Glacier Country News

The University of Montana has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation to establish a Democracy Studies Program. This initiative is led by history professors Claire Arcenas, Kyle Volk, and Jeff Wiltse and aims to promote democratic values and support faculty research over the next three years.

UM is among 30 institutions nationwide receiving this funding from the Mellon Foundation, which is recognized as the largest supporter of arts, culture, and humanities in the United States.

"Fostering deep understanding of democracy and the development of civic knowledge are core to our mission at the University of Montana and one of the most important ways we prepare students to become informed, engaged citizens,” said Adrea Lawrence, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “This grant will amplify the work of our faculty in the humanities, providing transformative opportunities for students to deepen their understanding of civic engagement, actively contribute to strengthening democracy, and make a lasting impact as future leaders."

The new interdisciplinary program began last fall as a minor co-directed by Kyle Volk and Political Science professor Robert Saldin. Next year will see the launch of a First-Year Civics Initiative led by History and Classics professor Scott Arcenas. The program plans to eventually offer a certificate in Civic Knowledge and a major in Democracy Studies.

“We are all tremendously excited to receive this grant and get started on the work supported by this grant, which will have far-reaching impacts on campus as well as across the state and region,” said project leader Claire Arcenas. “This will help establish UM as the top regional destination for students interested in studying democracy – past, present and future.”

The Democracy Studies minor includes courses from various disciplines such as history, philosophy, political science, journalism, sociology among others. The First-Year Civics Initiative aims to attract students from diverse majors like business or public health into exploring themes related to democracy.

“Our hope is to bring students who are studying, for example, business, forestry, pre-med or public health to the minor,” he said. “I hope we’re able to show students that essential themes of democracy—from leadership citizenship ethics governance public policy dissent—matter so many pursuits I can’t think anything more important right now than preparing students good citizens.”

Additionally funded by this grant is hiring a two-year postdoctoral fellow who will teach U.S history courses including developing "The Challenge Citizenship" course through First-Year Civics Initiative.

Five faculty research projects related specifically towards aspects regarding democratic processes also benefit:

- Jeff Wiltse examines 19th-century American public culture shaped via music.

- Kyle Volk researches personal liberty politics dissent.

- Tobin Shearer analyzes activist Vincent Harding’s life revealing religious pluralism's role multiracial democracy struggles.

- Claire Arcenas studies American engagement Declaration Independence educational settings past 250 years.

- Robert Saldin investigates community-based projects bridging divides fostering cooperation empowering diverse citizenry achieve common goals.

“All five projects complement one another,” explains Wiltse “and explore crucial roles pluralistic public culture tolerance dissent peaceful protest commitment liberal arts education pursuit common good played sustaining American democracy Our goal produce cutting-edge scholarship informs teaching Democracy Studies Program well public understanding circumstantial conditions enabled democracy flourish United States.”

Contact: Dave Kuntz at UM strategic communications can be reached via phone (406)243-5659 email dave.kuntz@umontana.edu