Phase One: Design Phase. Phase One will involve project design, concept development, identification of participating institutions, the commitment of presidents and chancellors, and support of chief academic officers. The design phase began in February 2002 and will continue through summer 2003, involving presidents and chancellors, chief academic officers, faculty and students. AASCU national meetings for presidents/ chancellors, and AASCU national meetings for chief academic officers, along with special invitational meetings, are being used to support the planning process. AASCU will support the provosts by devoting the entire Summer 2003 meeting for chief academic officers, scheduled for early August in Utah , to the theme of Civic Engagement and the launch of this project. The summer meeting will identify key readings and concepts, develop theoretical and conceptual frameworks, and design practical strategies that chief academic officers can use to launch a series of campus conversations with faculty.

Phase Two: National Conversation. Phase Two will involve a year-long national conversation among participating institutions and on each campus. On campuses, the focus on civic engagement will be established by the president or chancellor. Then on each of the 100 participating AASCU campuses, the chief academic officer will convene a group of at least 20 faculty members on each campus to engage in a year-long conversation. On some campuses, the group may include student affairs professionals and other university staff, and on some campuses may also include students. Each campus will determine the make-up of their national conversation group.

The conversation will be divided into two parts. During the first semester and part of the second semester, the conversation will focus on the concept of civic engagement, and will involve readings and a set of discussions, with key questions. The campus conversations will be facilitated by the national steering committee that will provide suggested readings and key questions. During the first semester, AASCU will conduct three satellite broadcasts, using national scholars and speakers, who will address some of the concepts being discussed. Campuses can use the broadcasts in real time when schedules permit, but will also be able to record these broadcasts for future discussions, or download from the national website. The campus conversations will also be supported by perspectives from other campuses, provided by the project staff as they build a national network. The purpose of the initial conversations is to build a shared theoretical and conceptual framework, prior to beginning campus projects.

The second semester conversation will focus on designing and developing civic engagement projects on each campus, again facilitated by the national steering committee, AASCU and The New York Times. The Winter 2004 meeting of the chief academic officers will be devoted to a focus on project ideas, to provide chief academic officers with the ideas and possibilities as they turn the campus conversations from theoretical frameworks to project design and implementation. In addition, AASCU will provide one interactive satellite broadcast during this semester that addresses issues of project design and implementation, as well as a variety of print media, and connections to established groups and organizations that can be of assistance.

Phase Three: Project Implementation. In Phase Three, a two-year period, campuses will implement projects locally designed during the national conversation. Coordination support and assistance will be provided through the national steering committee

The theme of civic engagement will provide opportunities for study and reflection on unique features of American democracy, especially within courses in history, political science, and literature. Students in the program will be expected to participate in engagement activities in the local community, and to discuss their experiences in post-activity seminars, linking civic engagement and service learning. Students in the project will have assignments that require them to communicate with other first year students at other AASCU institutions across the country on matters of contemporary interest. Student writing will be required in this project, and shared across participating campuses. Outstanding examples of writing will be posted on The New York Times web page The New York Times will operate a web site and conduct web casts for students, connecting project participants to national journalists and speakers.

Phase Four: Dissemination. AASCU will compile and report collective statistics on project designs, number of students involved, and successful strategies that will then be disseminated to all 430 AASCU member institutions. The New York Times will support the dissemination effort with national reports on best practices and innovative approaches. A book of best practices will be compiled and edited from the participating campuses.