Arcadia University and the National Constitution Center will announce the signing of a new cooperative learning agreement as part of the development of Arcadia’s We the Civics Kids program. The event will take place on Monday, Sept. 17, at 2 p.m., as part of the Center’s Constitution Day celebration, marking the historic 225th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution. (Arcadia students can sign up for free tickets to the Constitution Center and transportation.) Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell and Judge Marjorie Rendell will be in attendance to announce the next steps of the We the Civics Kids program and will introduce Arcadia University President Carl Oxholm III and Dr. Steve O. Michael, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. “‘We the People’ is the way that our Constitution begins, and in the 225 years since it was signed in Philadelphia, no one has found a better way to ‘promote the general Welfare and secure the Blessings of Liberty’ than education,” says Arcadia University President Carl Oxholm III. “And one of the best ways that we can ‘secure a more perfect Union, establish Justice, [and] insure domestic Tranquility’ is by making sure that we the people truly appreciate our form of government and understand well the rights and obligations that each of us has as a citizen. To enter into an agreement like this on such an important day exemplifies Arcadia’s continued commitment to community service and educating the youth of this great country on the U.S. Constitution and civic responsibility.” “In order for representative democracy to survive, it is imperative that the next generation of Americans has a sound knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and their rights and responsibilities,” said National Constitution Center President and CEO David Eisner. “The Center’s nationally recognized education program and Arcadia’s strong vision ensures that this partnership will be a resounding success.” The agreement will see the School of Continuing Studies at Arcadia University develop academically rich curricula for the We the Civics Kids program aimed at teaching the United States Constitution to grammar school students, grades K-5. In addition, Arcadia will facilitate programs in civics to graduate and undergraduate students on site at the National Constitution Center, as well as continuing professional development programs for educators at all levels. Through this new partnership, Arcadia University will work with the Center to develop a new certificate program in Civic Education, which will be offered to continuing education students.

Immediately following the announcement, the Center will present a timely program exploring one of the hot button issues at the heart of this year’s presidential election, voter identification. The ACLU’s Vic Walczak, John Fund of the National Review, and Rutgers University School of Law’s (Camden) Robert F. Williams will participate in the discussion. Governor Rendell will moderate. The program is open to the public. Students and faculty from Arcadia University will be in attendance. The program will be webcast as well: Tune in and join the conversation online.

The School of Continuing Studies is providing free entrance to the Voter ID panel discussion, free bus transportation to and from the event, a free tour of the National Constitution Center, and a free viewing of Freedom Rising, the Center’s award-winning multimedia presentation. The bus leaves for Philadelphia from the Taylor Hall parking lot at 12:30 p.m. It will depart from the Center at 4 p.m. Student ID is all that is needed to attend.