What is Civics Academy?
Civics Academy is a nonpartisan civics education initiative where employees simultaneously develop critical 21st century workplace and civics skills. This initiative helps employees meaningfully engage in their community and succeed at work.
- Think you understand American government? Nearly three-quarters of adults say they could explain it—but 58% fail a basic civics test.
- The economics knowledge gap is even larger: 86% of adults fail a basic economics test.
- Civic knowledge can make difficult conversations easier. Among people with high civic literacy, 83% say they feel prepared to manage political disagreements.
- Most Americans want businesses involved: 79% believe businesses play an important role in sustaining democracy.
- This isn’t a political program. Civics Academy is intentionally nonpartisan and focuses on how government works, civil discourse, citizenship, community participation, and workplace skills.
- It’s free and flexible. Participants complete a self-paced online course over eight weeks, allowing it to fit around work and family schedules.
- You can earn a digital credential. Graduates receive a verifiable digital badge that can be shared on LinkedIn, social media, or by email.
The Online Course
The online course reintroduces employees to the basics of civics, empowering them to learn more about how our government works and how they can meaningfully participate in civic life. Each module highlights the relationship between an important civics subject and one or more complementary workplace skills.
Six Topical Modules in Civics
When employees enroll in Civics Academy, they gain access to an educational program that explores six topical modules in civics:
- Foundations of Federalism: How Power is Shared in the U.S.
- Government in Action: Branches, Power, and Public Debate
- Citizenship: Rights, Responsibilities, and Participation
- Civic Engagement: Taking Action in Your Community
- Civil Discourse: Communicating Across Differences
- Navigating Your Local Civic Landscape
Fun reasons to sign up
- Find out whether you’re smarter than a middle schooler. The optional Civics Academy Championship can include questions from the National Civics Bee taken by middle school students.
- Compete for local bragging rights. Your chamber could crown an individual, workplace, or team as its Civics Academy Champion.
- Learn things you were probably never taught—or have long since forgotten.
- Discover how to make a difference beyond voting. One module specifically explores practical civic engagement in participants’ own communities.
- Learn how to disagree without becoming disagreeable. Civil discourse is part of the curriculum, with direct applications to workplace communication.
- Turn learning into action. Participants may take part in a Civic Day of Action or community volunteer experience.
- Add a new credential to your résumé. The digital badge recognizes both civic knowledge and transferable workplace skills.
- Understand which level of government is actually responsible. Participants examine federalism and learn how federal, state, and local authority is divided.
Ready to Register?
Registration for Cohort One is open now, Aug. 24-Oct. 19. Please sign up below if you are interested. Thank you!