Q&A
Integrating civic engagement in CUNY curricula
1:32:48
·
178 sec
The discussion focuses on integrating civic engagement into various academic curricula at CUNY. Students share experiences from different majors, highlighting the importance of connecting coursework to civic and political issues.
- Akeem Pollock suggests incorporating civic education into all courses, regardless of discipline
- Salimatou Doumbouya shares examples from her architectural major, emphasizing creative approaches to civic engagement
- Tahisha Fields discusses the integration of civic engagement in mental health counseling courses, focusing on respectful political discourse
Akeem Pollock
1:32:48
And, you know, chair, you mentioned it earlier when you suggested that, like, why isn't this a part of, like, curriculum?
1:32:54
You know?
1:32:54
And I think that's that's the direction to go as well because no matter what course you do, you know, it involves politics.
1:33:01
It involves policies.
1:33:03
It involves various laws and all of that.
1:33:06
So it would be good to have that in there, not with people with an agenda though, but just to educate.
Eric Dinowitz
1:33:12
So, I mean, you mentioned curriculum, which leads me to, you know, the the the the professors, have you been seeing, you know, besides those political science classes?
1:33:22
Are you seeing in your classrooms at all any sort of effort to integrate civic engagement with various topics?
Salimatou Doumbouya
1:33:31
I may go.
1:33:31
So I'm an architectural major, and that sounds like the most unconventional thing you could do sitting here.
1:33:38
But I actually have been observing it, and I have been watching some of my professors be more open to it than others.
1:33:47
In this major where you get the opportunity to be creative, to set things up, and to put your ideas into paper, and into different types of things, I have faced situations where my question is, how do you do social development?
1:34:04
How do you promote political shift with architecture?
1:34:09
And my professors have been open to these ideas.
1:34:12
So from my perspective, it is important that when students come up with these creative ways to do things, that professors are open and also that they find the ability to adapt to it.
1:34:23
Some of us wanna be super technical, Some of us want to be very philosophical before they can be technical, and it also helps them in their development.
1:34:32
That's what I find in my major.
Tahisha Fields
1:34:38
I can say in in my major oh, sorry.
1:34:41
I can say in my nature, we engage a lot because it's mental health counseling, and we make it more broad, but we also bring it in of the psychology part and people's mind and well-being of it.
1:34:58
We know when it comes to political efficacy and differences, it can be a little bit tenseful of what you believe.
1:35:06
I think getting to a point that people understand that what whatever side that you own you can have your beliefs and be respectful and still be able to debate and understand what you're doing.
1:35:17
I think there's parts that people don't know how to express their what it is about politics, and it can be a little confusing sometimes.
1:35:26
And I think when it's in a way that whatever is that you believe that can be your own core value, it it is what you are, but also be able to know that differences do matter.
1:35:39
But in a a very resourceful way because people will have discourse, but it's okay to have a little discourse, but be respectful in it.
Eric Dinowitz
1:35:46
Thanks.