The new U.S. Department of Education report “Advancing Civic Learning and Engagement in Democracy” recognizes UMBC’s Prove It! as a unique initiative at the forefront the higher ed’s emerging civic learning movement.
Prove It! is a campus-wide contest that funds student-led efforts to improve the university, such as projects to create a campus wi-fi plaza and convert waste oil into fuel for campus vehicles. This initiative is a hallmark of our Student Government Association’s focus on inspiring peers to become citizen leaders and problem-solvers in their own right.
The report notes that Prove It! demonstrates how UMBC “transformed its student government from a client-service model to one that promotes social entrepreneurship.” Beyond sparking campus change projects, Prove It! has been a powerful vehicle for spreading the SGA’s core message: all UMBC students can apply their skills and ingenuity to addressing community challenges.
