Civic Spark: Policy and Democracy empowers students to tackle today’s most pressing public challenges—from climate change and health equity to economic justice and beyond. 

Through applied learning and immersive simulations, community-engaged projects, policy labs, and curated internships, students gain real-world experience in policy writing, stakeholder engagement, and civic leadership. Whether their interests lie in politics, public policy, communications, social justice, healthcare, the environment, innovation, or the arts, students learn how to navigate the policy process with confidence, turning ideas into action across local, state, and federal levels.

Foregrounding interdisciplinary thinking and collabortion with practitioners, policymakers, and communities, Civic Spark is cultivating the next generation of changemakers: leaders who understand complex policy problems and are equipped to design and advocate for innovative, impactful solutions in an interdependent world.

Photo of Bomberger and flag 
Ursinus earns Highly Established Action Plan Seal for the 2026 election cycle

Ursinus College has a plan to ensure that every student can participate in the democratic system this year and it’s been recognized as one of the best in the country.

Group photo of Professor Shai Karp with students from Race and the American City class
Students travel to Center City Philadelphia to learn about area history

In conjunction with Professor Shai Karp’s Race and the American City class, Civic Spark and Justice & Community Collective students traveled to Center City Philadelphia for a walking tour of the city’s historic 7th Ward.

Civic Spark alumni panel
Civic Spark Hosts Alumni Panel

In February Civic Spark hosted three Ursinus alumni, who joined first- and second-year students to chat about their careers in policy and government.

Civic Spark Policy Skills Bootcamp
Civic Spark Hosts Policy Skills Bootcamp with IR Alum

During Ursinus’ first Experiential Learning Week, the Civic Spark innovation hub hosted a four-day skills workshop on campus. Seven students attended the “Policy Skills Bootcamp” and learned to use data to make the case for a problem to be solved, identify relevant stakeholders, and put it all together in policy memo. 

   Saving SEPTA Simulation
Ursinus First-Year Students Tackle Regional Transit Crisis in “Saving SEPTA” Simulation

First-year students recently participated in “Saving SEPTA,” a policy simulation organized by Civic Spark, an APEX Innovation Hub focusing on policy and democracy. The event challenged students to develop actionable solutions for Southeastern Pennsylvania’s struggling public transportation system.

Photo of Dr. Aatish Bhatia
Visiting Lecture: Disappearing Funds for American Science

As a staff writer at the New York Times, Dr. Aatish Bhatia covers topics where math and science intersect with daily life. That includes climate change, extreme weather, artificial intelligence and education. The community was invited on September 3 to learn more about The Disappearing Funds for American Science