All In Campus Democracy Challenge

All In Campus Democracy Challenge. The All In Campus Democracy Challenge is a national, nonpartisan initiative launched to institutionalize and celebrate student voter participation in American higher education. It is housed within the larger civic engagement organization Civic Nation and provides a framework for colleges and universities to develop and share plans to increase democratic engagement. The initiative focuses on turning campuses into laboratories for democracy by fostering comprehensive planning, data collection, and recognition of institutional efforts.

History and background

The initiative was formally launched in 2016 by Civic Nation, a nonprofit organization founded during the Obama administration to address pressing national challenges. Its creation was a direct response to historically low voter turnout among young Americans, as documented by studies from entities like the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE). The founding executive director was Jen Domagal-Goldman, who helped shape its early strategy. The Challenge built upon earlier efforts in the student voting field, including the Voter Friendly Campus designation program and research from the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE) at Tufts University. Its launch coincided with the 2016 United States presidential election, positioning it to address civic engagement ahead of subsequent major elections like the 2018 United States elections and the 2020 United States presidential election.

Mission and goals

The core mission is to make democratic participation a defining feature of campus life and institutional culture. Primary goals include increasing student voter registration rates, improving student voter turnout, and promoting sustained civic learning and action beyond electoral cycles. The Challenge encourages campuses to form diverse, nonpartisan campus coalitions involving administrators, faculty, staff, and students. It emphasizes the use of data, particularly from the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement, to inform targeted strategies. Furthermore, it seeks to foster equitable access to the democratic process for all student demographics, addressing persistent gaps in participation.

Participating campuses and structure

Participation is open to any institution of higher education across the United States, including community colleges, four-year universities, and graduate schools. Campuses join by committing to the Challenge and assembling a team to develop and submit an annual democratic engagement action plan. These plans are reviewed and campuses are then eligible for awards and recognition. The structure includes different participation levels, such as the "All In Campus" and the more intensive "All In Democracy Campus." The initiative provides resources like planning guides, webinars, and access to a national network of peers. Notable participating institutions have included the University of Michigan, University of California, Los Angeles, Spelman College, and Miami Dade College.

Impact and outcomes

Reported impacts include significant increases in student voter turnout and registration at participating campuses. The initiative releases a national post-election report detailing aggregate student voting rates, drawing on data from the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement. For the 2020 United States presidential election, the Challenge reported a record-breaking student voting rate among its participating schools. It has also contributed to a growing culture of assessment and sharing of best practices in civic engagement across higher education. The program's emphasis on coalition-building has led to more sustainable, institution-wide approaches rather than isolated voter drives, influencing the field of student affairs and academic programming.

Awards and recognition

The Challenge administers a prestigious awards program to honor exemplary campuses and individuals. The highest institutional honor is the "All In Most Engaged Campuses for College Student Voting," awarded in various campus size categories. It also presents the "All In Student Voting Honor Roll" to recognize campuses with outstanding action plans. Individual awards include the "All In Student Champions" and the "All In Faculty and Staff Champions." Award ceremonies are often held in conjunction with major higher education events and sometimes feature prominent speakers from organizations like the Knight Foundation or the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. Recognition serves to benchmark excellence and foster healthy competition among institutions.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Washington, D.C. Category:Voting in the United States Category:Organizations established in 2016 Category:Civic organizations in the United States