In response to ongoing civil unrest and a precipitous decline in civility and civic awareness, House Bill 327 was introduced during the 2021 Utah legislative session to create the Civic Thought & Leadership Initiative (CTLI) within the Center for Constitutional Studies at UVU.

HB 327 specified that CTLI would “facilitate nonpartisan political discussion and provide civic education and research.”  To this end, CTLI focuses on university curriculum development, K-12 training and support, and campus and community engagement.

Collaborators from across UVU's campus and around the state and beyond are working together to deliver the civic education and research so needed to address critical local, state, and national civic challenges.

53B-29-302. Civic Thought and Leadership Initiative.

(1) The university shall establish the Civic Thought and Leadership Initiative within the Center for Constitutional Studies to facilitate nonpartisan political discussion and provide civic education and research.

(2) The initiative shall:

(a) provide courses in and related to philosophy, history, economics, and political science;
(b) provide resources to students, outside academic institutions, government agencies, and other persons regarding civic affairs; and
(c) foster thoughtful civic engagement in Utah and the surrounding region.