Grand Valley named a voter friendly campus

Grand Valley has been selected as one of 83 universities in the country to receive a Voter Friendly Campus designation. 

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 2016 General Election. Grand Valley is one of only three institutions in Michigan to receive the designation. 

In fall 2016, about 16 voter registration drives were hosted by student organizations, which resulted in thousands of students registering to vote. Grand Valley holds the record for the university with the highest number of voter registration applications submitted in one day to the Secretary of State's Mobile Unit.

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 was to help prepare our students to be engaged and active citizens, and we found that they wanted their voices to be heard," she said. 

The Community Service Learning Center has hosted several discussion-based series throughout the academic year to continue the conversation about democracy. The Town Hall Series provided the opportunity for the campus community to process election results, and the Democracy 101 Lecture Series addressed topics such as the electoral process and the role of media. 

Baker-Boosamra said civic learning and democratic engagement efforts will continue with a new civic reporter program in the fall and an emerging partnership with the Housing and Residence Life Civic Mentor Resident Assistants. Learn more about www.gvsu.edu/service/democracy.