Summer Institute of Civic Studies 2026
The Kettering Foundation Democracy and Community focus area is excited to share that we will be hosting the Summer Institute of Civic Studies at the Kettering Foundation Dayton campus this summer from Sunday, August 2 to Saturday August 8, 2026. This is an opportunity for scholars and practitioners from around the country to learn and connect with each other and with our collaborators and partners in Dayton.
Summer Institute of Civic Studies (SICS)
SICS are intensive interdisciplinary seminars that bring together faculty, advanced graduate students, and practitioners from diverse areas that may include but are not limited to higher education, nonprofits, philanthropies, community work, as well as civic and religious leaders. Participants will read a selection of articles and chapters that will be shared and available prior to the Institute. Participants should plan on 10–15 hours of pre-SICS preparation time.
The SICS week involves seminar-style discussion groups as well as visits with our friends and neighbors in the Dayton community who are working at the intersection of civic life, community, and democracy. The 2026 Dayton SICS is in-person only.
SICS Goals
The goal of this SICS is an immersive experience in the literature and practices of civic studies, as well as the creation of connections and a learning community. Together, we can explore what it means to live well together, how to solve problems together, and collectively imagine how we can create safe, just, democratic, and inclusive communities now and in the future.
SICS Framing Questions
Central questions that participants will explore include the following:
- How can people work together to improve the world?
- What helps voluntary groups to function and succeed?
- How can people address disagreements about values?
- How can groups address disparities of power?
- What practices and institutional structures promote civic engagement and civic values?
- How should we consider and combine facts, values, and strategies?
SICS History
The Summer Institute was taught from 2009 to 2019 by Peter Levine, associate dean of academic affairs at Tisch College and Kettering Foundation board member, and Karol Sołtan, now retired from the University of Maryland. Since 2019, the Institute has been hosted in several locations, including Chernivtsi and Kyiv, Ukraine; Munich and Augsburg, Germany; Madrid, Spain; and James Madison University in Virginia. You can read more about previous SICS here.
The Institute was shaped by the Civic Studies Framing Statement created in 2007 by leaders and scholars working at the intersection of civic, community, and democratic studies, including Harry Boyte, Stephen Elkin, Peter Levine, Jane Mansbridge, Elinor Ostrom, Karol Sołtan, and Rogers Smith.
Who Should Apply?
The common thread for participants is a desire to deeply engage in the literature of civic studies, democracy, and community building; to learn and grow; to connect with others and be part of a community of civic studies practitioners and scholars; and to understand and strengthen civic politics, initiatives, capacity, society, and culture.
The Summer Institute of Civic Studies will take place in Dayton, Ohio, and is in-person only. Participation requires arrival in Dayton by 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 2, and departure after 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 8. Participants agree that if they accept the invitation to participate, they are committed to taking part in the entire week’s activities.
Participants should feel comfortable with 10–15 hours of pre-SICS reading and preparation time, as well as with seminar-style discussions for 3–6 hours a day (with plenty of breaks!).
Cost
Participation in the SICS is free. All food for the week will be provided. Participants will be responsible for their own travel and lodging. There are limited travel and lodging stipends available based on need and demand.
Barriers to Participation
We acknowledge that taking a week to attend a seminar and the requirement of in-person attendance presents barriers that will prevent some amazing candidates from being a part of this. That said, we will strive to lessen barriers to participation when possible. We welcome applications from parents and caregivers, as well as those with varying physical, familial, financial, or mental health needs. Accepted applicants will have an opportunity to share any specific needs or issues relevant to their participation. With the caveat that this is an in-person only Institute, we look forward to working with accepted participants to reduce barriers to participation when feasible.
International Applicants
We are happy to accept applications from international applicants but are not able to assist with or offer legal, practical, or financial support related to visas or international travel.
