FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Phoenix College Designated a Voter Friendly Campus by NASPA and Campus Vote Project
Phoenix, AZ – Phoenix College was named a Voter Friendly Campus, one of 258 campuses in 38 states and the District of Columbia by Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project and NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. The initiative recognizes institutions that have planned and implemented practices that encourage their students to register and vote in the 2022 elections and in coming years.
The mission of the 2023 Voter Friendly Campus designation is to bolster colleges and universities’ efforts to help students overcome barriers to participating in the political process – every year, not just during years featuring federal elections. Phoenix College was evaluated based on a written plan for how the college planned to register, educate, and turnout student voters in 2022, how the campus community facilitated voter engagement efforts on our campus, and a final analysis of all efforts.
"Phoenix College believes in the importance of civic participation and the time-honored tradition of political activity on American college and university campuses. Therefore, it is important for Phoenix College to engage in voter education and engagement during on and off-year election cycles" stated Aristotle Mosier, Director of Student Life and Leadership at Phoenix College.
As part of Phoenix College's effort to be designated a Voter Friendly Campus, several initiatives and events were planned for students in both the fall and spring semesters.
Voter Registration
•Voter registration messaging was posted to the Student Life and Leadership social media accounts to encourage students to register to vote and get signatures on various initiatives beginning Voter Registration week in September through Election Day.
•On Tuesday, September 20, 2022, Student Life and Leadership hosted a registration event in Sophomore Square to help students get registered to vote, get excited about voting and access voter education materials for National Voter Registration Day.
Voter Education
•Student Life and Leadership hosted a Know Your Rights Workshop on September 20, 2022 that engaged students in learning about their voting rights, how to register, how to find their voting districts, etc.
•Student Life and Leadership utilized a social media campaign created to encourage voters, created and posted signs, posters and flyers on campus to encourage voter participation.
•PC Student Life sent on-campus communication to faculty to encourage participation in the aforementioned events, trained staff members in how to help others register to vote, and created created registration forms/QR codes for students available in the Student Union and Hannelly Center.
Voter Education Events and Projects
•On Wednesday, September 21, 2022, Student Life & Leadership and the Liberal Arts Department hosted US Constitution and Citizenship Day by inviting Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer to campus. Stephen spoke to the PC community.
•On Monday, October 24, 2022, Student Life & Leadership and the Liberal Arts Department co-hosted an Arizona Election Forum. The program consisted of a voter education panel that provided information on each ballot initiative in Arizona, provided opportunities for open discussion as well as a Q&A of each initiative. The event was held both virtually and in person on campus.
•Two Phoenix College students, Alex/ Abdelkarim Abulkheir and Imelda Hartley were selected as CVP Democracy Fellows.
Phoenix College continues to make a strong statement about the college's civic mission to prepare students to be engaged participants in our democracy and is eager to continue engaging students through 2023, 2024, and beyond.
The institutions designated Voter Friendly Campuses represent a wide range of two-year, four-year, public, private, rural, and urban campuses, collectively serving over 3.5 million students. Notably, the list of designated institutions includes 49 Minority Serving Institutions and 13 Historically Black Colleges and Universities, as well as 41 Community Colleges.
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NASPA is the leading association for the advancement, health, and sustainability of the student affairs profession. Our work provides high-quality professional development, advocacy, and research for 15,000 members in all 50 states, 25 countries, and 8 U.S. territories.
Fair Elections Center is a national, nonpartisan voting rights and legal support organization that works to eliminate barriers to voting and improve election administration across the United States. Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project works with universities, community colleges, faculty, students and election officials to reduce barriers to student voting and helps campuses institutionalize reforms that empower students with the information they need to register and vote.
About Phoenix College
Phoenix College (PC) welcomed its first students, as one of the first higher education institutions in Maricopa County on September 13, 1920. PC's founders envisioned the College as a place of inclusion, as a non-segregated institution. Today, the College continues to be a place of diversity, equity and access. Our focus on transformation includes seeking out partnerships that work with opportunity youth, refugee and immigrant populations, Hispanic, Asian, Native American populations and adult learners. PC is dedicated to providing access to valuable and affordable education and community services. With more than 150 degree and certificate programs, Phoenix College serves approximately 17,000 students each year.
Phoenix College Media Contact: Christina Flora, Manager of Public Relations and Marketing. christina.flora@phoenixcollege.edu. 602.920-8458. phoenixcollege.edu
The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is an EEO/AA institution and an equal opportunity employer of protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or national origin. A lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in the career and technical education programs of the District. The Maricopa County Community College District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs or activities. For Title IX/504 concerns, call the following number to reach the appointed coordinator: (480) 731-8499. For additional information, as well as a listing of all coordinators within the Maricopa College system, http://www.maricopa.edu/non-discrimination.