1st Edition

Power to the Polls A Guide to Developing Civic Learning, Election Engagement, and Political Action in Higher Education

Edited By Marianne Magjuka Copyright 2023
    292 Pages
    by Routledge

    292 Pages
    by Routledge

    Given that students are increasingly arriving on campus with limited civic knowledge, and the fragile state of our democracy, there is an urgent need to incorporate civic learning into courses, programs, systems, and processes throughout our institutions. This book provides administrators, student affairs educators, and faculty with frameworks and examples for developing initiatives and programs to promote students’ civic learning and democratic engagement; set sustainable, campus-wide goals; track student learning outcomes; and make data-driven decisions that impact the campus climate for civic engagement.For many campuses, the first step is to assemble a diverse team of faculty, staff, students, and community partners to review existing programs; research national organizations that offer data, support, and benchmarks for sustainable initiatives; identify examples of practice such as those described in this book; and consider the diversity of the student body and local community, their needs, and the opportunities they offer.Beyond two opening chapters that provide foundational grounding for this work, this volume offers nineteen emerging and promising examples of how a range of institutions—from community colleges and liberal arts universities to state and Research One institutions—are addressing the need for civic learning, promoting civil political discourse, engaging students in voter registration and mobilization, and on how to work with legislators on issues—and how to promote this work on a non-partisan basis.The chapters identify a wide range of resources and organizations that support the work of civic engagement both nationally—such as AAC&U, Campus Compact, NASPA, Institute for Democracy & Higher Education, the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement, and the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement—and at the state level.When designed and executed well, civic learning programs can foster competencies for lifelong citizenship and inspire young people to see themselves as civic actors and problem-solvers, to seek diverse viewpoints and perspectives, and to make change in their communities. This book offers ideas, resources, and frameworks to undertake this vital task.

    Foreword List of Tables List of Figures Acknowledgements Introduction 1. Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement. Pillars of an Evolving Field—Marianne Magjuka 2. Foundations of Institutionalizing Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement—Stephanie King and Marianne Magjuka Part I. Civic Learning 3. Citizen U. Engage, Educate, Inspire—Alex R. Dennis 4. The Iowa Caucus Project. Collaborative Project-Based Experiential Learning in Practice—Rachel Paine Caufield 5. Democracy on My Mind—Ryan Keesee and Semline Delva 6. Critical Democratic Literacy—Sandra Rodriguez, Amy Koeckes, and Jennifer Lowman Part II. Dialogue and Political Discourse 7. The Active Citizen Series. A Model for Advancing Student Civic Discourse—Bob Frigo and Carrie Eaves 8. Let’s Get Political. Civic Literacy that Promotes Civic Action—Melissa Gruver and Viviana Tsangaropoulos 9. Using Art and Design to Create a Culture of Global Citizenship—Abby Neyenhouse, Allison Fisher, Hannah Shaw, and Kate McGrain Part III. Get Out the Vote (GOTV. 10. Get Out the Vote (GOTV. and Higher Education. Student Political Engagement at Saint Louis University—Leah Sweetman and Sabrina Tyuse 11. Mitigating Election Anxiety—Christine Beluk and Jason Hollander 12. The Struggle Continues. Civic Deserts, Ballot Access, and Challenges to College Student Voting—Marianne Magjuka Part IV. Civic Action 13. Engaging Students in Civic Action. The Rollins Democracy Project—Bailey Clark 14. Summer of Civic Action. Empowering Students as Agents of Democratic Access and Inclusion—Elizabeth Vann and Danika Brown 15. Engaging College Students in the Election Process. The Alverno College Poll Worker Project—Susan Leister 16. Empowering Women for Public Leadership. NEW Leadership® Pennsylvania Summer Institute—Dana Brown Part V. Institutional Sustainability 17. Fostering Voting Engagement Across All Disciplines. The Role of Faculty—John Frazier, MaryGrace Longoria, and Joshua Young 18. Shaping Civic Leaders. Student Leadership Development for Sustainable Democratic Engagement—Marianne Magjuka and Deb Marke 19. Salt Lake City Community College Civic Literacy Student Learning Outcome Efforts—Lucy Smith and Emily Putnam Epilogue—Future Directions in Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement About the Contributors Index

    Biography

    Marianne Magjuka serves as Assistant Dean of Students and Executive Director of the Office of Civic & Community Engagement at Wake Forest University. In this role, Marianne provides strategic vision and oversight for community-based engagement, including service and leadership programs, social justice education, community-based teaching and research, and community partnerships. She established the civic learning and democratic engagement initiative at Wake Forest and created Deacs Decide, a campus-wide election engagement project. In 2015, Marianne established the Winston-Salem Community Action Coalition, an AmeriCorps*VISTA project focused on education, food security and public health, and economic development. She is the co-founder of the Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement Knowledge Community in NASPA. Marianne received a B.A. in History and M.Ed. from the University of Notre Dame and an Ed.D. in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania.

    Caryn McTighe Musil is a Senior Scholar and Director of Civic Learning and Democracy Initiatives, Association of American Colleges & Universities.

    "This book is a must-read for those who are invested in higher education’s role in preparing students to be informed, engaged participants in our democracy. It asks us all to consider the ways in which colleges and universities and the organizations supporting these institutions can ensure that students are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary to develop their own political agency in a world in need of their ideas and leadership."

    Jennifer Domagal-Goldman, Executive Director, ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge

    “This text reflects on where we are and where we are going in the arena of democratic education. I appreciate the practical examples from diverse types of institutions, ready for adoption, adaptation, or emulation. With strategies ranging from involving multiple stakeholders to engaging elections at different levels, campuses share their playbooks on research-supported methods to address student needs and help them grow as leaders and citizens.”

    Bridget Trogden, Associate Dean, Clemson University

    “An important take-away from this volume is the importance of creating opportunities for student-led and student-driven structures and activities, both in class and out of class, on campus and off campus.

    When reading newspaper headlines day after day tilts you toward despair, pick up this volume and read a chapter. Aware of the challenges in her final chapter, Magjuka acknowledges the headwinds threatening to flatten democratic structures, values, and shared realities are formidable. However, if we think living in a democracy matters, we can’t be naïve, nor can we be passive. Instead, we can choose to be smart, inclusive, committed, courageous, open-minded, inquiring, collaborative citizens who are part of a larger movement to ensure that higher education is a fertile site for civic learning and democratic engagement. Power to the Polls is clear testimony of what is possible.”

    Caryn McTighe Musil, Distinguished Fellow, Association of American Colleges and Universities: The Bonner Foundation National Field Leader

    "One of the foundational documents of Student Affairs is the 1949 Student Personnel Point of View, written in the wake of WWII and its global threat to democracy. One of the most important tenets cited is 'Education for a fuller realization of democracy in every phase of living.' We find ourselves once more in an era where there is little more important cause, and these authors beautifully describe both the disease and its cure. Bravo!"

    Penny Rue, Vice President and University Professor Emeritus, Wake Forest University

    “Power to the Polls provides a wonderful compilation of programs and experiences from the across the country by highlighting the work being done across multiple campuses to help develop civic participation among college students. The examples shared by campuses allow campus leaders in Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement centers to gain knowledge about innovative and educational programs to enhance their own campus offerings. A fantastic read that provides effective and powerful tools for the field.”

    Andrew D. Wiemer, Ph.D., Senior Director, Butler Center for Service and Leadership University of Miami