Students who want to educate and register voters during the 2018 election season may apply for fellowships funded through a grant from the Campus Vote Project (CVP).
Cal U is one of just four Pennsylvania universities to receive a $6,000 grant from the CVP, a project of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Fair Elections Center, based in Washington, D.C.
The grant will support voter engagement efforts on campus and provide stipends for Cal U students selected as Democracy Fellows. The fellows will receive up to $1,200 each to participate in voter engagement planning, help to educate their classmates about the candidates and issues, conduct voter registration drives, and encourage students to go to the polls.
In addition to their voter education and registration activities, Democracy Fellows will take part in two leadership and voter engagement webinars organized by the Campus Vote Project. They also may attend a statewide Student Voter Summit, where they can discuss issues and network with other students.
The CVP grant provides funding for nonpartisan, campus-based voter engagement activities, as well.
"This is an important opportunity for a couple of creative, energetic students to turn their idealism into action," said Dr. Melanie Blumberg, professor of political science and director of the American Democracy Project at Cal U.
"Political experts say that voter turnout will be a key factor in the 2018 midterm elections. Our CVP Democracy Fellows will have a chance to make a real impact."
Last year the Campus Vote Project named Cal U a Voter Friendly Campus, based on its efforts to educate student voters and get them to the polls for the 2016 elections. Only 83 campuses nationwide, including seven in Pennsylvania, earned the Voter Friendly designation.
Cal U also was recognized at the inaugural ALL IN Challenge Awards ceremony, which honored colleges and universities for their commitment to increasing voting rates among their students.
The University received a Best in Class Award for having the most improved student voting rate among four-year, medium-size public institutions nationwide, and a Bronze Seal for achieving a student voting rate of 50-59 percent.
How to Apply
Applicants for the Campus Vote Project fellowships must be undergraduate students enrolled during the 2018-2019 academic year. Successful candidates should be prepared to spend 10-15 hours per week on the program.
Each applicant must submit a resume and a 250-word essay on either the importance of one vote or the importance of the millennial vote. Application deadline is April 30, 2018.
For more information, or to apply for a CVP Democracy Fellow position, contact Dr. Melanie Blumberg, of the Department of History, Political Science, Society and Law, at blumberg@calu.edu.