Pepperdine University President Jim Gash stated Tuesday that American higher education institutions should actively foster patriotism and civic duty among students. Writing during the nation's 250th anniversary year, Gash argued that colleges have a fundamental responsibility to produce citizens capable of self-governance and dedicated to the country's founding principles.
Gash’s comments follow recent reports of campus demonstrations and a Gallup poll indicating a decline in national pride. He defined patriotism not as blind worship or the absence of dissent, but as a commitment to the country's improvement and an adherence to its stated values of human dignity and liberty.
To achieve this, Gash proposed that universities return to an educational model focused on character formation rather than solely on job preparation. He highlighted the "Roots of American Order" seminar recently established at Pepperdine University as an example of focusing on foundational texts and values such as faith, freedom, and duty.
For students, this shift would mean a change in their day-to-day academic experience, involving a greater emphasis on "whole-person formation" and the study of historical texts that shaped the American republic. Instead of a focus primarily on professional skills, students would encounter curriculum designed to instill a sense of civic obligation and virtue. The impact on universities would involve a reevaluation of academic priorities and the potential introduction of new seminars or required courses similar to the program at Pepperdine.
The knock-on effects of such a change could influence the broader political and social landscape, as Gash argues that the stability of the republic depends on a citizenry schooled in self-governance. He suggests that the future of American freedom will be determined in classrooms from kindergarten through college. While no specific federal or state legislation was cited, the implementation of these ideas depends on individual university administrations and their governing boards. Next steps involve how educational institutions choose to respond to these calls for curricular changes as the nation continues its 250th anniversary observances. Currently, the effective dates for such broad changes across higher education remain unknown.
The Gallup report cited by Gash was released "very recently," and the Pepperdine "Roots of American Order" seminar held its first session in May 2026. Gash’s position was published on August 18, 2026.