GVSU again named a voter friendly campus

Grand Valley has been selected as one of 123 universities across the country to receive a Voter Friendly Campus designation for 2019-20. 

The designation was awarded by Campus Vote Project and National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) to universities and colleges that planned and implemented practices that encouraged students to register and vote in the 2018 elections. 

This is the third time Grand Valley has received this recognition.

Melissa Baker-Boosamra, associate director for Student Life, said Grand Valley was judged based on the implementation and results of the university's campus plan for voter registration and participation. 

"Our goal is to empower students to be informed, energized and engaged in the democratic process," said Baker-Boosamra. "Young people have the power and the responsibility to create the world they want to live in. Through GVSU civic learning and democratic engagement efforts, they develop the skills they need to shape and transform the world."

In fall 2018, the Community Service Learning Center's GVSU Votes! initiative and the Campus Democratic Engagement Coalition hosted several activities, including voter registration drives and events, a weekly discussion series and a voting-themed football game.

More than 800 students became registered voters thanks to these on-campus efforts to educate and encourage students about registration and voting.

In November, Grand Valley provided students with transportation to local polling locations on Election Day. "Voter Vans" took students to the Allendale Charter Township voting precinct and the Georgetown Township voting precinct.

GVSU Votes! also won the 2019 NASPA Gold Excellence Award for Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement.