New hands-on program to mix academics, experience

A new certificate program through the College of Arts and Sciences will provide students with an opportunity to practice hands-on learning about democratic citizenship.

The Political and Civic Engagement program, called PACE, combines classroom academics with experiential education, PACE assistant director Joelene Bergonzi said.

“It’s meant to compliment and add on to other majors,” Bergonzi said. “It will help if a student is interested in being involved in civic leadership, or just a more involved member of the community.”

PACE director Michael Grossberg said students were interested in a program with a larger scope than Leaderships, Ethics and Social Action, a minor program through the College of Arts and Sciences that will merge with PACE.

Edward Hutton, an IU alumnus whom the Hutton Honors College is named after, bequeathed the money to fund the program. The money, Bergonzi said, will go toward helping students achieve the political and civil leadership Hutton was never able to accomplish in his own lifetime.

While the program will include core classes and electives, it is also the only program in the College of Arts and Sciences to require an internship.

“Mandatory internships will make sure everyone has an experience in political or civic life,” Grossberg said.

Another experiential component is the issues forum, a one-day retreat where students will role-play civic leaders – such as legislators or community members – to try to discuss a controversial issue.

Grossberg said guest speakers would be another crucial element of the program.
Students will have direct access to local and national leaders, including lunch with Lee
Hamilton, former U.S. Representative and director of the Center on Congress at IU on Oct. 8.

Sophomore Caroline Shurig said she found out about PACE at the College of Arts and Sciences department fair. She said the program lined up well with her interests in law and humanitarian work.

“To be able to do those kinds of things you have to be aware of the civic realm and politics,” she    said. “It trains you not only to be a leader, but to be connected to the community.”

Since the program is not fully underway, Shurig is taking the required courses to meet admission requirements. Students applying for the program must take two PACE courses or electives prior to or at the time of application.

As part of the PACE student advisory board, Shurig is excited to help shape the direction of the program.

“Meeting with leaders will be the biggest thing for us,” she said. “In our world, you need connections. But the internships will also have a kind of domino effect. The internships will be based on what we hear from the leaders we meet.”