Integrating Unify America’s Civic Gym in Higher Education

For a high functioning civil society, we need the skills of disagreement and collaboration. Across hundreds of higher education institutions in the U.S., students are building and exercising these critical civic muscles with the Unify America's Civic Gym.

The Civic Gym integrates simply and seamlessly into curricular, co-curricular, extra-curricular, first-year, and workforce development frameworks—and not just for those in political science, civic engagement, or public service areas of study.

Across academic disciplines—from STEM to business to the humanities—higher education leaders, faculty, and staff enthusiastically implement Unify America’s civic preparedness programs into their coursework, classrooms, and campuses.

Our two immersive, intercollegiate programs—the Unify Challenge College Bowl and the Deep Dive—are highly rated and well-received by college students and faculty. In fact, 98% of faculty and staff would recommend our Civic Gym programming to their colleagues.

Quick Overview: Civic Gym Programs

• Unify Challenge College Bowl: This virtual intercollegiate event pairs students from different backgrounds and institutions for guided one-on-one conversations. Over approximately one hour, pairs discuss pressing topics such as mental health, gun laws, and immigration—sharing viewpoints and seeking common ground. Learn more.
  
  
• Deep Dive: Building on the College Bowl's success, the Deep Dive allows students to explore one single critical issue in depth. Participants engage in structured conversations focusing on topics like gun ownership, voting, and free speech—honing skills in critical thinking, empathy, and collaborative problem-solving. Learn more.

Tips and Resources for Civic Gym Implementation

• Campus Integration: Faculty and staff structure their courses and first-year experiences to include the College Bowl and/or Deep Dive in many ways—as required/graded assignments, extra credit opportunities, or experiential learning modules. 
  • For instance, Harold Alexander Silva of Miami Dade College integrated the Unify Challenge College Bowl into his American Federal Government course, noting its effectiveness in promoting civic engagement among a diverse student body. Read more.
    

• Example Syllabi: Here are four recent example syllabi from different areas of study where faculty have implemented our programs:
  
  • Health Science: Environmental Health Problems‍
  • Business: Professional Presence‍
  • Media & Communication: Brand and Relationship Strategies
  • Philosophy: Introduction to Philosophy‍
    

• Supportive Supplementary Materials: Unify America also provides classroom materials, facilitation guides, and live support to assist educators in seamlessly embedding these programs into their courses and campuses.
  
  
• Flexible Scheduling: The programs are designed to accommodate various academic schedules, offering multiple dates and times to ensure accessibility for as many students as possible.
  

How to Get Started

Have a spare 30 minutes to take a tour of the Civic Gym? Just tell us when you’re free, and we’ll take it from there. You can also email Partnerships Director Abby Ferguson directly at abby@unifyamerica.org.

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