Conservative politicians warn of “woke” college campuses, where liberal professors teach their views and stifle dissent. Their concerns have led them to become more involved than ever before in the day-to-day operations of public colleges and universities, including creating right-wing, taxpayer-funded civic centers.
But most students don’t share these concerns, according to our recent report. And one new survey by Gallup echoes what students told us.
The poll, which included responses from nearly 4,000 students, found that about two-thirds of all students — including two-thirds of Republican students — said their professors encourage students to share their views “even if it makes others uncomfortable.” Only 3 percent of Republican students said they felt out of place at their university because of their political leanings. (The survey was conducted in partnership with the Lumina Foundation, one of several funders of the Hechinger report.)
This matches what we found when we went to Ohio State University to visit the Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture and Society. Ohio is at the center of the civic center movement, with five centers now operational.
Eight other states have similar centers or schools at public universities, which are generally able to bypass traditional university recruiting processes. They are designed to teach civics and American history with an emphasis on what makes the nation great.
As in the Gallup poll, OSU students agree that professors are accepting of different opinions.
We spoke to several students who were taking classes at the Chase Center. They said they didn’t feel like any of their professors, in any class, were trying to push their personal beliefs.
“I would challenge anyone to find left-wing indoctrination,” said one Ohio State student. “Teachers want you to challenge them, they want you to disagree. »
Civic centers introduce conservative professors and ideas to students.
Most of the students we spoke to in Chase Center classes said these professors and course materials were right-wing. As another student said, “It’s very Republican and very patriotic. If you come in with a blank slate, you’ll probably come out Republican.”
Chase Center leaders have said there is no political litmus test for joining the staff there and that the goal is not to establish a faculty that is conservative, but one that respects intellectual diversity. When we looked closer and spoke with faculty members, it was clear that the center was recruiting conservatives almost exclusively. And the academic board that oversees Chase has several prominent conservatives and no notable liberal academics.
The Ohio centers are part of a larger national movement to focus on civics education.
These civic centers represent a convergence of two major priorities for Republicans: countering what they see as a “woke” left leaning in universities and improving and promoting civic education. The Trump administration supports both goals and has discussed the importance of promoting patriotic versions of American history, allocating more than $150 million to the effort.
Four of the Ohio centers have received federal grants totaling more than $8 million to train K-12 teachers in civics education. Chase was one of several centers selected receive additional funding through a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities – $5 million for more faculty recruitment, scholarships and program development.
State lawmakers are also taking action. Last year, Ohio lawmakers passed a bill that will require all bachelor’s degree applicants to take an American civics course. The course is expected to teach some of the nation’s founding texts as well as lessons on capitalism. Chase and other civic centers across the state will play a key role in teaching these courses.
Contact senior investigative reporter Meredith Kolodner at kolodner@hechingerreport.org or on Signal: @merkolodner.04.
Contact Investigations Editor Sarah Butrymowicz at butrymowicz@hechingerreport.org or on Signal: @sbutry.04.
This story on conservative college programs was produced by The Hechinger reportan independent, nonprofit news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Subscribe to our higher education newsletter. Listen to our higher education podcast.
Politicians claim that left-wing professors are pushing their points. A new poll shows students don’t see it that way, which appeared first in the Hechinger Report.
