In addition to the CCCE’s core programming and services, this fall we’ve been working with campus partners to ensure voting-eligible students are ready for the November 5 election. While most of that work is taking place through co-curricular channels, there are some resources that may be of interest to faculty, as well.
On Tuesday, October 15, we will be facilitating an interactive LTC lunch on “What to do in the Days Following the 2024 Election.” Panelists include Deborah Appleman, Chris Calderone, Deborah Gross, Schuyler Vogel, and myself. Speakers will share how they’ve handled the day after a big societal event in classrooms or offices and what they’ve learned from those experiences. We’ll then reserve time for small group discussion and planning. Please consider attending if this is of interest to you. If you’re not able to attend, here is a recent Chronicle of Higher Education article on the same topic, featuring advice from Nancy Thomas, senior adviser to the president for democracy initiatives at the American Association of Colleges and Universities and executive director of the Institute for Democracy and Higher Education.
If you’d like to encourage your students to vote, you’re welcome to direct them to the Carleton voter information page for non-partisan information on how to register and vote in Minnesota or elsewhere, what will be on their ballot, how to learn about candidates from reliable sources, and more. If you encounter a student with questions about voting that aren’t addressed on that page, you may direct them to me or advise them to submit a question.
Though it’s important to talk about civic engagement during election season, many of you have noted how important it is to place this energy in the context of ongoing civic engagement and skill-building beyond the election cycle. With this in mind, I have been glad to work with the convocation committee to bring Abby Kiesa, the deputy director of CIRCLE, The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, at the Tufts Tisch College, to Carleton to give the convocation address on the Friday before the election, November 1. Abby’s talk will focus on voting as a part of democratic (small D) practices that are critical to inclusive democracy. Her talk will address the pending election, but also look beyond it. Her goal is for students to leave asking themselves new questions about their civic work and leadership, now and into the future. If this aligns with your learning goals for your students, please consider nudging them to attend the talk or convo lunch. I’ll be there, and I look forward to seeing others there, too.
Thanks,
Sinda