September 2026 Colloquium for Educators: JMC ACE is hosting a one-day colloquium event for Michigan teachers on Sept. 19 on MSU campus. Learn more and register online.
The James Madison College Academy for Civic Education (JMC-ACE) launches in summer 2026 as the nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Funded by a $1.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, JMC-ACE offers two distinct programs: residential summer seminars for Michigan high school students and intensive professional development seminars for Michigan educators.
Through small-group seminars led by JMC faculty, participants engage directly with primary sources, including the Constitution, Federalist Papers, landmark Supreme Court decisions and pivotal speeches that defined American democracy.
Michigan middle and high school teachers are invited to explore this question during a focused, one-day professional development colloquium hosted by the James Madison College Academy for Civic Education, in partnership with the Jack Miller Center, on Sept. 19 on MSU campus.
Rising seniors from across Michigan spend two weeks immersed in college-level seminars exploring American democracy. Students engage in small-group discussions of primary texts.
The application window for the Summer 2026 program has now closed. Contact JM.ace@msu.edu with questions.
High school students interested in participating in Summer 2027 are encouraged to join our mailing list to receive application information once it is available.
This program addresses what teachers consistently report as a challenge: incorporating primary sources into classroom teaching effectively. Building on JMC faculty's existing teacher programs, the seminars combine deep engagement with foundational texts and practical pedagogy strategies.
Teachers interested in participating in Summer 2027 are encouraged to join our mailing list to receive application information once it is available.
The JMC ACE curriculum explores American democracy through multiple lenses: the political institutions established by the Constitution, the free market principles that enabled unprecedented prosperity, the scientific and technological innovations that transformed the nation, the statesmanship that guided us through crises and the civic virtue required to sustain self-government.
This interdisciplinary approach helps participants understand how constitutional democracy, economic freedom, innovation, leadership and citizenship work together to create the American achievement.
Help support the JMC-ACE program by giving online via MSU.