Spartanburg, S.C. – Wofford College has been recognized by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge as a 2024 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting, which honors colleges and universities for outstanding efforts to increase nonpartisan student voter participation.
The college has supported student participation in the democratic process through the Wofford Votes initiative, which was created in 2016 to improve troubling voter participation trends seen across college campuses. Wofford Votes is coordinated by staff in the Division of Campus Life and Student Development and led by an interactional steering committee of leaders from various departments across campus.
“Being named a 2024 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting is a great honor,” says Brian Lemere, associate dean of students and associate vice president. “Wofford Votes represents a deep and abiding commitment to the purpose and goals of Wofford College and to foundational principles of liberal education: good citizenship and stewardship of our communities and nation. This recognition is validation of the collaborative efforts of many from the Wofford community.”
Opportunities for voter engagement offered at Wofford have included speakers, engagement with outside agencies like the League of Women Voters, informational tabling on campus, watch parties and other programs.
“The goal is to confirm that every member of the campus community is registered to vote and willing to actively participate in the electoral process,” says Lemere. “There were numerous offices and professors across campus who helped lead these efforts, but I’d like to give special credit to especially Dr. Dwain Pruitt ’95 and the Office for Civil Rights, Compliance and Community Initiatives as well as the Department of Government and International Affairs.”
Campuses that join the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge complete a set of action items to institutionalize nonpartisan civic learning and voter participation on their campus. It currently engages 10.8 million students in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
“The research is clear: Colleges and universities that make intentional efforts to increase nonpartisan democratic engagement have higher campus voter registration and voter turnout rates. This year we saw more colleges than ever before step up their efforts to ensure that their students were registered and ready to make their voices heard at the ballot box,” says Jennifer Domagal-Goldman, executive director of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. “These Most Engaged Campuses are setting the standard for nonpartisan civic engagement work for colleges and universities across the country.”
About ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge
The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge empowers colleges and universities to achieve excellence in nonpartisan student democratic engagement. Through an intentionally designed program that provides structure, support and recognition, ALL IN works to improve civic learning, political engagement and voter participation on more than 1,075 campuses nationwide. ALL IN believes higher education should play a role in developing an active and informed citizenry by educating students, motivating them to engage in American democracy and instilling the value of lifelong participation. ALL IN is an initiative of Civic Nation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. To learn more, visit allinchallenge.org.
About Wofford College
Wofford College, established in 1854, is a four-year, residential liberal arts college located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It offers more than 80 majors, minors and academic programs to a student body of 1,821 undergraduates. Nationally known for the strength of its academic program, outstanding faculty, study abroad participation and successful graduates, Wofford is recognized for its commitment to student success and accessibility for low- and middle-income students. The college community has robust fraternity and sorority life as well as 20 NCAA Division I athletics teams. To learn more, visit wofford.edu.