Institute of American Civics at UT works to inform and engage citizens | Georgiana Vines

The Institute of American Civics at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville was established three years ago during a time when national discussions centered on critical race theory and “wokeism,” in which perceptions were that too much attention was being given to social justice movements.

The institute, with Josh Dunn, former chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, as the executive director, seems to be directing programs that help advance civic participation and conflict resolution without becoming confrontational with authorities or the public. The institute is housed in the Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs.

A recent series of programs shows the range of topics:

● The institute was keynote sponsor at the recent Leadership Knoxville annual lunch where two retired congressmen from different political parties talked about working with “the other side.” They were former U.S. Reps. Bob Clement, a Nashville Democrat with strong Knoxville ties, and Phil Roe, a Johnson City Republican and former mayor. They were aided in their civil discussion by Steve Scully, a former C-SPAN political editor.

● At an undergraduate civics symposium in April, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti and Nadine Strossen, a former president of the American Civil Liberties Union, discussed challenges to expression on campus and beyond.

● A pro-con discussion on the issue of whether people born in the U.S. to temporarily or illegally present parents are U.S. citizens by birthright was part of a Campus Liberty Tour of the Steamboat Institute held at the Baker School auditorium. The topic was before the U.S. Supreme Court on May 14, underscoring the timeliness of the discussion.

The Steamboat Institute is a conservative educational institution in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, established to “promote America’s first principles and inspire active involvement in the defense of liberty.”

Dunn said in an interview April 29 that he felt the Campus Liberty Tour exchange was a “model kind of discourse that we need.” The institute’s mission, he said, is to “try to do serious work on differing opinions.” One way to do this, he said, is to collaborate with other institutions.

The emphasis on civil engagement comes as Americans’ civic knowledge is declining, with changing educational priorities likely the most significant factor, Dunn said in a follow-up to the interview on May 14.

“While No Child Left Behind is often blamed for focusing on reading and math in K-12 education to the neglect of civics (and other subjects), it really accelerated trends, particularly a greater focus on STEM fields, that started in the 1950s. Colleges and universities have also marginalized civic knowledge. Ron Daniels, the president of Johns Hopkins, lays out this history in What Universities Owe Democracy,” Dunn said in a text.

“Also, I want America to be a leader in STEM. It’s essential for our economic health and global leadership. However, its usefulness ultimately rests on a healthy constitutional system and engaged citizenry,” he said.

Dunn was also director of the Center for the Study of Government and the Individual at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs before being named IAC executive director. He was selected two years ago by a search committee of the institute’s board of governors, which included former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam. Dunn previously taught at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, and was a fellow in contemporary history, public policy and American politics at the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.

In November, Dunn was appointed to the National Commission on American History and Civic Education by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni. He joins 21 other historians, political scientists and education leaders, with the commission tasked to issue a white paper analyzing the crisis of neglecting history and civics and the urgency of addressing it. The commission is expected to provide guidance on foundation courses and include avenues to implement the recommendations in higher education.

“A constitutional system like ours depends on informed and engaged citizens,” Dunn said in a release. “If you want to effect change, you must understand the structure of the government.”

The next major program for the institute is a Civics Academy for teachers June 24-25. Some 125-150 teachers are expected to participate, with their hotel and food expenses covered with a gift from Regents Bank.

Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, proposed the institute three years ago as a way for Tennessee students, in both K-12 and higher education, to be “informed patriots.” The institute received $6 million the first year and $4 million in following years. Additional money has been provided for the K-12 civics education work. When created, the institute had bipartisan support from the Tennessee General Assembly.

This piece was originally published in the Knoxville News Sentinel on May 19, 2025.