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 Heartland’s Service-Learning and Civic Engagement
Team in collaboration with faculty, the Student Government
Association, and Political Science Club have undertaken an effort to
organize Constitution Week activities for students who are primarily
engaged in online instruction.
The Constitution Week activities are part of an overall goal of
student civic engagement exemplified by the recent ALL IN Campus
Democracy Challenge pledge which Heartland committed to this summer.
Heartland’s Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Team has set a
goal of a 55% student voter rate which will be measured through the
National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement.
“It is important for our students to understand their role in
voting, community, and citizenship, said Karla Huffman,
Service-Learning & Civic Engagement Faculty Coordinator. “By
engaging in constitutional questions, students will have an
opportunity to think about issues that can motivate them to get
involved in the democratic process.”
Heartland will engage students in open ended
discussions via announcements, class activities, assignments, extra
credit and other avenues.
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The focus of the discussions will be on Constitutional rights
that reflect on recent events. Samples include:
“Should the government be allowed to restrict church gatherings during a
pandemic, or does this violate the 1st Amendment freedom of religion?”
“Can peaceful protests be banned? Does this violate the 1st Amendment right to
free speech or assembly?”
“Do mask mandates violate the 1st Amendment right to free speech/expression?”
The Service-Learning and Civic Engagement’s motto prompts students to “learn,
serve, and engage” other students as active community members. The civic
engagement exercise is not a mere extracurricular opportunity for students, as
it also encourages faculty to incorporate it as part of class activities.
Constitution Week at Heartland will extend from September 14 through September
18.
[Steve Fast
Director, Public Information
Heartland Community College]
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