Empowering student voices: GVSU earns gold seal in Campus Democracy Challenge

GVSU earned a Gold Seal from the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge as a result of high nonpartisan democratic engagement work in the 2022 Midterm Elections when 46% of Grand Valley students voted.

“Providing the tools to become active, global citizens is part of our ongoing commitment to civic engagement and empowering student voices,” said President Philomena V. Mantella. “Earning a gold seal in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge is a positive reflection of our leadership role in this crucial work.”

Grand Valley, which also received a gold seal for both the 2020 and 2018 elections, was one of over 500 universities recognized, resulting in the second-highest national voter turnout among students in a Midterm Election, according to the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE) out of Tufts University. 

“What Grand Valley did was we organized ourselves,” said Melissa Baker-Boosamra, associate director of the Office of Student Life. “Student leaders, faculty and staff made sure that students were educated and knew how, where and when they could exercise their right to vote. In the 2022 Midterm, the national voter turnout average was 23%. Grand Valley was 46.2%. We were double the national average in that election, and we’re really proud of that.” 

GVSU’s efforts to ensure student voices are heard didn’t stop in 2022. September 17 is National Voter Registration Day , and Lakers will have the opportunity to register to vote on campus from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Co-sponsored by the Office of Student Life and Student Senate, the Michigan Department of State mobile unit will be available to assist students with voter registration and other MDOS services. They will also offer popcorn, music and yard games to celebrate the day.

“With the upcoming 2024 elections, I believe it's very important for students to engage in this country's democratic processes and make our voices heard,” said Student Senate President Quinten Proctor. “Voting is an important responsibility as it's an opportunity to have a say in the future of this country, and as students and young Americans, our futures are the ones that are the most at stake.”

Additional events will also take place on campus in the lead-up to the November 5 election, including Democracy 101 , which will educate students on what will be on their ballot. GVSU Votes! will also have additional tabling events on both Allendale and downtown campuses, where students can register, vote absentee, and make a plan for voting in general. Visit gvsu.edu/vote to learn more. Register to vote online, request an absentee ballot and find more information about voting in Michigan from the Michigan Department of State . 

— Thomas Garrett, who earned a bachelor's degree in writing from GVSU, contributed to this story.