The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Division of Lifelong Learning funds libraries, organizations, and schools to develop humanities programs that encourage civic and public engagement. This year, the University of South Carolina is a recipient of a $1.5 million NEH grant thanks to the contributions of the Center for American Civic Leadership and Public Discourse and the continued efforts of the Center's Academic Director, Colin Wilder. This sizable new grant will give the University of South Carolina students new opportunities to explore classic texts, engage with and debate foundational ideals, and connect their education with civic life.
After observing a decrease in the general amount of reading and open discussion with fellow professors, Wilder began to search for a way to engage students through literature and philosophical debate, which prompted him to apply for the grant. His interest in this movement stems from his passion for the humanities.
“In my own life, reading major works from the humanities tradition affected me in ways I could never have predicted,” commented Wilder. “Students will benefit a great deal from seminars that are focused on reading classic texts.”
The grant will fund four to five seminars per semester through 2029, plus other activities for students of the Columbia and Gamecock community. One such program is the third annual upcoming Summer Seminar Series, a weeklong forum hosted by the University with a focus on ideas and books foundational to the development of America. Past seminars have focused on great ideas from philosophy and literature, like problems of freedom, the quest motif in The Odyssey, and economic development. Participants have read the works of authors like John Locke, Adam Smith, Alexander Hamilton, John C. Calhoun, and John Stuart Mill. In summer 2027, the Summer Seminar series will expand to feature a much larger, one-week course focusing again on ideas of freedom, as well as shorter seminars on the nature of the university, classical ideals of education, and the development of modern capitalism.
However, the program’s impact will reach far beyond the classroom. Wilder hopes this will affect students’ ability to engage in civic thought and leadership.
“People care about civics. It’s more than the right to free speech; it's the ability to engage in public debate. And that's what America was built on: public discussions. It’s what republics and democracies need.”
Wilder hopes that through this grant, the University, department committees, and even the State Government can see that this form of education is crucial.