AASCU Pluralism Cohort

Interfaith America is collaborating with AASCU to gather a set of institutions seeking to become exemplars of campus pluralism.

Apply by Feb. 24

 

Equip students with the knowledge base, mindset, and skillset to serve as bridgebuilders in a divided world.

We live in a deeply divided country with rising levels of distrust and isolation, in which religious, cultural, and ideological diversity are often seen as sources of division rather than as a foundation for cooperation. In these fraught times, we need leaders who can foster pluralism as an antidote to rising prejudice and polarization. Institutions of higher education, a treasure of American civic life, are uniquely situated to promote and practice pluralism and serve as models for the rest of society.

University campuses can be places where people from diverse identities and divergent ideologies learn from one another, and places that actively equip students with the knowledge base, mindset, and skillset to serve as bridgebuilders in a divided world. From the admissions process to first-year orientation to the general education curriculum, students should understand that the university seeks to model pluralism and to teach the skills for constructive engagement across differences. When a university president shakes the hand of a graduating student, they should be confident that the graduate is equipped to be a bridgebuilder who can lead effectively in diverse civic and professional settings, including in the most contentious and challenging situations.   

AASCU’s partner Interfaith America seeks 8-10 institutions to committed to becoming exemplary campuses in the practice of pluralism. Each campus will receive $25,000 to support their efforts.

Who should participate:

  • AASCU member institutions seeking to make pluralism a priority (8-10 institutions)

How you’ll benefit:

  • Receive $25,000 to support efforts
  • Learn best practices for promoting and deepening campus pluralism  
  • Identify and address tensions and obstacles in the current higher education climate that impede pluralism on college campuses  
  • Opportunities for cohort teams to begin to develop long-term goals and a strategic plan for advancing pluralism on their campuses  
  • Develop a close network of institutions deeply committed to learning from one another and collaborating with one another in the transition toward becoming exemplars of pluralism  

Apply for the AASCU Pluralism Cohort by Feb. 24, 2025.

What to Expect

The Advancing Campus Pluralism Cohort (AASCU) will consist of eight to ten member institutions. Each will identify a three-person Core Team in the application process, which includes at least one senior administrator appointed directly by the president or chancellor.  After acceptance, the Core Team will be responsible for participating in convenings. Each institution in the cohort then creates a five to eight-person Pluralism Working Group that will include at least three senior administrators. This group will be responsible for submitting and implementing the strategic plan.

The Core Teams will participate in a series of in-person and virtual convenings over the course of 2025-2026:

  • The first convening will take place in person, June 16-18, 2025. The goals include gaining foundational knowledge in civic pluralism, learning best practices to promote and deepen campus pluralism, and drafting a strategic plan.
  • By July 2025, each Pluralism Working Group will submit a finalized strategic plan for implementing several best practices for campus pluralism in their community. Upon submission of the strategic plan, each institution will receive the first installment of the $25,000 grant to support the implementation of these practices.
  • Between August 2025 and April 2026, the core teams will meet virtually for five sessions (90 mins each) for ongoing professional development and peer-to-peer support.
  • There will be a final in­-person, two-day convening in May 2026 to share learnings.
  • Applicant institutions must be members AASCU
  • Submission of an application through IA’s online portal, which includes a written proposal that addresses the following topics:
    • Why does your institution want to make pluralism a priority? How does building a culture of pluralism align with your school’s mission or values?
    • Please describe one key opportunity and one key challenge around pluralism on your campus. Please also note specific strengths (e.g. existing infrastructure, staff roles, programs, courses, etc.) in your campus community that support a culture of pluralism.
    • How will participating in the pluralism cohort allow you to make sustainable, lasting change on campus?
    • Is there anything more we should know about your campus that is pertinent to this program?
  • The identification of your Core Team members, one of whom must be a senior administrator appointed by the President or Chancellor of your institution.
  • A letter of support from the President or Chancellor of your institution
  • Accepted institutions must form a Pluralism Working Group (five to eight people, including three senior administrators)
  • Core Team members must commit to participation in scheduled in-person and virtual convenings.
  • Grant funds should primarily be used for purposes that directly support the grant proposal. This includes accelerating and adapting pluralist practices for campus communities.
  • We are amenable to grantees using up to 10% of disbursed grant funds for operational costs if needed. 
  • The grantee is responsible for understanding and navigating their institutional or organizational grant processes.  
  • Those who receive funding may receive a 1099 tax form at the end of the year.  
  • Institutions receiving funds over $10,000 may be required to provide a certificate of insurance listing IA, or provide documentation of insurance. 

Grant funds may not be used for:  

  • Alcohol 
  • Expenses associated with political campaign activities, including directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office; making contributions to political campaigns; or attempting to influence legislation (i.e., lobbying)  
  • Capital funds or expenses (e.g., endowments, capital campaigns, annual funds, tuition, or student fees) 
  • While not restricted, IA generally does not fund grantees to use a large portion of their funds for IA’s fee-for-service offerings, such as campus consultations or speaking engagement fees. 
  • Stategic Plan: Each Pluralism Working Group outlines implementation of pluralism practices in their specific campus context. 
  • Mid-Year Report Survey, IA will give surveys for campuses to submit reports: account of progress towards goals, success and challenges. 
  • Final Grant Report Survey, IA will give surveys for campuses to submit reports: outcomes of pluralism practices plan and campus implementation 

 

  • January 15 – February 24, 2025 – Application period 
  • February 24–29, 2025 – Selection period 
  • Early March 2025 – Campuses are informed of selection, pre-work is shared 
  • March 2025 – Each campus creates Pluralism Working Group 
  • March to June 2025 – The Core Team and Working Group does pre-work in preparation for strategic planning convening  

Pre-work for the Pluralism Working Group will include:

  • Completing short readings and videos on definitions and foundational concepts of pluralism
  • Clarifying goals for the project and their alignment with institutional priorities
  • Conducting a campus-assessment of assets and challenges to the work
  • Reflecting on your personal values and motivation for the work

IA will provide guiding materials to successfully complete the pre-work. The anticipated time commitment for pre-work is 10-12 hours but will vary. Campuses that have already begun to develop a pluralism infrastructure, for example, may find that they need less time to complete the pre-work. IA will make office hours available in March for campus-specific questions and clarifications on the project.

  • April 2025 – Introduction to the cohort and meet-and-greet for accepted campuses (virtual, 1.5 hours)
  • June 16–18, 2025 – First in-person convening with campus Core Team to draft strategic plan for implementing a series of pluralism practices over the granting period; learning and consultations with IA staff; each team will develop a timeline for completion and submission of the strategic plan
  • July 15, 2025 – The Core Team submits the finalized strategic plan with feedback from the Pluralism Working Group. Upon submission of plan, the first installment of the $25K grant is disbursed to each campus.
  • August 2025 – First virtual convening (90 minutes)
    Campuses implement their plans and are involved in launching grant activities in between convenings outlined below.
  • October 2025 – Second virtual convening (90 mins)
  • December 2025 – Third virtual convening (90 mins)
  • December 15, 2025 – Each campus submits a mid-grant report
  • February 2026 – Fourth virtual convening (90 mins)
  • April 2026 – Fifth virtual convening (90 mins)
  • May 2026 – Second in-person Convening for the Core Team (2 days)
  • June 2026 – Each campus submits a final grant report

Pluralism Cohort Partner

Questions about the AASCU Pluralism Cohort? Let us know.

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Academic Planning for Equitable Student Success

An initiative designed to elevate the importance of the course schedule and leverage it to improve student outcomes in higher education.

Contact us to learn more.

Removing barriers to student success.

One of the most essential elements to a student’s academic success is getting the courses they need to complete their degree. Yet, research indicates that at most institutions, the course schedule has become a structural barrier to success.

AASCU received funding from The Ascendium Education Group to improve course scheduling and ensure that access to courses required for degree completion is not a barrier to success, especially for low-income students and students of color.

Created in partnership with Ad Astra, the project included: two convenings, monthly webinars, benchmarking with technical assistance, data coaching, and change management consulting for eleven institutions. These structured engagements supported institutional capacity for data-informed course scheduling and improved scheduling policies and practices.

Participants

  • After an initial application process, 11 institutions from AASCU’s Student Success Equity Intensive were selected to participate. The following map identifies the states represented by participating institutions and the number of participants in that state.
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Guam
Puerto Rico
U.S. Virgin Islands
Bahamas
Canada
Mexico

    Outcomes

    Through this work, institutions have identified actionable strategies to:

    • Improve degree velocity
    • Close equity gaps
    • Improve course scheduling policies and practices
    • Align academic resources with student needs and academic pathways
    Program Impact

    Increase in momentum

    For students starting in Fall 2023, there was an 8% increase in the overall momentum year rate, with rates for Native American, Black/African-American, Hispanic, and Native Hawaiians having an average increase of between 7% and 13%.

    Increase in degree velocity

    The average annual productive credits increased by 1% for students starting in Fall 2023 as opposed to students beginning in Fall 2022.

    Texas A&M University

    Had an increase of students taking 15+ credits per semester from 23% in fall 2023 to 45% in fall 2024.

    Western Kentucky University

    Had 25% improvement in the Overloaded Course Ratio, specifically in first-year (100-level) courses, between fall 2023 and fall 2024.

    Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

    From fall 2023 to fall 2024, classroom utilization increased by 5%, while Primetime Compression decreased by 11%; in Fall 2024 Off-Grid Waste decreased over two percentage points compared to Fall 2023.

    Texas A&M University-San Antonio

    From fall 2023 to fall 2024, overall primetime utilization increased in classrooms while off-grid meeting pattern utilization decreased by 10% and off-grid waste decreased by three percentage points.

    “Helping our member institutions reengineer their course scheduling policies and practices to put students at the center is a critical component of AASCU’s strategy to scale student success. The course schedule is the engine of degree completion. You simply cannot drive better outcomes without a course schedule designed with student success in mind.”

    Terry Brown

    Vice President of Academic Innovation and Transformation
    AASCU
    Resource

    Course Scheduling Playbook

    The playbook, created as a result of this initiative, is a guide for any institution interested in levering their course schedule as a strategy for improving student success. It introduces project phases designed to drive innovation and momentum, project management strategies, and relevant metrics, to support the teams empowered to do this work.

    COVER Course Scheduling: A Strategy to Support Equitable Student Success Outcomes (2024)

    Supported by:

    In partnership with:

    Questions about Academic Planning for Equitable Student Success? Let us know.

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    2025 American Democracy Project Summit Call for Proposals

    Submit proposals by March 18.
    Meeting theme

    Full Participation

    AASCU invites submissions to present at the American Democracy Project Summit, happening July 13-14, 2025 in Indianapolis, IN. We seek a diversity of perspectives and experiences, and we especially encourage presentations that include students and feature teams. 

    Democracy can be frustrating, slow, and contentious. Often, the civic engagement work done on a campus can feel isolated and be un- or under-appreciated. This meeting will change that narrative by showcasing that, through AASCU’s American Democracy Project, there are resources and a community that exists to help build and grow civic engagement within higher education. 

    Meeting details.
    Proposal formats 

    Topical Sessions (45-minute sessions): Presentations, which could be led by an individual or a group, designed to share best practices and/or facilitate conversations about the practical application of civic and community engagement projects. If accepted, you may be paired with another concurrent session to share the 45-minute time block.

    Ignite Talks (5-minute sessions): Designed for individuals to share compelling, innovative practices on a large stage, ignite talks use 20 slides that automatically advance every 15 seconds and requires speakers to be concise, prepared, and dynamic. 

    Poster Sessions: Textual and graphical presentations of civic engagement projects or research. 

    Proposal topics

    We recognize how interconnected the field of civic engagement is. This topic selection allows us to maintain a diverse portfolio of options.

    What are the key features of the thriving democracy we hope to enact and support through our work?  

    • Navigating legislative challenges 
    • Incorporating and supporting student voice 
    • Redefining political engagement 
    • Incorporating diverse voices in our work 
    • Higher education’s democratic responsibility 
    • Honoring community voices and wisdom—especially for indigenous-serving institutions 
    • Exploring/understanding foundational, democratic documents and their relationship to current affairs 
    • Understanding interrelated concepts of civic engagement, democratic engagement, civic learning service learning, activism, and advocacy 

    What knowledge, skills, and dispositions contribute to a thriving democracy, and how do we embed this in our work?  

    • Voter engagement work and results 
    • Increasing civic engagement beyond social sciences; encouraging interdisciplinary efforts 
    • Practicing/modeling difficult conversations/dialogues 
    • Digitial literacy 
    • Bringing curricular and co-curricular efforts together 
    • High impact practices 
    • Experiential learning 
    • AI possibilities 
    • Address the colonization of our educational system 

    How can we build the institutional culture, infrastructure, and relationships needed to support learning that enables a thriving democracy? 

    • Institution-wide collaboration and building campus stakeholders 
    • Collaborating with other campuses 
    • Building leadership supports for civic engagement 
    • Aligning institutional mission/values with civic engagement 
    • Integrating campus and community efforts 
    • Building regional support structures 
    • Understanding different campus models for student engagement 
    • Implement and assess institution-wide civic learning objectives 

    Please submit your proposal by March 18, 2025.

    Note that you will need to complete this form in one sitting, and we recommend that you prepare your materials in a word document and then copy/paste into the form. 

    "*" indicates required fields

    Session Format*
    (See above for format descriptions.)
    Selected Session Topic*
    (See above for topic descriptions.)
    All proposals will be reviewed for relevance to the summit theme of “Full Participation.” For topical sessions, please explain your session goals and how you would engage the audience. For ignite talks and poster sessions, please explain the practice or research that you would share.

    Presenters

    Eligibility

    By submitting this proposal, I agree to the eligibility guidelines.*
    Please review the requirements listed below before submitting your proposal.
    Eligibility guidelines:

    • Presenters must register for the conference.
    • Presenters are responsible for expenses incurred in conjunction with the conference.
    • Presentations will occur on July 14. Session timing will be decided by AASCU.
    Each presenter will:

    • Provide AASCU with presentation materials for posting to the meeting app two weeks prior to the conference.
    • Inform AASCU with more than two weeks notice if an unavoidable conflict arises, making every attempt to substitute a presenter.
    • Be publicly listed on the meeting website and meeting app as a session presenter.
    • Provide a headshot and brief bio, if not already on file.
    Please click the button below to submit your session proposal. You will receive an email confirmation that your submission is successful.

    American Democracy Project Past Programs

    Explore past initiatives that support a well-rounded education rooted in local and global community.

    Opportunities to expand our community and to increase civic awareness and work on campuses.

    Read more.

    Explore the history, outcomes, and impact of these ADP programs.

    Read more.

    Access resources to promote civil discourse within classrooms and across campus.

    Read more.

    Join a cohort of campus leaders committed to operationalizing civic and community engagement.

    Read more.