Conservatives frequently bemoan the ideological monoculture on college campuses, but they too rarely propose constructive solutions. One notable exception has been Arizona State University’s School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership, which is funded directly by the Arizona state legislature as a distinct academic unit.
Currently in its sixth year as a department, SCETL positions itself as an entity that serves a growing number of majors, fosters a robust and diverse speaker series, and plays a role in renewing American civic education in Arizona and across the country.
Several other states have taken note and are launching similar institutes. This report from the American Enterprise Institute argues that such institutes can do far more than create a safe space for conservative ideas on campus; they can facilitate a new birth of educational freedom in America.