of this page. For more information on ADP initiatives, click on the links in the header of this page.

2009-2010 Events and Programs:  (Scroll down the page.)

•Spring 2010 Events from ADP•

Spring Semester ADP Events:  Click here for more information. 

•2010 Service Learning Fellowship Program•

The Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost has made funding available to the American Democracy Project Committee for a Service Learning Fellowship Program.  The program is open to faculty wishing to develop a service learning course to be offered in the fall or spring semester of the 2020-2011 academic year.   Applications are due no later than Tuesday, January 19, 2010, at 5 PM. 

For more information and an application form, click here.

•Fall 2009 Events•

Fall Semester ADP Events:  Click here for more information. 

Fall Workshops/Discussions from Leadership Studies

Democracy  needs responsible and competent leaders--those with positions and those without formal positions--at all levels of society.  The activities and workshops provided by Leadership Studies are opportunities for the development of such leaders. Click here for more information. 

More About ADP

Mission Statement for the American Democracy Project at UNI:

The American Democracy Project at the University of Northern Iowa seeks to develop in the university community the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to doing the hard work of democratic living.

For a list of goals for the UNI American Democracy Project, click here.

For a list of other colleges/universities involved in the American Democracy Project, click here.

For more information on the ADP at UNI or the ADP committee, contact:

Gerri Perreault, Co-Chair
Mark Mortensen, Co-Chair