The Institute of American Civics at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville

On many campuses, discussions of civics and democratic values are a decidedly national project, meant to strengthen American democracy. But, dating back to the colonial era, American democracy is rooted in local politics and governance. At the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, the project of instilling democratic values takes a decidedly local approach, focusing on teaching students how to engage with the local issues, the local institutions, and the local leaders whose work constitutes the frontline of democracy in action.

Program Description:

The Institute of American Civics at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has pioneered initiatives to connect undergraduate students with their local government. The Institute, housed in the Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs, was established by the Tennessee General Assembly in 2022 to increase civic knowledge, civic skills, and civic engagement among all Tennesseans, including students at the state’s flagship land-grant campus. Although the Institute is housed in the Baker School, its influence is campus-wide.

The Institute’s work in local government involves three distinct programs:

• a forum for discussing the issues most pressing for local policymakers;

• a Local Government Fellows program, in which students attend local government meetings; and

• local government internships.

All three programs are designed to establish a mutually productive relationship with local city and county governments.
 

Public Forum:

In 2023, the Institute launched a Public Square lecture series. The series seeks to educate students, the public, and local lawmakers about issues that are resonant for the local government. The Institute invites experts to campus to educate attendees and engage in discussions with faculty members, elected officials, and community leaders. Topics have included community-based strategies for curbing gun violence; land use and the housing crisis; the challenge of homelessness; and the application of theory to practice.

Discussions of these topics are not limited to the lectures. Baker School undergraduate policy lab courses have picked up some of the issues from the Public Square series and, working with local government partners, provided evidence-based recommendations for potential solutions. Baker School students benefit from regular small-group discussions with local elected officials and policymakers on these and other policy challenges. They ask tough questions and explore the political hurdles facing any proposed policy.
 

Fellowship Program:

The Institute provides an opportunity for students to learn about the local legislative process through the Local Government Fellows program. Any undergraduate across campus is eligible to apply for the program. Students are compensated for their time but do not earn course credit. The heart of the fellowship entails attending Knoxville City Council meetings with Institute faculty and staff members. The program also includes class sessions prior to and following these public meetings to help students prepare for and then fully appreciate what they witness. Topics for the class sessions include how items make it onto the government agenda, the difference between ordinances and resolutions, the impact of Roberts’ Rules, and norms of councilmember conduct.

Fellowship participants report a renewed confidence in the democratic system as a result of their experiences, perhaps because the city council process produces measurable outcomes each week and community voices are heard and acknowledged routinely. Several students have since become involved in local campaigns for office because of this program.

Internship Program:

Hands-on experience has no substitute.

The Institute’s approach starts with the typical internship structure, in which a student is embedded in a public-sector department and works on projects in that department. Institute officials worked with the City of Knoxville, Knox County, the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce, and selected nonprofits to secure a commitment to host paid internships. Officials meet prior to each semester with Institute faculty and staff to match student interests and skills with an appropriate department.

The Institute internship experience is designed to exceed that of the typical public-sector student internship. As part of the program, students engage in a classroom discussion where they learn how their internship department interacts with other units, how it interfaces with the public, and how it implements the policy priorities of its respective administration. In some cases, students attend public meetings in which their department, and sometimes their own work, is discussed or even challenged.

Through the internship, students not only get involved with local government, but they learn how sound policy is proposed, implemented, and evaluated.

Impact:

The Institute of American Civics at the Baker School is pioneering ways to engage students with local government and to engage local government with institutions of higher education. The Institute’s Public Square lecture series, Local Government Fellows program, and internship program have led to a greater sense of ownership over local issues among University of Tennessee, Knoxville, undergraduate students and a renewed appreciation for local government as a key arena for political problem-solving. By helping students get involved with local issues, universities can prepare them to be the local—and national—leaders of tomorrow.

Population Served:

The students and surrounding community of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville 

Learn more here. 

Page last updated in August 2026