Developing civic purpose

Op-ed by Amy Gibans McGlashan
As students of all ages head back to campus this fall, Vermont colleges and universities are gearing up to educate them for more than just satisfying careers. The health of our democracy depends on an active, informed citizenry, requiring the development of a set of knowledge, skills, and attitudes — skills that are important also in the workplace and global society... ...Vermont Campus Compact has a unique approach: it isn't about partisan politics and it's more than studying government. Instead, students in all academic disciplines can be engaged in a learning method called "service-learning." Service-learning incorporates community problem-solving into the curriculum, giving students real-world experience in their field while meeting the needs of their communities.