This week, the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) celebrated and recognized the most engaged colleges and universities throughout the 2024 election season. 471 campuses received this recognition in 2024, compared to 394 in 2022 when the inaugural cohort of recognized campuses were recognized. These campuses helped ensure that college students across the country registered to vote and cast informed ballots, getting us all one step closer to a more inclusive democracy.
The ALL IN team is constantly inspired by the work of all the students, faculty, and staff who do nonpartisan democratic engagement work. It is those on the ground who are the experts in navigating democracy’s most wicked challenges like voter apathy and supporting their students as they navigate complex voter legislation. We asked our 2024 Most Engaged Campuses to give some advice on how we can all be the best student voting champions possible.
Here are some of their answers:
How does earning the Most Engaged Campuses for College Student Voting recognition impact nonpartisan democratic engagement on your campus?
“Receiving the Most Engaged Campuses for College Student Voting recognition significantly enhances nonpartisan democratic engagement at Capital University. For incoming students, this visible commitment to voter education and participation during election season fosters a desire to get involved. Current students benefit from programming that equips them with the knowledge and resources to register and vote, demonstrating our dedication to empowering them to exercise their voting rights. As faculty and staff who prioritize student success, we view this recognition as a vital opportunity to promote growth and development in civic engagement.” – Tristen Davis, Capital University
“Earning the Most Engaged Campuses for College Student Voting recognition strengthens RIT’s commitment to empowering students to own their purposeful trajectory. It highlights the impact of initiatives like ROAR the Vote, showing students that their participation in democratic processes matters and is actively supported by the university. This designation helps create a campus culture where civic involvement is a priority and students are provided with the necessary tools to harness their significant influence on the world around them. The recognition amplifies the range of diverse student voices and reinforces the value of cross-campus, collaborative efforts to shape a more engaged, informed community.” – Kathryn Cilano, Rochester Institute of Technology
Which strategies and tactics do you feel have been most successful to increase nonpartisan democratic engagement at your institution?
“This year we took a two-tiered approach focusing on building relationships with leadership and programming for students. We’ve always had success with student events and engaging with students in social settings. Social programs layered with the top-down approach of messaging through different levels of campus leadership has really seemed to get the message out more broadly and the students are engaging with democracy in different ways. For example, WebsterVOTES has had a slate of events related to voter registration targeted at students. I, as the department director, have been meeting with deans and other campus directors to talk about registration processes and strategies as well as sharing Webster student voter data from previous elections. These conversations trickle down to faculty, staff and then meet the students in places outside of WebsterVOTES events. It creates a situation where they hear the information from multiple sources but recognize that importance and value to our campus.” – Jennifer Steward, Webster University
“I think having a collaborative approach and embedding voter information throughout the student journey via many modes of communication has been more impactful. Students hear about voting during orientation, information is listed on Blackboard, on the campus website and students newsletter. Students in the residential hall moved into their suites with voter information listed on their refrigerator, instructors shared voting info during class — encouraging students to stop by our Vote Central area or one of our events — and voter info is located throughout campus and incorporated into many other campus events.” – Julie Christensen, Western Technical College and a participant in the Community College Community of Practice
What nonpartisan democratic engagement programming is your campus most proud of accomplishing in 2024?
“In 2024, our campus is most proud of hosting over 50 Adopt-a-Voter Registration programs. This initiative successfully mobilized faculty, staff, and student leaders to adopt different groups of students, guiding them through the voter registration process and offering ongoing support. The program helped increase voter registration significantly while fostering a strong culture of civic responsibility across campus. This achievement represents a collaborative effort and a key milestone in our nonpartisan democratic engagement work.” – Manuela Hill-Munoz, the University of St. Thomas
“Our Vote Everywhere Ambassadors were able to pass a policy change within our campus mail room for mailroom staff to begin notifying students when their absentee ballots arrive. They were previously denoted “mail,” which does not warrant a notification to students, but are now classified as “packages” and students are notified when their ballots arrive. This was a huge win for our campus and will hopefully increase our number of absentee ballots sent!” – Alarah Gillum, the University of Louisville and a participant in the DemocrACCy athletic conference voting challenge
What is your biggest piece of advice for campuses that are new to nonpartisan democratic engagement work?
“You do not need to recreate the wheel. The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge provides so many campus engagement resources that you can literally “Plug & Play” at your college or university campus. The most important part is making it your own by engaging with your students, faculty, staff, administrators, and community members, listening to their stories and feedback, and then fostering buy-in from your constituents. Once you get rolling, the community momentum will do the rest!” – Frank Cirioni, Germanna Community College and a participant in the Community College Community of Practice
“Our biggest piece of advice for campuses new to nonpartisan democratic engagement work is to know your campus. Building strong relationships with both campus and community partners is key to fostering a sustainable culture of democratic engagement. Take the time to understand the unique dynamics, needs, and interests of your student body and staff. Cultivating a campus culture that prioritizes curiosity, open dialogue, and active engagement will lay a solid foundation for democratic participation. Tailor your initiatives to align with the values and priorities of your institution, and ensure that you create spaces where diverse voices feel heard and respected. This groundwork will help foster long-term success in nonpartisan democratic engagement.” – Marina Barnett, Widener University
“The biggest piece of advice I have for campuses new to nonpartisan democratic engagement work is to recognize that this work is not limited to the election cycle. True democratic engagement work occurs at all points in the academic year, and should become a part of your campus culture. Students should be encouraged to participate in the democratic processes of your campus, participating in student governance organizations and having opportunities to engage in the greater campus governance system.” – Wendy Johnston, SUNY Adirondack
The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge congratulates all of our campuses for being all in for our democracy. To be a 2024 Most Engaged Campus, these institutions had to:
More than 1,070 colleges and universities currently participate in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. Learn more about ALL IN and support our work here.