Programs

The Youth Leadership Initiative (YLI) provides free civics and government resources to K-12 educators nationwide. YLI's engaging lesson plans and simulations are designed to motivate students to participate in the American political process.

Since 1984, the Center for the Liberal Arts has made a commitment to content enrichment for K-12 teachers across Virginia and beyond. Every year hundreds of teachers attend our programs that are offered in a wide array of disciplines, including Art and Architecture, Classics, English, French, German, History, Mathematics, Politics, Science, and Spanish.

Broadcast by all of Virginia's public radio stations, With Good Reason is an eclectic blend of timely features and interviews designed to appeal to general audiences. Each week scholars explore the worlds of literature, science, the arts, politics, history, and business, connecting their research to what is happening now. From the controversies over slave reparations and global warming, to the unique worlds of comic books and wine-making, With Good Reason presents timely, extended coverage of issues that challenge how we view ourselves and the world.

Each year, the Center for Politics hosts the Virginia Political History Project, in a continuing effort to preserve an oral history of modern Virginia politics. In partnership with the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, this project has examined the administrations of Virginia's more recent, former governors and other high-ranking elected officials, as well as explored the dynamics of various institutions of Virginia government.

If you are interested in public policy issues in the Commonwealth, you will want to subscribe to the Virginia News Letter by sending an email to cps-pubs@virginia.edu with your complete mailing address, including your five-digit zip code. Published continuously since 1925, this News Letter addresses significant topics in Virginia, ranging from economic and social issues to politics and government. Each issue features an article by a different author.

The Sorensen Institute offers education to community leaders as they prepare for public service. The Institute provides opportunities for meaningful dialogue with political leaders from around the state and an education that transcends party politics.

The Scripps Library and Multimedia Archive serves as a research facility for scholars of U.S. public policy.

A comprehensive Web site run by the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, Center Director Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball features detailed and frequently updated analyses for a wide spectrum of political races from around the country. The Crystal Ball keeps tabs on presidential elections, along with every Senate and gubernatorial race, as well as the tightest campaigns for the House. Users may subscribe to receive Crystal Ball e-mail updates.

Encyclopedia Virginia seeks to provide authoritative and accessible information for anyone interested in learning more about Virginia's history and culture.

As one of the nation's premier institutions of this kind, the Center for Politics has launched numerous programs that have a real impact on increasing political education and participation. Each year the Center bring top elected officials to the University for students and community members alike.