State will track civic education in colleges - Scott O'Connell, Metro West Daiy

In what could end up being a landmark initiative in the country, the state’s Board of Higher Education has embarked on a mission to track how well Massachusetts institutions foster civic engagement on their campuses. Some local experts see the move as a response to the greater emphasis placed on job training, especially for science and technology careers, in higher education in recent years. While state officials have been vocal in highlighting colleges’ role as work force development centers, some faculty members have quietly been telling the Board of Higher Education that there’s another component to producing successful graduates.