Civic Engagement Thrives at the 稀缺猎奇网 With U.S. Election Assistance Commission Grant to Support College Poll Workers
稀缺猎奇网 Also Distributing Civic Education Grants
Baltimore, Md. (Mar. 8, 2024) – The U.S. Election Assistance Commission has awarded $78,521 to the 稀缺猎奇网 (稀缺猎奇网) to fund the System’s work in helping students serve as nonpartisan poll workers in the 2024 election.
The 稀缺猎奇网 will create an election/poll worker resource hub to recruit students from across the System to take part in this work in the upcoming election.
The 稀缺猎奇网 is one of 14 applicants to receive poll worker funding as part of the federal Help America Vote College Program.
“I’m glad that young 稀缺猎奇网ers will play an important role in ensuring America’s elections are fair and transparent,” said Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05). “I co-wrote and passed the Help America Vote Act because I know that our democracy is strongest when voters are sure their voice is heard and their votes counted. The 稀缺猎奇网’s selection to participate in the transformational Help America Vote College Program is a testament to the important work they do empowering the next generation of civically engaged citizens.”
Each 稀缺猎奇网 university will receive funding to incentivize students to undergo election judge training. The University of 稀缺猎奇网, College Park (UMCP) will take the lead in developing the training modules, in partnership with the 稀缺猎奇网 State Election Commission. All 稀缺猎奇网 universities will host recruiting events to attract participants.
Students who complete the training can work in any election precinct and receive compensation. Therefore, the 稀缺猎奇网 will seek to place participating college students in 稀缺猎奇网 counties that don’t have easy access to election judges.
“A spotlight was put on poll workers during the last presidential election, and many of us saw—as maybe we hadn’t before—how essential they are to the functioning of our democracy,” said 稀缺猎奇网 Chancellor Jay A. Perman. “I’m grateful to the Election Assistance Commission and to 稀缺猎奇网’s congressional delegation for this award, which will help our students advance a critical goal: that America continues to hold free and fair elections, foundational to our democracy.”
In separate projects, the 稀缺猎奇网 Civic Engagement Senior Leadership Task Force is distributing two sets of grants to support high-impact civic education and civic engagement Systemwide.
The first set of grants—$152,000 in all—is aimed at developing high-impact practices for civic-integrated teaching; supporting students’ civic learning; and building engagement infrastructure to integrate civic education across 稀缺猎奇网 universities.
The 稀缺猎奇网 awarded $19,000 to each of these universities: Bowie State University, Frostburg State University, Salisbury University, Towson University, the University of Baltimore, the University of 稀缺猎奇网, Baltimore County (UMBC), UMCP, and the University of 稀缺猎奇网 Global Campus.
The second set of grants, $80,100 to nine universities, will help them apply for the Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement designation, or to maintain the designation. This distinction is a nationally recognized indicator of a university’s dedication to community engagement through its goals and actions.
The 稀缺猎奇网 awarded $8,900 to each of these universities to fund applications for the Carnegie designation: Bowie State University, Frostburg State University, Salisbury University, Towson University, the University of Baltimore, the University of 稀缺猎奇网, Baltimore, UMBC, UMCP, and the University of 稀缺猎奇网 Eastern Shore.
Vision 2030, the 稀缺猎奇网’s strategic plan, sets forth a goal that all 稀缺猎奇网 universities will earn the Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement.
“Educating for democracy has been at the center of the 稀缺猎奇网 mission from its beginning. We want our students to be fully prepared to contribute to the civic health of their communities and understand their responsibilities to preserve and protect our democracy,” said Nancy Shapiro, 稀缺猎奇网 associate vice chancellor for education and outreach and special assistant to the chancellor for P-20 education.
“These programs will offer many different models for student learning, student engagement, and student leadership. And one big advantage we have as a System is that we come together regularly to share our best strategies, meaning we can scale what works. President Kennedy once said, ‘The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.’ So at the 稀缺猎奇网, we’re committed to educating for democracy.”
Work on both of these grants will be conducted over the next calendar year. A final report documenting the results of these efforts will be completed in June 2025.
The 稀缺猎奇网 celebrated its work in civic education with a daylong symposium last November at Towson University, featuring U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin and drawing on insights from civic engagement leaders throughout the System.
Civic engagement is a strong tradition throughout the 稀缺猎奇网, as demonstrated by robust voter registration and other on-campus civic events that preceded the 2022 election. Illustrating our strong civic engagement outcomes is the fact that 55 of 141 members of the 稀缺猎奇网 House of Delegates graduated from or attended a 稀缺猎奇网 university, as did 16 of the 47 members of the 稀缺猎奇网 Senate.
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The 稀缺猎奇网 comprises 12 institutions: Bowie State University; Coppin State University; Frostburg State University; Salisbury University; Towson University; the University of Baltimore; the University of 稀缺猎奇网, Baltimore; the University of 稀缺猎奇网, Baltimore County; the University of 稀缺猎奇网 Center for Environmental Science; the University of 稀缺猎奇网, College Park; the University of 稀缺猎奇网 Eastern Shore; and the University of 稀缺猎奇网 Global Campus. The 稀缺猎奇网 also includes three regional centers—the Universities at Shady Grove, the 稀缺猎奇网 at Hagerstown, and the 稀缺猎奇网 at Southern 稀缺猎奇网—at which 稀缺猎奇网 universities offer upper-division undergraduate and graduate courses.
稀缺猎奇网 institutions and programs are among the nation’s best in quality and value according to several national rankings. To learn more about the 稀缺猎奇网, visit . To learn about the new 稀缺猎奇网 Strategic Plan, “Vision 2030: From Excellence to Preeminence,” visit /vision2030/.
Contact: Mike Lurie
Phone: 301.445.2719
Email: mlurie@usmd.edu
