Students Learn Students Vote Coalition

A recent survey highlights growing support for civics education across the political spectrum, with a particular emphasis on teaching students about government functions, controversial topics, and current events. Key takeaways include the broad agreement that civics education should cover diverse perspectives, such as social safety nets and historical issues like racism, though with a focus on presenting multiple viewpoints. Despite low ratings of schools’ effectiveness in preparing students for citizenship, there is a clear push for civics curricula that encourage critical thinking and an understanding of foundational documents like the U.S. Constitution. However, there’s a recognition that teaching these topics requires nuance, and local context will influence how they are presented in classrooms. #CivicLearning #CivicEducation #StudentVote https://lnkd.in/g-Py9rMA

ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge's Program Manager Olivia Antigua highlights the importance of rebuilding community to strengthen democracy, especially for Gen Z, who grew up during the isolation of COVID-19. She argues that colleges and universities can play a key role by creating spaces for students to connect through hobbies and civic engagement. By fostering a sense of belonging and joy, institutions can inspire students to participate in democracy and feel empowered to make a positive impact on their communities. #CommunityBuilding #HigherEd #CivicEngagement #StudentVote https://lnkd.in/drAH97nP

This week is #CivicLearningWeek! During non-federal election years, higher education institutions can play a huge role in nonpartisan student democratic engagement, and civic learning is a great way to get started! Civic learning connects classroom education with real-world democratic engagement to ensure students students understand the systems that shape their lives. By prioritizing civic learning, you can create a lasting foundation for student participation in democracy. Maintain student engagement this year by: ?? Integrating civic concepts into coursework ?? Implementing service-learning programs ?? and introducing leadership development opportunities AND we've got resources to help you! ? CLDE’s Every Student, Every Degree: College Civic Learning for Today’s Students and Tomorrow's Democracy outlines an action agenda for integrating civic learning and democracy engagement into all college degree programs. https://lnkd.in/gq79CDFi ? Project Pericles, Inc' Civic Engagement Resource Database offers a wealth of inspiration for integrating civic engagement into courses. https://lnkd.in/gv72_6rQ ? American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U)'s Redesigning Democracy Discussion Guide provides a framework for campus discussions on building a more inclusive, equitable democracy. https://lnkd.in/gb_vqYhj ? Civic Engagement & Voting Rights Teacher Scholars Program's Educational Resources offers ready-to-use materials for integrating civic engagement, voting rights, and democracy into various college courses. https://lnkd.in/gd-DimsV

Access to trusted sources of information shouldn’t depend on one platform. That’s why we’re expanding where we share key resources. Bluesky Social offers a space for open, decentralized conversations about democracy, and we’re excited to be part of it. Follow us to stay informed on student voting updates, opportunities to collaborate, and more. https://lnkd.in/gjK7CzQ6 #CivicEngagement #VoterEngagement #HigherEd #StudentVote #Bluesky

A huge thank you to all who joined the SLSV Coalition March meeting! These conversations strengthen our collective impact, and we’re grateful to hold space for collaboration, learning, and community-building. Hearing about the Civic Action Scorecard from Miami Dade College and the amazing work happening nationwide reinforces why this coalition exists: to support, uplift, and grow civic engagement efforts together. Let’s keep the momentum going! #CivicEngagement #VoterEngagement #HigherEd

I'm so proud to serve as Executive Committee Chair for the Students Learn Students Vote Coalition We just published our 2024 Annual Report. https://lnkd.in/eid4KHis Here is my letter introducing the report: -- In 2016, I co-founded the Students Learn Students Vote Coalition with Clarissa Unger in order to make an immediate impact improving college student voting rates, while also building the power to create American election systems and culture that include everyone. Nine years later, this network has grown dramatically. The SLSV Coalition is now one of the nation’s most vital institutions dedicated to strengthening and repairing our democracy. Nearly 20 million Americans attend college and the SLSV Coalition is at the forefront of efforts to help them all become lifelong voters. For several years, SLSV has been the largest national network and strategy hub for efforts to improve student voting rates, with a reach of more than 300 organizational members with a presence on more than 800 campuses. Today the SLSV Coalition is one of the largest networks of?any?kind working to strengthen democracy in the United States. Through SLSV and coalition partners like the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge and Campus Vote Project, thousands of local campus leaders build dynamic teams and develop locally rooted plans customized to their campus to systematically register all eligible students when they matriculate, educate students about why they should vote and what’s on the ballot, work with election administrators to serve millions of student voters and so much more. Over 600 colleges and universities developed an institutional action plan to improve student voting rates in 2024. The SLSV Coalition has cultivated a grassroots network that has the breadth to reach all colleges and universities, not just the ones with the biggest names and brands. And that network has the depth to identify, cultivate, and inspire talented students to become dedicated professionals and activists working to strengthen American democracy. The students that SLSV Coalition partners serve are the next generation of voting rights advocates, election administrators, policy makers, and local civic leaders who will determine the direction of our democracy. Their careers and lives as civic leaders working to strengthen democracy will be one of the most important legacies of our work at the SLSV Coalition. There has never been a greater need for institutions dedicated to strengthening democracy. Institutions that are authentically rooted in communities all across the country. Institutions that cultivate the skills and courage and vision of local leaders from all backgrounds – especially young people. The SLSV Coalition does all this and more. We are so proud of what we have accomplished in 2024 and over the past 9 years. And we’re so excited to roll up our sleeves and get to work on what’s next for 2025 and beyond.??

Last fall, 330 students, campus staff, administrators, faculty members, nonprofit professionals and philanthropic leaders gathered at the University of Maryland, College Park, for the 2024 National Student Vote Summit. On the Summit’s final day, many of the attendees took part in an interactive goal-setting discussion and activity, generating feedback and ideas that formed the basis of the?SLSV Coalition’s 2025 agenda. Now distilled to 18 specific goals, SLSV’s 2025 agenda carries the theme, “Democracy Doesn’t Stop,” as a nod to the hundreds of significant elections taking place at the state and local levels in 2025, as well as the tenuous state of democratic institutions in American public life. Read more about how our goals will contribute to ongoing research in the field:?https://lnkd.in/dVwsjuur #StudentVote #CivicEngagement #VoterParticipation #Democracy #HigherEd #Collaboration #LocalElections

As we reflect on our Coalition’s impact in 2024, we're excited to look ahead to the future of nonpartisan student voter engagement. Last year, the SLSV Coalition saw more (and more diverse) campuses than ever before engage directly with our programming, while hundreds of already-involved campuses deepened their commitment to increasing student voter participation. Our 2024 Annual Report highlights the work that helped the #StudentVote movement make a meaningful impact on the 2024 election, and positioned us to take on the challenges that will shape the future of nonpartisan student voter engagement. Its theme, “Building Power,” reflects the unique opportunity of a presidential election year to create long-term momentum toward a democracy in which every college student has easy and equal access to the vote, facilitated and encouraged by their institutions of higher education. Looking ahead, our theme for 2025 is “Democracy Doesn’t Stop.” While national focus shifts away from federal elections, millions of voters across the U.S. can shape their communities this year through state and local elections. In 2025, we’re focused on: ? Helping campuses adapt to changing policies around voter access and student belonging. ?Bringing the Coalition together with shared resources and the 2025 National Student Vote Summit. ?Strengthening our capacity by updating key resources, supporting nonpartisan democratic engagement action planning, and offering trainings. ?Expanding the Ask Every Student initiative with new resources and direct funding. We’re setting an ambitious agenda, with 18 objectives that will ensure we continue building momentum for the student vote. ?? Read the 2024 Annual Report: https://lnkd.in/gxUerw_x ?? Explore our 2025 Goals: https://sls.vote/25-Goals ? #StudentVote #NonpartisanEngagement #VoterParticipation #Democracy #CampusEngagement #2025Goals #ElectionImpact

At Ivy Tech Community College in Indiana, a unique?collaboration?with the nonprofit Convergence Center for Policy Resolution is helping students move beyond political polarization. By incorporating Convergence’s collaborative dialogue method into a composition class, students learn how to engage in meaningful discussions with people they disagree with—without avoiding tough topics or resorting to conflict. The result is a class where students think critically, challenge their own biases, and find common ground across differences. Read the full story on how one course is reshaping political discourse in the classroom: https://lnkd.in/d4mqMjHY #HigherEd #BridgingDivides #CivicEngagement #DialogueMatters

Say hello to the?SLSV Coalition's 2025 Advisory Board! This powerhouse group of?20 leaders — including students, campus staff, statewide advocates, national nonprofit leaders, and election officials — will help shape the future of student voter engagement in 2025. Together, they bring deep expertise and diverse perspectives that reflect the strength of our coalition and our collective commitment to ensuring every college student has easy and equal access to the ballot box. ? Jessica Bahena-Rance, Student Senate for California Community Colleges ? Jada Barnes, Mississippi Votes ? Craig R. Berger, Kent State University ? Will Bowlin, Northeast Mississippi Community College ? D'Bria A. Bradshaw, Esq., MBA, the Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project ? Nick Cartwright, Pulaski County Circuit and County Clerk ? Noelani Cubillos-Sanchez, The University of Texas at San Antonio ? Brenna Cully, VoteAmerica ? Giancarlo da Motta, Miami Dade College ? Maya Evelyn Eichorn, Emerson College ? Madeline Frisk, Portland State University ? Kayla Jenkins Jones, Tennessee Democracy Network ? Stephanie King, ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge ? Derrick Lewis, NAACP Youth & College Division ? Mason L., Indiana State University ? Mathew Oakes, Rock Valley College ? Kareena S., Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) ? Luis Sierra Moncion, M.S., The Johns Hopkins University ? Michael Wall, Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State ? Sam Waltemeyer, The Phi Mu Delta Fraternity These leaders will play a crucial role in advancing nonpartisan student voter engagement efforts, building on a year where 1,400+ campuses mobilized students during the Civic Holidays and more institutions than ever enacted democratic engagement action plans. With the 2024 election behind us, the work doesn't stop. Now is the time to invest in the next generation of voters and leaders. And with this Advisory Board at the table, we’re ready to meet the moment. Join us in welcoming them and celebrating their leadership! #StudentVote #CivicEngagement #HigherEd #Democracy #Leadership