Chancellor King Announces Nonpartisan SUNY Student Voting Support Ahead of November Elections and Civic Engagement Throughout the Year
September 17, 2024
39 SUNY Campuses are Participating in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge
23 Grants, Made Possible from the Ibis Group, will Support Nonpartisan Voter Outreach on Campus
Part of SUNY’s Ongoing Commitment to Increase Civil Discourse, Civic Awareness, and Civic Participation
Fact Sheet Outlining SUNY’s Efforts to Increase Civic Engagement Available Here
Cortland, NY – In celebration of Constitution Day and Citizen Day, State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today announced efforts to support nonpartisan student voter registration and civic engagement ahead of the November elections and throughout the year during a visit to SUNY Cortland.
Thirty-nine SUNY campuses are participating in the national ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, which provides free resources and strategies to colleges and universities to increase student voting and civic engagement. Chancellor King announced that 23 SUNY campuses participating in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge will receive mini-grants, thanks to support from the Ibis Group, to support nonpartisan student voter outreach efforts.
These actions are part of SUNY’s work, announced this spring, to increase civic education, civil discourse, and civic awareness and participation across SUNY campuses. As part of fall orientation, SUNY also provided nonpartisan “SUNY Votes” postcards with information on how to register to vote as students received their campus housing information.
At SUNY Cortland, which is participating in the challenge and is receiving one of the 23 mini-grants, Chancellor King joined SUNY Board Trustee and SUNY Student Assembly President Giovanni “Gio” Harvey, SUNY Cortland President Erik J. Bitterbaum and John Suarez, director of the university’s Barbara A. Galpin ’68, M ’74 Institute for Civic Engagement and one of SUNY’s inaugural Civic Education and Engagement and Civil Discourse Fellows, to lead a discussion with students and civic engagement experts on the right to vote and public-service opportunities at all levels of government.
SUNY Cortland will use the mini-grant to fund the development, promotion and evaluation of voter-education events and activities including: non-partisan election debate watch parties and election-night watch parties to encourage active listening, critical thinking and civil political discussion; post-election events that encourage all campus community members to practice civic discourse skills and learn the complexities of important local issues; and post-election projects addressing aspects of local election issues.
"Core to the mission of higher education is preparing well-rounded, civically engaged citizens who will contribute to and strengthen our democracy for future generations of Americans. Through the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, SUNY is assisting our students, many of them voting for the first time, in understanding their rights and the importance of voting” said SUNY Chancellor King. “At SUNY, our commitment to civics is woven throughout everything we do, including efforts like the SUNY FAFSA Completion Corps, Empire State Service Corps, Civic Education & Engagement and Civil Discourse Fellows, and the planned update of our general education framework to incorporate civic discourse.”
SUNY Board Trustee and SUNY Student Assembly President Harvey said, “Each election year is an opportunity to endorse the democracy of our nation, and it is my hope that students will be prepared for the November 5 elections and inspired to take advantage of SUNY’s initiatives to become more civically engaged throughout the year. I am proud to join Chancellor King, the Board of Trustees, campus leaders, and of course my fellow students in promoting the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge.”
SUNY Cortland President Erik J. Bitterbaum said, “SUNY Cortland was honored to host Chancellor King on Constitution Day to help lead a discussion on the importance of voting among college students and the meaningful ways they can improve their communities. We’re proud of the extraordinary work of the university’s Barbara A. Galpin ’68, M ’74 Institute for Civic Engagement as well. The mini-grant funds from the Ibis Group will not only support voter registration efforts, but hopefully promote work that addresses important local issues beyond Election Day.”
As one of ten Civic Education and Engagement and Civil Discourse Fellows, Professor Suarez is helping to advance SUNY’s shared commitment to civic engagement as an essential outcome of higher education, and will work to advance civic discourse among students, faculty, and staff across campus communities.
SUNY Cortland Civic Engagement Director John Suarez said, “Events like this are important to SUNY Cortland. Our faculty, staff and students – along with partners in the greater Cortland community from both major political parties – have been sharpening their skills in constructive disagreement. We strive to maintain a culture of mutual respect and an openness to a variety of viewpoints because we realize that solving complex issues requires a rich range of ideas.”
Announced in the 2024 State of the University Policy Agenda, ALL In Campus Democracy participating colleges and universities will receive free resources and strategies to increase student voting and non-partisan democratic engagement.
The 23 SUNY campuses receiving mini grants of up to $3,000 are: SUNY Adirondack, Alfred State College, Binghamton University, SUNY Brockport, University at Buffalo, Buffalo State University, Cayuga Community College, SUNY Cobleskill, SUNY Cortland, SUNY Delhi, Farmingdale State College, Finger Lakes Community College, SUNY Geneseo, Jefferson Community College, SUNY Morrisville, Nassau Community College, SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Oneonta, SUNY Oswego, SUNY Plattsburgh, Stony Brook University, Tompkins Cortland Community College, and Westchester Community College.
Executive Director of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge Jen Domagal-Goldman said, "We know that when campuses invest time and intention in their nonpartisan civic engagement plans it translates to higher student voter registration and turnout rates across the board. ALL IN is proud to work alongside the SUNY System and so many incredible SUNY institutions as they ensure that every eligible student is able to make their voices heard at the ballot box this election season.”
Ibis Group Board Chair Chi Kim said, “We are honored to support this initiative that focuses on empowering this generation of leaders to engage in discourse that supports knowledge, dignity, and agency.”
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state’s only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2023, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
Share this:
Holly Liapis
518-320-1311
Email the Office of Communications
