Close up of the ASU charter with a blurred bicycle crossing the view.

Cultivating Civic Virtues through Action

What is the CCVA project?

The Cultivating Civic Virtues through Action (CCVA) Initiative is a university-wide effort dedicated to strengthening the civic character and virtues necessary for a thriving, pluralistic democracy. At its core, CCVA focuses on five interrelated civic virtues: civility, empathy, epistemic humility, openness to ideas and civic grace.

Civic virtues are not merely abstract ideals. They are enduring character traits developed through practice, reflection and intentional action.

In an era marked by deep differences and complex challenges, these virtues equip students, faculty and community members to engage across disagreement, navigate uncertainty and contribute to the common good.

CCVA provides conceptual grounding, practical tools and a growing library of classroom-ready resources that help individuals cultivate civic character and practice these virtues in the classroom and in everyday life.

Why virtues?

Democratic societies flourish when citizens are committed to advancing the common good while respecting freedom and equality. CCVA focuses on five civic virtues that are essential to this work:

Civility

Treating others with dignity and seriousness, even in disagreement

Openness to Ideas

Engaging new perspectives with curiosity and discernment, not blind acceptance

Empathy

Understanding others’ feelings and perspectives with balanced concern

Civic Grace

Extending goodwill and unearned kindness, even to opponents

Epistemic Humility

Recognizing the limits of one’s knowledge and remaining open to correction

Together, these virtues form the habits of mind and heart that sustain democratic life.

Click each virtue below to learn more.

How to join

Faculty

We have finished recruiting for our third faculty community of practice (CoP). Stay tuned for updates on when we will be recruiting for another CoP.

Students

Interested in having a positive impact on your community?

Enroll in a CCVA course. These courses combine the collaborative, problem-focused approach of the Humanities Lab with an intentional focus on civic character development. These team-taught, interdisciplinary courses invite you to grapple with pressing social challenges while exploring the virtues essential for engaged citizenship and democratic life. View upcoming courses.
Join a Student Community of Practice (CoP). Over the semester, students will create projects driven by their interests while exploring civic virtues such as intellectual humility, kindness, open-mindedness and empathy. Projects may extend to public forums for civil discourse and collaboration with students from University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University. Email [email protected] to learn more.
Apply for a CCVA Student Fellowship. We award student-led, public-facing projects that address a meaningful civic challenge through the practice of civic virtues: civility, civic grace, empathy, intellectual humility and openness to ideas. Email [email protected] to learn more.