Frostburg State University Announced as 2021 ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge Award Winner
Nov 16, 2021 10:30 AM
Frostburg State University was awarded the 2021 Silver Seal at the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge third biennial awards ceremony on Monday, Nov. 8. The ALL IN Challenge recognizes select higher education institutions, educators and students for their extraordinary work in student voter engagement during the 2020 presidential election. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and most students learning virtually, the honorees ensured students across the country could cast their ballots.
The 2020 presidential election engaged the largest and most diverse group of college students in U.S. history. More than 840 institutions enrolling close to 9 million students participate in the ALL IN Challenge.
“I am very proud of the Silver Seal recognition Frostburg State University received during the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge,” said Dr. Artie Travis, FSU’s Vice President of Student Affairs. “We are very proud of the efforts of our student leaders involved with our Office of Civic Engagement.”
The 2020 election cycle saw unprecedented voter registration and turnout among college students according to the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE), a research study of the Institute for Democracy in Higher Education (IDHE) at the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University.
Data provided by IDHE shows Frostburg State’s voting rate increased by 10 percentage points to 65.5 percent in 2020. IDHE reported that nationally, 66 percent of college students voted in the 2020 election, a 14 point increase from 2016.
“The idea of voter engagement during these turbulent times is just as important today as it will be in 30 years,” added Travis. “FSU’s Office of Civic Engagement is building a strong foundation for our students to build upon in the future. Our Director of Civic Engagement, Patrick O’Brien, has coordinated many efforts in his time with FSU, but this award represents a shining example of how FSU is grounded, among many other notions, in the conviction that creating voter awareness and participation in civic responsibilities is at the core of the experience that students will receive at FSU.”
“The rise in voter participation and engagement for college students in last year’s presidential election amidst a global pandemic was tremendous and will undoubtedly be tied to the tireless efforts of the dedicated students, faculty, administrators, and partner organizations that are part of the ALL IN Challenge network,” said Jen Domagal-Goldman, Executive Director of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. “The hard work of these trailblazing honorees will help support many of the country’s future leaders in fulfilling the equitable, engaged vision of democracy to which we aspire.”
About the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge
The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) is a national, nonpartisan initiative of Civic Nation, a 501(c)(3) organization. ALL IN strives for a more inclusive democracy—one in which all voices are heard. We believe that higher education plays a role in graduating students into voters and in closing electoral participation gaps that persist by race and age. Through an intentionally designed program—which provides structure, support, and recognition—ALL IN strengthens college and university efforts to improve civic learning, political engagement, and voter participation. Ensuring that students are registered to vote and participate in all elections is a key component of our work.