Civic Engagement in your Classroom
There are many ways to integrate civic engagement into your classes. A few ideas and resources are listed below.
For more information about Day on Democracy, visit this page.
1. Invite a UMW Voting Ambassador to speak to your class about voting.
UMW Ambassadors have been trained to register students to vote and can talk to your class about how, why, and where to vote. Email Sarah Dewees at sdewees@umw.edu to request a visit from a Voting Ambassador.
2. Include a statement about voting on your syllabus.
We recommend that you include this statement on your syllabus:
Registering to Vote: As part of our commitment to nurturing informed and engaged citizens, UMW encourages students to actively participate in the democratic process by exercising their right to vote. At UMW, one part of our ASPIRE values is Engagement. As a student you can be civically engaged by voting and learning about the electoral system. By voting, you are participating in your community and ensuring that your voice is being heard in our democratic government. To learn more about UMW Votes, visit their website. To register to vote, visit this page. Some classes are cancelled on Election Day as part of UMW’s participation in Day on Democracy in order to allow students more time to vote, locally or at their home address. Ask your professor for clarification about your class.
3. Visit with staff at the Center for Community Engagement.
We would welcome a conversation about how to support a culture of civic engagement on campus. Stop by our Center at 320 in the University Center, or reach out to us over email at cce@umw.edu.
4. Learn about voting trends on the UMW Campus.
The 2018 NSLVE Report (PDF), 2020 NSLVE Report (PDF) and 2022 NSLVE Report (PDF) show high voter turnout for the UMW campus.
5. And don’t forget to vote!
Visit the webpage for the Virginia Department of Elections to learn more about upcoming elections, polling place locations, and how to make sure your voter registration is up to date.