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VWU Designated as Voter Friendly Campus for 2023-24
University's plan provided information and support for student voters
University News | April 5, 2023
Òùµ´ÉÙ¸¾ has once again been named a Voter Friendly Campus, one of 258 campuses in 38 states and the District of Columbia, by ’s and – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. The initiative recognizes institutions that have planned and implemented practices that encouraged their students to register and vote in the 2022 elections, as well as in the coming years.
The mission of the Voter Friendly Campus designation is to bolster colleges and universities’ efforts to help students overcome barriers to participating in the political process every year, not just during years featuring federal elections.
A commitment to citizenship and civic engagement has been a critical element in the mission of Virginia Wesleyan since its founding, engaging students in initiatives such as Marlins Vote.
Continuing that honored tradition, VWU earned the Voter Friendly Campus designation for the fourth time. This year, the university’s plan detailed how the VWU intended to register, educate, and turn out student voters in 2022; how voter engagement efforts were facilitated on campus; and the final analysis of these efforts.
Coordinated by VWU’s Office of Wesleyan Engaged: Civic Engagement and Service Learning, 2022 activities included:
- An event, "& Polls," where members of the campus community applied their knowledge of civic engagement-related topics by answering questions and spinning a prize wheel. Participants were rewarded for answering questions such as “How long is one presidential term?”
- Voter registration tables during the fall semester to encourage and assist students in registering to vote in Virginia or in their home state.
- Social media posts promoting information about voter registration, potential barriers to voting, candidate and ballot information, and creating a plan for voting on election day.
- A presentation by guest speaker Kate Slayton, executive director of Virginia21— an organization committed to empowering young voters to be civically engaged— on “The Importance of Your Vote,” and how young people can (and already do) have a significant impact on elections.
- Participation in “Vote Early Day” encouraging voters to cast their ballots early.
“Events like these are important because they allow students to learn about how our political system works in a fun and friendly environment, free of bias,” noted Director of Wesleyan Engaged Bethany Tsiaras. “We are committed to providing nonpartisan
Learn more about Wesleyan Engaged: Civic Engagement and Service Learning and .