Fairmont State University Receives Grant to Strengthen Civic Engagement Infrastructure

Fairmont State University received $10,000 through the Institute of Citizens and Scholars Campuswide Immersion grant program to support the expansion of civic engagement on campus. This funding was secured with the assistance of Fairmont State University's Office of Sponsored Programs.   

This grant will allow the Fairmont State Civics Institute to hire a Civic Fellow for the Spring 2027 semester. The Civic Fellow will develop a written report to be shared with Civics Institute leadership analyzing where credible information skills are taught and practiced across Fairmont State's curricular and co-curricular spaces. By providing accurate data that is specific to Fairmont State, this report will inform Civics Institute leadership's future decisions as they work towards ensuring all Civics Institute programming is evidence-based.  

“Before we can strengthen how students learn to find and evaluate credible information, we need an honest picture of where that learning is already happening," shared Dr. Samantha Godbey, Director of the Fairmont State University Civics Institute. “This grant gives us the chance to gather data specific to Fairmont State, so that every program the Civics Institute builds is grounded in evidence rather than assumptions.” 

 Furthermore, this grant will support the redesign of introductory-level courses to include civil discourse, credible information, and collaborative problem-solving skills. This will embed civic skills at students' earliest exposure to collegiate coursework.  

The Institute for Citizens and Scholars Campuswide Immersion program provides grants for colleges and universities to expand civic engagement programming that prepares students to take action in their communities. More specifically, this program prioritizes civic engagement education that reaches all students, not just those who opt into it.