Want to become a better citizen and civic leader? Want to do so in a community of fellow students and with guidance from inspiring mentors?

The Tocqueville Fellowship is a one-year program that gives UVU undergraduate students from any major the opportunity to develop their understanding of what it means to be a good citizen and how to have a meaningful impact in our community, state, and nation.

The Tocqueville Fellowship is a program of the Civic Thought & Leadership Initiative (CTLI). CTLI’s purpose is to develop the next generation of citizens and civic leaders by cultivating the knowledge, skills, dispositions, and virtues necessary for a just, free, and flourishing constitutional republic.

The Tocqueville Fellowship offers the following to students:

• Annual Fellowships with a $2,000 cash scholarship
• The opportunity to discuss texts and ideas pertinent to civic life
• Opportunities to observe local and state government
• Meaningful engagement in civic-outreach projects
• A community of mentors and peers striving for common goals
• Active participation with CTLI's projects, speakers, and events
• Development of leadership skills and civic virtues
• The chance to participate in research and teaching apprenticeships

Through these experiences, Tocqueville Fellows grow as students, leaders, and citizens.

Requirements 

• Have a demonstrable interest in becoming a better citizen and civic leader
• Willing to participate in weekly events (up to 5 hours per week on average)
• Have completed 24 credits by the starting point the fellowship
• Minimum GPA: 3.0
• All majors are welcome
• Exceptions will be handled on a case-by-case basis
• Application deadline: May 1

To Apply 

1. Speak with a UVU faculty member about nominating you for the Tocqueville Fellowship: all you need is the faculty member’s permission, name, and e-mail address (particular consideration will be given to CTLI faculty affiliates and faculty associated with the Center for Constitutional Studies)
2. Be prepared to address the following prompt: “What makes for a good civic leader? What is the relationship between education and good civic leadership?” (approx. 500 words)
3. Complete the application, which you can find here.

Apply by May 1 for full consideration. Application decisions will be made by May 15.

Alexis de Tocqueville (1805–1859) was a French aristocrat, diplomat, and political thinker. Upon visiting the United States in 1831, Tocqueville quickly became fascinated with the progress of equality in America.

He returned to France and wrote Democracy in America, based on his extensive notes and reflections during his trip to the United States.

Scholars Harvey Mansfield and Delbra Winthrop rightly called Democracy in America “at once the best book ever written on democracy and the best book ever written on America.”

Among his concerns were how democracies can prepare citizens who are capable of self-government. He also explored the relationship between important ideas like liberty and equality and the role of religion in public life.

He presciently observed that the United States would be "called by some secret design of Providence one day to hold in its hands the destinies of half the world."