McKendree University Earns Voter Friendly Campus Designation

(LEBANON, Ill., April 11, 2018) — McKendree University is now part of the nationwide “Voter Friendly Campus” initiative, a program to help institutions develop plans to coordinate administrators, faculty and student organizations in civic and electoral engagement. The program started in 2016 through a partnership of the Campus Vote Project and NASPA, an organization of Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education.

The “Voter Friendly Campus” designation helps universities develop a strategy to engage students and set clear goals in advance of upcoming elections. McKendree University has participated in National Voter Registration Day, held numerous voter registration drives, and hosted presidential debate watch parties, mock elections, guest speakers and panel discussions to discuss the state of U.S. politics. On March 22, students registered to vote and picked up free copies of “The U.S. Constitution and Fascinating Facts About It.” In November 2017, the university received a Bronze Seal Award from the ALL IN Challenge for achieving a student voter rate between 50 and 59 percent.

“We're excited to join the Voter Friendly Campus initiative,” said Dr. Ann Collins, associate professor of political science. “It’s so important for students to use their voices at the polls. During college, we hope that they will cultivate a lifelong desire to be engaged in the electoral process.”

 

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