In 2022, Trinity University challenged itself to get students voting in elections.
And now, the school has been named a 2022 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting. This is a recognition given by ALL IN To Vote, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that recognizes excellence among higher education institutions that work to get their students active in the democratic process.
Jamie Thompson, assistant dean of students and director of Student Involvement, estimates that the University registered more than 250 individuals to vote between January and October 2022 and helped transport approximately 100 individuals to the polls on early voting days and Election Day, many of whom were first-time voters with no alternative means of transportation.
“This recognition is significant because it reflects the efforts of individuals across campus who are engaged and interested in making a difference in terms of voter registration and voting rates for Trinity students,” Thompson says.
The All In Challenge program, Thompson explains, is a “great resource and tool for higher education institutions, “because not only do they help campus-based folks, such as faculty, staff, and students with ideas for programming and outreach related to voter engagement and voting education, but they also provide a framework for recognition.”
Trinity has participated in the All In challenge since 2018, resulting in several awards and designations for Trinity in the past several years. Thompson says Trinity is continuing to build on its success through the initiative TU Democracy Fellows, which supports two student fellows through a partnership with the nonprofit Campus Vote Project. These fellows receive intensive education about voting issues, financial support from the nonprofit, and University-provided supervision, oversight, and additional financial support as part of a well-funded student worker role.
Thompson says that this year’s fellows, Jordan Nelson ‘24 and Kiara Fernando ‘26, were instrumental in helping Trinity achieve its ALL IN designation.
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