PENSACOLA, Fla. – The College of West Florida Board of Trustees has authorized the creation of the Academy of American Civic Republicanism, a brand new tutorial middle funded by a $1.5 million federal grant to bolster civics schooling.
The initiative, supported by a three-year grant from the U.S. Division of Training, is designed to reinforce civic information by the examine of American historical past, authorities, and the founding ideas of the republic. The middle’s packages are scheduled to launch in January 2026, coinciding with the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
“This new initiative will improve civic information and engagement by schooling on American historical past, authorities and ideas foundational to the American republic. Funded by a $1,555,318 three-year grant from the U.S. Division of Training, the middle’s packages will coincide with the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations,” Manny Diaz Jr., interim president of UWF and former Florida schooling commissioner, mentioned.
This new initiative will improve civic information and engagement by schooling on American historical past, authorities and ideas foundational to the American republic. Funded by a $1,555,318 three-year grant from the U.S. Division of Training, the middle’s packages will… https://t.co/vrAnzUrlyk
— Manny Diaz Jr. (@PresMannyDiazJr) December 19, 2025
Core focus and curriculum
The academy will perform as an unbiased tutorial middle targeted on the custom of civic republicanism, which emphasizes lively citizenship and the frequent good.
- Historic roots: The curriculum will discover the origins of self-governance in historic Greece and Rome and its affect on American thinkers like Aristotle, Cicero, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison.
- Major sources: Instructional programming will emphasize direct engagement with authentic paperwork from the Colonial period, the American Founding, and the Early Republic.
- Program objectives: Dr. Clifford Humphrey, UWF vice chairman of strategic initiatives, described the academy as a “bulwark in opposition to collective civic amnesia” supposed to coach lecturers and college students within the ideas of self-government.
“Generations of Individuals have solemnly declared their loyalty to the republic for which our flag stands. This Academy goals to teach contributors about exactly what that enduring dedication means,” Humphrey mentioned.
Group and educator outreach
The grant will develop UWF’s present summer season packages right into a year-round useful resource for college kids, Okay-12 educators, and the broader Northwest Florida neighborhood.
- Instructor coaching: The Academy plans to conduct annual summer season institutes for 60 Okay-12 educators, with a precedence on these from Title I faculties. Over three years, this system expects to coach 180 lecturers who serve roughly 4,500 college students.
- Public occasions: Programming will embrace webinars, conferences, visitor lectures for Structure Day and Presidents’ Day, and public debates.
- Future diploma: Whereas the middle at present provides undergraduate programs and fellowships, college officers expressed hope that the Academy might ultimately result in a full diploma program in civic thought and management.
Political context and naming debate
The middle’s launch follows a broader push by Gov. Ron DeSantis to “reinvigorate” schooling relating to American founding ideas. Florida universities have lately secured greater than $15 million in federal civics grants, together with funding for the Hamilton Middle on the College of Florida and the Adam Smith Middle at FIU.
“The Academy of American Civic Republicanism isn’t simply tutorial,” Diaz mentioned. “It’s the sensible pathway to knowledgeable debate, civic advantage and the form of freedom that strengthens households and communities.”
