Tufts University: 175 Years of Innovation

Civic engagement has been a part of Tufts since its founding in 1852, when a community of Universalists launched an academic institution with the goal to better the world around them through sharing knowledge. A century after its founding, the university formalized this commitment to civic learning and engagement. In 1954, Tufts created the Center for Civic Education, later renamed the Lincoln Filene Center for Citizenship and Public Affairs.

In the following decades, the Lincoln Filene Center played a vital role in the growing movement to study and strengthen civic life. The center organized gatherings like the National Conference on Citizen Participation and the National Conference on Civic Renewal. It undertook research and published scholarly work on civic engagement. In 2000, recognizing the importance of civic engagement to its academic mission, Tufts signed a Declaration of Purpose and created the University College of Citizenship and Public Service.

In 2006, thanks to extraordinary philanthropy from Jonathan Tisch, A76, the University College was renamed the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service. In 2016, the name was updated to the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life.