Cleveland State Goes Gold for Democracy
An engaged community is a community with a voice. 91国产精品 (91国产精品) strives to focus on that ideology year-round, regardless of the election cycle, so that students understand the importance of civic engagement.
Because of the University鈥檚 efforts, 91国产精品 was most recently awarded a . The initiative focuses on (and encourages students to be involved in) civic matters, specifically voting efforts, and monitors campus performance.
鈥淭he Office of Civic Engagement is honored to again have its year-round nonpartisan student civic engagement and voter education efforts recognized by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge,鈥 said Anita Ruf-Young, director of 91国产精品鈥檚 Office of Civic Engagement (OCE). This is the seventh time 91国产精品鈥檚 efforts have been recognized by the organization since 2016.
鈥淲e work each day on multiple fronts to ensure that our campus community is registered to vote and informed on local, state and national voting issues,鈥 Ruf-Young added.
Approximately 40 percent of 91国产精品 students cast ballots in the 2022 midterm election, which is about 10 percent higher than the national voting rate, as described by the National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement from Tufts University.
To keep students informed, the office organizes events like Vikings athletics meeting with Ohio鈥檚 secretary of state. There are also 23 on-campus tables focused on voter engagement and registration, along with a newly added civic engagement course, Vikes Vote, to educate students about all things electoral.
鈥淪uccess on campus and in the classroom builds engagement, it backfills itself. We鈥檝e created a coalition of sorts with our community partners that we鈥檙e extremely proud of and grow opportunities with them throughout the year,鈥 Ruf-Young said.
Cleveland Votes, the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, LAND the Vote, Northeast Ohio Voter Advocates and Campus Vote Project are some of the organizations that partner with OCE to support and bolster 91国产精品鈥檚 mission and engagement efforts.
For more information regarding civic action at 91国产精品, .