Campus Compact and the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), in partnership with More Perfect and the University of Virginia’s Karsh Institute of Democracy, announced the Higher Education Democracy Exchange (HEDEX), a multi-functional, virtual platform that aims to unite colleges and universities in advancing the civic mission of higher education, promoting democratic knowledge and engagement, and connecting civic learning to public problem-solving across campuses nationwide.
The HEDEX platform will offer four core functions:
- Civic Indicator Dashboards: A data-driven resource that will aggregate data from national and campus-level sources to illustrate higher education’s contributions to supporting and advancing democracy, including contributions and opportunities for alignment to five Democracy Goals;
- Civic Credential Clearinghouse: A hub connecting students, faculty, and staff to professional development opportunities that enhance their civic knowledge and marketable skills;
- Resource Hubs: Curated tools and resources designed to scale impactful civic and community-based practices; and
- Civic Experts Network: A platform for peer-to-peer connections, coaching, and strategy building, providing access to a diverse pool of civic leaders and experts.
With input from college students, faculty, and administrators, AAC&U and Campus Compact will begin developing the HEDEX platform in the coming months. The platform's public release is scheduled for Summer 2026.
Working in partnership with More Perfect, the HEDEX platform is being developed at a time when American higher education must reimagine its role in advancing democratic goals. Among these are the need for expanding civic literacy, growing national and community-based engagement, promoting civil discourse, supporting engagement in democratic processes, and combating misinformation. The HEDEX platform will create mechanisms for addressing what is needed within and beyond higher education to advance the public purposes of colleges and universities individually, and as a whole, in service to democracy.
“Now more than ever we need to be aligned and strategic in undertaking democracy-building work,” said Campus Compact President Bobbie Laur. “By bringing the varied, proven resources, tools, and practices already in place on campuses and in communities across the country together on a single platform, while sparking new innovations, we can make an impact greater than the sum of its parts.”
“The HEDEX initiative brings together innovative technology with the civic work that many colleges and universities have been doing for years to more fully realize higher education’s contributions to the public good through a network that can reach every institution of higher education,” said Ashley Finley, Vice President for Research and Senior Advisor to the President at AAC&U. “HEDEX is more than a platform - it is a tool for civic engagement and storytelling.”
“Democracy is a demanding form of government that depends on citizens understanding democratic norms, values, and institutions,” said John Bridgeland, Founder & CEO of More Perfect, an alliance of 35 of the nation’s Presidential Centers and more than 130 partners working to advance five Democracy Goals, including civic learning. “We are thrilled to be partnering with AAC&U, Campus Compact, the Karsh Institute, and the Ibis Group on such a fundamental mission.”
“HEDEX will equip students, educators, and institutions with tools and knowledge required for meaningful civic engagement,” said Melody Barnes, Executive Director of the Karsh Institute of Democracy. “Higher education has a critical role to play in fostering democratic culture, expanding access to trusted information, and strengthening civic participation. By bringing together resources, data, and expertise, HEDEX will help institutions of higher learning fulfill their public purpose and prepare students to navigate and shape our democracy.”
The Higher Education Democracy Exchange (HEDEX) is supported by a $11.3 million grant from the Ibis Group to More Perfect and its partners advancing Democracy Goal 1 on Universal Civic Learning. The grant promotes civic engagement and learning across several signature investments, including HEDEX. HEDEX builds upon planning activities developed with generous funding from Lumina Foundation.
“We are thrilled to support leaders and institutions that are aligning their efforts to ensure civic education is central to learning in higher education all across the United States,” said Chi Kim, the Ibis Group Board Chair.
To receive further updates about the HEDEX program or indicate interest in participating in its development, visit https://campuscompact.tfaforms.net/60.