Jennifer Winfield
Chapman students take the polling booths by storm once again, earning the title of Voter-Friendly Campus for another consecutive year. This title is awarded based on campus-wide participation during voting season. Campus Vote Project (CVP) and National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) work with higher education institutions to encourage administrators, faculty and students to participate in civic and electoral engagement.
CVP and NASPA created the Voter Friendly Campus Initiative to support higher education institutions to encourage faculty, staff and students in civic and electoral engagement.
This program helps create structure for students as they explore their political beliefs and learn how to engage in the democratic process – something that is especially essential for first-year students who are first-time voters.
What changed for Chapman?
This time around, 87.8 percent of Chapman Panthers reported that they voted in a national, state or local election this year. Civic engagement increased as a whole with over half of the campus reported performing or volunteering in community service work. 90.4 percent of the campus discussed politics this year, and 54.9 percent helped raise funds for a cause or campaign.
CVP has taken notice of Chapman’s increased participation in civic and electoral activities for more than four years, consecutively earning the university the title of Voter Friendly Campus.
Resources for Student Voters
Whether you’re a first-time voter, or you just want to feel more informed, the following resources are available to Chapman students:
- Panel discussions
- Debate and Election Day watch parties on campus
- Virtual voting tools
- On-campus Vote Center
- Peer-to-peer encouragement in student organizations
- Co-curricular programming (in-class discussions and assignments)
