Civic engagement encompasses a wide range of activities in which individuals work to strengthen their communities, to realize common goods, to enhance the capacities and dispositions necessary for democratic self-rule, and, in general, to deliberately shape their common life. Wesleyan University prides itself on enrolling and nurturing students with a strong social consciousness. Students participate in a wide variety of formal and informal "civic" activities in Middletown and around the world. These activities include volunteer work, practica, and service-learning courses. This minor is designed for students interested in reflecting upon these activities and integrating their civic and academic efforts.
Admission to the Minor
Students will be admitted to the CEM by self-declaration. They will be considered part of the minor after they have formally applied to participate and discussed their plans with the faculty coordinator. The application will consist, in part, of a reflection paper explaining the place of civic engagement in the applicant's own life and plans to fulfill the CEM requirements.