The New Hampshire Institute of Politics
The New Hampshire Institute of Politics (NHIOP) at Saint Anselm College established in 1999 to serve as a resource for students, scholars, politicians and the general public. Founded on the premise that an engaged citizenship is vital for a healthy democracy, the Institute conducts programs and research that are designed to enlighten and encourage people to actively participate in civic life. The Institute has no alliances, formal or informal, with any political party, organization or agenda.
Mission
To educate, engage and empower citizens to actively participate in the civic and political life of their communities.
NHIOP provided extensive meaningful, specific programming around the New Hampshire primary. All democratic primary candidates made an appearance at the Institute, some making multiple appearances. They taught classes, participated in brown bag lunches with students and help town hall style meetings. We also partnered with The Hotline and the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia on a high-profile conference before the primary, attracting national pundits and pollsters. The College hosted FOX News for two weeks before the Primary, including the last democratic primary debate before the NH primary.
In the spring of 2004, the Institute provided leadership for the President’s “Learning Liberty” program. Using a deliberative dialogue tool, study circles, we organized a semester-long deliberation that involved faculty, staff and students.
To build the most ambitious voter registration initiative in the College’s 100+ year history. With student leadership and Institute support, Count Me In! assisted hundreds of students in registering to vote, voter education and absentee ballot requests. The Institute hosted a forum for all NH colleges to ask questions of the Secretary of State regarding NH voting laws as they pertain to college students.
NHIOP is seeking to be a resource for NH’s social studies teachers and help strengthen the civic mission of schools. To achieve this end, we started the Civic Learning Caucus in December 2004 (and will continue through 2005). The CLC brings together 20 middle and high school educators to discuss ways civic learning can be enhanced and to build a lasting network.
NHIOP is an active member of the newly formed New Hampshire Alliance for Civic Engagement (NHACE). The Alliance serves as an umbrella organization to convene individuals and organizations across the state to collaborate on civic education. Progress:
Hosted two statewide summits on civic engagement, featuring national speakers and good cross-section of K-12 and college participants.
NHIOP is working to engage in publicly relevant academic research and scholarship (through the Institute’s Academic Research Center) that advances public scholarship and enriches the intellectual life of the College and deepens students’ liberal arts education.
Goals
- To launch the Summer Civic Leadership Institute. The SCLI is an intensive two-week residential summer program for 25 outstanding New Hampshire high school students who demonstrate promise of being this state’s future civic leaders. The SCLI offers concentrated study in state and local politics for high school students from across the state.
- To release findings from a statewide survey/civic index project and hold community forums around the state discussing the findings.
- To expand Public Achievement by offering a fully credited course in the politics department at Saint Anselm College.
- To continue the Civic Learning Caucus.
Contact Information
Anne Botteri, Executive Director; Mica Stark, Director of Civic Education
New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College
100 Saint Anselm Dr., Box #1802
Manchester, NH 03102
Phone: 603-222-4100
Fax: 603-222-4112
Email: abotteri@anselm.edu; mstark@anselm.edu