At a glance
According to Jonathan Hilsher, director of Civic Engagement, “This designation is an extension of Alfred State’s focus on preparing involved students for successful careers and purposeful lives."
Alfred State College is pleased to announce that it has been designated a “Voter Friendly Campus.”
The initiative, led by national nonpartisan organizations Campus Vote Project and NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, held participating institutions accountable for planning and implementing practices that encourage their students to register and vote in the 2018 elections and in the coming years. The mission of the Voter Friendly Campus designation is to bolster efforts that help students overcome barriers to participating in the political process.
Alfred State was evaluated based on a campus political engagement plan developed through student leadership and professional support within the Center for Civic Engagement. The campus plan highlighted how student voters were engaged, outlined democratic engagement efforts, and provided a final analysis of the effort. These efforts focused on voter registration, voter education, and getting out the vote.
Political engagement efforts featured collaboration with student government, student organizations, departments across the college, and external partners such as the Board of Elections and the League of Women Voters. Specific initiatives included voter registration efforts during New Student Orientation, debate parties in the residence halls, and creative outreach to disseminate non-partisan voter guides. On Election Day, chalked footprints guided students on the short walk from campus to the polling station.
According to Jonathan Hilsher, director of Civic Engagement, “This designation is an extension of Alfred State’s focus on preparing involved students for successful careers and purposeful lives. Alfred State will continue promoting this initiative that supports student civic leadership and informed, active community engagement.”
The institutions designated Voter Friendly Campuses represent a wide range of two-year, four-year, public, private, rural, and urban campuses.