2013–2014 The Bulletin - USS at Tufts - Tufts University

Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service >
The Center for Information and Research
on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE)
CIRCLE is the leading source of authoritative
research on civic and political engagement of
Americans between the ages of 15 and 25.
CIRCLE’s research has begun to change public
discourse and press coverage about young people as
citizens, and has changed political campaigns in
America by helping to show that it is cost-effective
to mobilize young voters. Additionally, CIRCLE
regularly provides training and technical assistance
to at least 300 organizations around the country,
mostly direct providers of services to youth. Recent
research has included volunteering rates of veterans,
civic engagement of the many young people who
don’t attend college, and how social networking can
strengthen civic discourse and opportunities.
CIRCLE regularly hosts public forums on civic
engagement issues, offers courses through the
Experimental College, and occasionally recruits
Tufts undergraduates to serve as research assistants.
Community Service Learning (CSL)
Partnerships
As one way to infuse active citizenship across all
Tufts schools, Tisch College supports Community
Service Learning (CSL) programs in other Tufts
schools. Students at the Tufts University School of
Medicine (TUSM) are required to complete 50
CSL hours prior to graduating and students from
the School of Dental Medicine must participate in
a five-week “externship” at one of 25 facilities across
the country. At the Cummings School of Veterinary
Medicine students actively serve through numerous
community programs, including a low-cost pet
clinic at Worcester Technical High School.
Corporate Citizen Fellowship
The Corporate Citizen Fellowship brings outstanding
private sector leaders to campus to teach
students about the private sector and inspire them
by sharing ways to connect corporate and civic
work. Fellows will give public lectures, and speak
with classes, students and alumni groups during
their two-day residency at the university. Fellows
are top leaders from large corporations or financial
institutions who have played a role in directing
their company’s financial, human or business
process resources toward having a positive societal
impact as part of their company’s core operations.
Doug Conant, former CEO of Campbell Soup
Company, was the inaugural Corporate Citizen
Fellow in fall 2012.
Faculty Fellows
This program builds the capacity of Tufts faculty to
integrate active citizenship into their research and
teaching. Supporting faculty leadership in building
active citizenship as a defining strength across the
University, Faculty Fellows participate in unique
interdisciplinary conversations that enhance their
work. Each year, a dozen faculty from across the
university are selected to participate.
Institute of Political Citizenship (IPC)
Founded and managed by Tufts undergraduates,
IPC seeks to educate and motivate students to
engage in state and local government, shape policies
that address local community needs, and build their
understanding of the connection between politics—
electing people—and policy. IPC embraces: Beacon
Hill policy internships in state legislative and
advocacy organization offices; TuftsVotes, a voter
education, registration, and turnout initiative; the
Tufts Roundtable, which uses new and traditional
media to bring together the diverse thoughts and
opinions found at Tufts. Additionally, IPC frequently
collaborates with the Tufts chapter of the
Roosevelt Institute, a national student initiative that
engages young people in progressive policy development
to empower them as leaders and promote
their ideas for change.
Media & Public Service Program (MPS)
Co-sponsored by Tisch College and the Communications
and Media Studies Program, MPS provides
Tufts students the media tools and resources to
prepare them for lifetimes of active citizenship.
MPS is a concentration area for students majoring
in Communications and Media Studies.
Additional active citizenship opportunities for
Tufts students include:
Jumpstart
Jumpstart is a national early education organization
that inspires children to learn, adults to teach,
families to get involved, and communities to
progress together with the goal of enabling every
child in America to enter school prepared to
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