Youth Council for Public Policy

In September of 2002, INVST Community Studies began working with former Colorado State Senator Dorothy Rupert to design a non-partisan model to educate young people about the democratic process as a tool for positive social change, and to empower students to be responsible citizens and advocates for their generation.

Research shows that in the United States, young people have demonstrated the lowest voting rates of any age group.  The Shorenstein Center at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government documented the steepest decline in voter turnout in the past 25 years to have been among eligible voters ages 18-24.  In The Vanishing Voter (2002), Dr. Thomas Patterson found that voter turnout of 18- to 30-year-olds dropped from 50% in 1972 to approximately 30% in 2000.  In addition, the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), in documenting the erosion of political participation by young people, showed that voting rates among Americans between 18 and 30 are barely half that of their parents.  Indeed, nearly one-third of high school seniors assessed by the 1998 National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) did not have a basic grasp of the structure and operations of the American government. 

In the state of Colorado, the Bell Policy Center determined in 2003 that data about voter participation warranted a "serious, statewide discussion about what it means to be an active citizen in Colorado."  The Colorado Board of Regents was so concerned about the status of civic education that they passed a January, 2003 resolution urging faculty to teach "the democratic principles that define and sustain the nation as a free people."  Finally, at the University of Colorado at Boulder, a 2002 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) indicated that only 17% of students in their senior year found that their education at CU had contributed to their knowledge and skills in fulfilling their civic duties. 

To address the critical problem of declining civic engagement among young people, the Youth Council for Public Policy is a unique program that serves students from the University of Colorado at Boulder and Boulder-area high schools through post secondary enrollment options.  By participating in the Youth Council curriculum, students gain the knowledge necessary to think critically and participate effectively in the democratic process.  Through a two-course sequence, students learn the basic workings of democracy and the U.S. political system.  They examine civic values and develop understanding about civil liberties, with a focus on the balance of the rights and responsibilities of being U.S. citizens.  In addition, they learn skills for competent citizenship such as advocacy and civil discourse.  For example, in each course they have the experience of individually and collectively analyzing current political issues, determining viable policy solutions and presenting their positions as a youth agenda. 

The course descriptions are as follows:

INVS 1513:   CIVIC ENGAGEMENT: USING THE ELECTORAL PROCESS AS A TOOL FOR SOCIAL CHANGE

This course is designed to educate and inspire students for civic engagement primarily in the area of electoral politics. We will examine the various theoretical explanations of why people participate in our electoral process and whom they choose to support. In addition, students will develop the practical skills necessary to participate successfully in the electoral arena of our democracy. Learners will have first-hand experiences working on campaigns, mobilizing others to participate in the electoral process, and developing their own campaign plans. Finally, students will learn what it takes to make a personal bid for public office. This course has a service requirement of 8 hours of service during the semester with a candidate or issue-based campaign appearing on the upcoming ballot or with an organization supporting or opposing a candidate or issue.

INVS 1523:  USING DEMOCRACY AS A TOOL FOR SOCIAL CHANGE

This course educates and inspires students for civic engagement.  Students will explore democratic values, and the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship.  Students will develop theoretical knowledge and practical skills to participate successfully in a diverse democratic society, primarily at the state level.  They will have first-hand experience critically analyzing legislative issues, developing policy recommendations, and learning to advocate for change.