On April 4, 2025, the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute welcomed faculty, staff, and student leaders from across Arkansas to the Civic Arkansas Collegiate Summit. This one-day gathering brought together representatives from two- and four-year colleges to connect, share, and strategize around one central question: How can we deepen civic engagement on our campuses in ways that matter to students?
The summit wasn’t just a stand-alone event, but a milestone in a much larger statewide conversation. Between May 2024 and January 2025, Institute staff traveled to 22 communities across Arkansas, co-hosting 28 Civic Arkansas Listening Sessions with the help of local and university partners. These sessions gave students and community members space to speak candidly about their experiences, challenges, and hopes for civic life in Arkansas. Everything shared informed the direction of the Civic Arkansas program, and the Collegiate Summit was a key opportunity to act on what we heard, especially from students.
Throughout the day, participants engaged in a mix of small- and large-group exercises designed to generate real, practical ideas. Key strategies that emerged included:
- Embedding civic opportunities into the academic curriculum
- Centering engagement activities around student interests and leadership
- Leveraging high-attendance campus events to promote civic resources
- Hosting engagement events in visible, high-traffic areas
- Streamlining how civic opportunities are communicated to students
One powerful theme surfaced again and again: When students help shape the civic experiences offered on campus, their participation increases. Relevance matters. When students see themselves reflected in events and programs (not just as attendees but as co-creators), civic engagement becomes personal, meaningful, and lasting.
Maddie Gwinner
Junior, University of Arkansas“This was my first Civic Arkansas meeting, and the Institute is a really cool place. I expected a lot of people just talking at us, but it turned out to be way more interactive than I anticipated. I appreciated the chance to talk with students and faculty from other universities. I don’t usually get to do that.
What surprised me most was how students and faculty think about civic engagement differently. At first, everyone was focused on curriculum, and as a student, I felt I didn’t have a voice in that conversation. But then the conversation shifted to how students could actually be involved in shaping the curriculum. That really stuck with me. It was inspiring to see people genuinely care about how students engage civically on campus. It gave me hope, especially for my little brother heading to college next year.
One thing I’m taking back to Fayetteville is the sense that civic engagement doesn’t have to be divisive. There’s a lack of partisanship here, and that’s refreshing.”
We were proud to host teams from nine colleges and universities, including Arkansas State University MidSouth, Arkansas Tech University, University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton, University of Arkansas, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, University of the Ozarks, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, University of Central Arkansas, and Southern Arkansas University. Their presence helped create a vibrant and collaborative experience for everyone involved.
As we look ahead, the momentum continues. On February 11–13, 2026, we will host a Citizen University training designed for college faculty and staff, with a second Collegiate Summit on February 13. This follow-up gathering will bring students back into the fold to keep building civic engagement as a shared value. We’re also excited to welcome a nationally recognized speaker to engage with students, faculty, and staff during the summit.
Contact Person
Alyssa Ghaleb
Program Officeraghaleb@rockefellerinstitute.org“We’re grateful to every participant who helped make this summit thoughtful, energizing, and action-oriented. Civic engagement in Arkansas is growing stronger and more student-centered by the day.”