{"id":93,"date":"2023-03-17T16:43:37","date_gmt":"2023-03-17T20:43:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.bsu.edu\/civics\/?page_id=93"},"modified":"2026-02-22T19:45:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T00:45:09","slug":"center-for-economic-and-civic-learning","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.bsu.edu\/civics\/","title":{"rendered":"CECL"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\"Center<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Center for Economic and Civic Learning<\/h1>\n

\n CECL advances rigorous economic and civic learning through research, teacher development, student pathways, and public partnerships\u2014strengthening democracy, economic vitality, and the public good.\n <\/p>\n

\n
\n Visit The CECL Website
\n <\/a>
\n
\n Explore Strategic Priorities
\n <\/a>
\n
\n Signature Work (2025\u20132026)
\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n
\n
Statewide civic infrastructure<\/div>\n
\n Scaling teacher learning and civic outcomes through CREATE250 and statewide partnerships.\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n
Character + civic learning<\/div>\n
\n Cultivating civic virtue and moral formation through C4G across the university curriculum.\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n
Campus coordination + national networks<\/div>\n
\n Coordinating Ball State\u2019s American Democracy Project (ADP) engagement and public scholarship.\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n

Purpose and rationale<\/h2>\n

\n Education passes on knowledge, values, and skills across generations; learning is the lifelong process of turning information and experience into knowledge, skills, and durable civic and economic habits. CECL exists to strengthen that process\u2014helping students, educators, and communities build the knowledge, character, and agency required for a healthy democracy and a thriving economy.\n <\/p>\n

\n
\n

Vision<\/h3>\n

\n Build meaningful, lasting relationships and opportunities for learning that advance democracy, economic vitality, and the public good.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

Values<\/h3>\n
    \n
  • Inclusion:<\/strong> Respect for different people, backgrounds, and perspectives.<\/li>\n
  • Knowledge:<\/strong> Evidence, scholarship, and intellectually honest inquiry.<\/li>\n
  • Connections:<\/strong> Partnerships that translate research into practical civic and economic impact.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
    \n

    Leadership and institutional home<\/h3>\n

    \n CECL is housed in Teachers College at Ball State University and serves as a coordinating hub for interdisciplinary
    \n civic learning, research-to-policy work, and community partnership.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

    \n
    \n

    Purpose<\/h3>\n

    \n Advance Ball State\u2019s mission by engaging students and communities in learning, research, and public work that
    \n supports fulfilling careers and meaningful lives.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

    \n

    University relations<\/h3>\n

    \n Strengthen campus-wide connections by convening faculty, programs, and partners around shared civic and economic goals.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

    \n

    Research and scholarship<\/h3>\n

    \n Produce and translate research that improves civic learning, civic health, and democratic participation in Indiana and beyond.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

    \n

    Signature work (2025\u20132026)<\/h2>\n

    \n CECL\u2019s recent work reflects a shift from strong local impact to statewide responsibility\u2014building the partnerships,
    \n programs, and evidence base needed for durable civic learning at scale.\n <\/p>\n

    \n
    \n

    CREATE250 (America250 civic learning)<\/h3>\n

    \n A statewide community of practice for Title I educators\u2014scaling rigorous, evidence-based civic learning across
    \n Indiana in preparation for America\u2019s Semiquincentennial.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

    \n

    C4G: Cultivating Civic Character for the Common Good<\/h3>\n

    \n A multi-year effort strengthening character-infused civic education through faculty development, curricular redesign,
    \n and campus programming\u2014grounded in civic virtues such as justice, responsibility, gratitude, and civic courage.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

    \n

    American Democracy Project (ADP)<\/h3>\n

    \n Ball State joined ADP and CECL now serves as the coordinating home\u2014connecting campus initiatives, student programs,
    \n and public events into a clearer civic ecosystem.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

    \n

    Indiana Civic Health Index (research-to-policy)<\/h3>\n

    \n CECL contributed statewide analysis of voting and voter registration\u2014highlighting gains as well as persistent
    \n participation gaps that require policy and practice solutions.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

    \n

    Teaching with Primary Sources: \u201cWith Compassion Toward One Another\u201d<\/h3>\n

    \n An inquiry-driven initiative using the civic and moral lessons of April 4, 1968\u2014RFK\u2019s remarks at Ball State and in
    \n Indianapolis after Dr. King\u2019s assassination\u2014to help teachers develop classroom-ready civic inquiry.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

    \n

    STEM + Civics (Lumina-funded pilot)<\/h3>\n

    \n \u201cClean Energy in My Community\u201d links clean-energy literacy with civic decision-making\u2014supporting students and teachers
    \n in producing real civic artifacts (public comments, proposals, op-eds, presentations) tied to local policy choices.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

    \n

    Academic pathway: Civic Studies Minor<\/h3>\n

    \n Launched in Fall 2025 as Indiana\u2019s first interdisciplinary program dedicated to civic responsibility, ethical leadership,
    \n and democratic engagement\u2014open to students from any major and designed to blend academic study with applied civic work.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

    \n

    Strategic priorities<\/h2>\n

    \n CECL is aligned with Ball State University\u2019s commitments to equity, inclusiveness, and positive community outcomes\u2014building
    \n knowledge, civic character, and practical pathways for participation.\n <\/p>\n

    \"Annual


    \n Annual Civic Learning Symposium, Teachers College, Student Center, CREATE
    <\/p><\/div>\n

    \n
    \n

    I. Collaboration & Connections<\/h3>\n

    Goal:<\/strong> Build a community across Ball State, Indiana, and the nation that recognizes, supports, and strengthens economic and civic learning.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Develop relationships with collaborators inside and outside the University.<\/li>\n
    2. Create peer networks to share evidence, strategies, and resources.<\/li>\n
    3. Identify community and state needs and design projects that address them.<\/li>\n
    4. Play an active role in state and national organizations supporting civic and economic learning.<\/li>\n<\/ol><\/div>\n
      \n

      II. Innovation & Leadership<\/h3>\n

      Goal:<\/strong> Serve as a productive center for research and projects that measurably improve civic learning.<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Map faculty expertise across civic learning and economic education.<\/li>\n
      2. Foster cross-disciplinary collaboration and project design.<\/li>\n
      3. Build CECL capacity as a state and national research leader.<\/li>\n
      4. Support schools and universities with high-quality civic learning models and tools.<\/li>\n<\/ol><\/div>\n
        \n

        III. Reputation & Recognition<\/h3>\n

        Goal:<\/strong> Earn national recognition for innovation in economic and civic learning.<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Disseminate research through reports, publications, and public scholarship.<\/li>\n
        2. Maintain a clear, accessible web presence for projects and results.<\/li>\n
        3. Share CECL capabilities with faculty, districts, and community partners.<\/li>\n
        4. Support conferences and events that extend CECL\u2019s mission.<\/li>\n<\/ol><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
          \n

          What\u2019s next<\/h3>\n
            \n
          • Scale CREATE250 statewide:<\/strong> summer academies, ongoing professional learning, shared resources, and America250-aligned showcases.<\/li>\n
          • Deepen C4G diffusion:<\/strong> integrate civic virtues into course design and applied learning across disciplines.<\/li>\n
          • Stabilize the Civic Studies Minor:<\/strong> strengthen recruitment, advising, and curricular coherence.<\/li>\n
          • Increase coherence and visibility:<\/strong> align ADP-related efforts into a legible campus civic ecosystem.<\/li>\n
          • Strengthen student engagement:<\/strong> expand nonpartisan participation through Cardinals Vote! and sustained civic pathways.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            Center for Economic and Civic Learning CECL advances rigorous economic and civic learning through research, teacher development, student pathways, and public partnerships\u2014strengthening democracy, economic vitality, and the public good. Visit The CECL Website Explore Strategic Priorities Signature Work (2025\u20132026) Statewide civic infrastructure Scaling teacher learning and civic outcomes through CREATE250 and statewide partnerships. Character + […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":966,"featured_media":1168,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-page\/page-full-width.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-93","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nCECL - Center for Economic and Civic Learning<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sites.bsu.edu\/civics\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"CECL - Center for Economic and Civic Learning\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Center for Economic and Civic Learning CECL advances rigorous economic and civic learning through research, teacher development, student pathways, and public partnerships\u2014strengthening democracy, economic vitality, and the public good. 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