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How should colleges and universities think about political learning in 2020? Some thoughts from this week’s new IDHE release, Election Imperatives 2020: 1/
First, consider the context of the moment:
• Extreme partisanship
• A global pandemic, and the need for creative, equitable practice that ensures physical distancing
•An overdue reckoning with our nation’s racial injustices
2/
• Extreme partisanship
• A global pandemic, and the need for creative, equitable practice that ensures physical distancing
•An overdue reckoning with our nation’s racial injustices
2/
• Valid concerns from students that voting supports a system with which they find themselves disillusioned
• The challenges of electoral participation as a student, amplified amidst changing laws and health concerns
3/
• The challenges of electoral participation as a student, amplified amidst changing laws and health concerns
3/
And yet, we see opportunity and hope. Growing societal awareness of our systems and the inequities within may mark a shift in how we, as a nation, advance democracy.
Now is the moment to foster campus (on- or offline) climate for political learning. 4/
Now is the moment to foster campus (on- or offline) climate for political learning. 4/
As we state in EI 2020: "For too long, higher education’s civic movement has been defined in ways that are apolitical. This is no longer an option. Educating for democracy is inherently political…” 5/
"Now is the time to educate and act to eradicate systems of discrimination and injustice both in public life and within the academy.” 6/
We remind students, staff, and faculty to infuse an equity lens throughout democratic work, and in EI 2020, we offer a checklist to begin this conversation: https://idhe.tufts.edu/electionimperatives">https://idhe.tufts.edu/electioni... 7/
The rest of Election Imperatives 2020: A Time of Physical Distancing and Social Action is organized by role: 1) presidents and other senior leaders; 2) provosts, deans, chairs, and professors; and 3) coalitions, staff, and students.
Some highlights to note: 8/
Some highlights to note: 8/
For presidents & other senior leaders:
Defend democracy and academic freedom! How we adapt to this year’s election conditions will be a reflection on the state of U.S. democracy. 9/
Defend democracy and academic freedom! How we adapt to this year’s election conditions will be a reflection on the state of U.S. democracy. 9/
…& advocate for your students’ civil right to vote.
The pandemic will make voting for students, a uniquely mobile pop., more difficult. Write to the legislature or sec. of state requesting a role
on an election commission, providing testimony, or offering public comments. 10/
The pandemic will make voting for students, a uniquely mobile pop., more difficult. Write to the legislature or sec. of state requesting a role
on an election commission, providing testimony, or offering public comments. 10/
For faculty & acad affairs:
Discuss as a dept why institutions have academic freedom, & how to use it. Acad. freedom is half of a social contract between higher education and the public. Talking about public affairs and the health of democracy is not optional. It’s the job. 11/
Discuss as a dept why institutions have academic freedom, & how to use it. Acad. freedom is half of a social contract between higher education and the public. Talking about public affairs and the health of democracy is not optional. It’s the job. 11/
Also: Frequently ask students how they are doing. The physical, mental, and emotional toll on students is real — from the difficulties of navigating rapidly changing bureaucracy as schools update policies amidst crises, all the way up through societal-level threats. 12/
For student affairs, coalitions, and other student-centered offices & orgs:
Empower students through the voting process and its history. Address issues, practical matters, and what it means to live in a democracy and be advocates for a more aspirational version of democracy. 13/
Empower students through the voting process and its history. Address issues, practical matters, and what it means to live in a democracy and be advocates for a more aspirational version of democracy. 13/
If your institution doesn’t already have it, consider creating an online presence for tracking local voting conditions. This is part of the work to remove technical barriers for those who may be new to voting and/or overwhelmed by 2020-specific changes. 14/
As you develop and implement your institution’s plans, know that we are here to help. Reach out to us at: idhe [at] http://tufts.edu"> http://tufts.edu directly, join our mailing list [ https://idhe.tufts.edu/form/sign-up-idhe-updates],">https://idhe.tufts.edu/form/sign... and follow along here, on Twitter, for future updates. 15/
Over the next month+, we’ll have a webinar series that dives in further to Election Imperatives 2020, new data briefs and reports, addressing topics ranging from student voter registration to misinformation. Stay tuned! 16/16
