UMBC has been recognized by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) for innovative planning and and efforts to encourage nonpartisan voter engagement in the 2024 election. In December, the university received the ALL IN Highly Established Action Plan Seal with a perfect score, and last month was named an ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting. 

UMBC’s campus action plan is considered among the best in the country for building and fostering nonpartisan civic engagement. The 2024 ALL in Highly Established Action Plan recognition was awarded to just 228 higher education institutions with strong plans to promote civic learning, political engagement, and college student voter participation. Action plan strength is determined by reviewing plans with the Strengthening American Democracy Action Planning Rubric.

The 2024 ALL IN Most Engaged Campuses for College Student Voting recognizes colleges and universities for outstanding efforts to increase nonpartisan student voter participation. UMBC joins a group of 471 colleges and universities recognized by ALL IN for completing four core actions: participating in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge; sharing 2022 NSLVE Reports with campus voting data with ALL IN; developing and submitting a 2024 democratic engagement action plan with ALL IN; having a current signatory to ALL IN’s Higher Education Presidents’ Commitment to Full Student Voter Participation. 

Jennifer Domagal-Goldman, executive director of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, shared, “The research is clear: colleges and universities that make intentional efforts to increase nonpartisan democratic engagement have higher campus voter registration and voter turnout rates. This year we saw more colleges than ever before step up their efforts to ensure that their students were registered and ready to make their voices heard at the ballot box.” 

During the fall semester, students, faculty, and staff all contributed to UMBC’s efforts to plan and engage its community in the 2024 election. From voting education initiatives developed and hosted by Center for Democracy and Civic Life staff and others, to voter registration efforts from various campus units and student organizations, to intentional spaces for processing and learning together, everyone helped members of our community cast their whole vote. 

“More than we have ever seen, everyone stepped up,” said Dr. Ricky Blissett ‘11, associate director of the Center for Democracy and Civic Life. “Every week, we would hear from people on our campus asking, ‘How can I help?’: Students, both as individuals and as leaders of campus organizations. Staff, including those representing academic, student affairs, and other campus departments. Faculty from every part of our academic community. Alumni who participated in programming. From every corner of our campus, people created opportunities for the UMBC community to connect with the election in ways that centered dialogue, exploration of values, and care for one another. We will sustain that momentum as we move forward into the future.”

The “Highly Established Action Plan” and “Most Engaged Campuses” came into being in 2022 and are awarded during election years. UMBC earned both in 2022 and now, 2024. This is the first year UMBC received a perfect score for its action plan. In September 2024, UMBC was recognized for Excellence in Student Voter Registration and Turnout During the 2022 Midterm Elections. 

ABOUT ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge: 

ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) empowers colleges and universities to achieve excellence in nonpartisan student democratic engagement. Through an intentionally-designed program that provides structure, support, and recognition, ALL IN works to improve civic learning, political engagement, and voter participation on more than 1,075 campuses nationwide. ALL IN believes higher education should play a role in developing an active and informed citizenry by educating students, motivating them to engage in American democracy, and instilling the value of lifelong participation. ALL IN is an initiative of Civic Nation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Learn more here.

ABOUT Civic Nation:

Civic Nation is a nonprofit ecosystem for high-impact organizing and education initiatives working to build a more inclusive and equitable America. Civic Nation shifts culture, systems, and policy by bringing together individuals, grassroots organizers, industry leaders, and influencers to tackle some of our nation’s most pressing social challenges. Civic Nation is home to seven national initiatives and campaigns: ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, Change Collective, It’s On Us, Save On Clean Energy, SAVE On Student Debt, We The Action, and When We All Vote. Learn more here.

From November 8 through 10, the Resident Student Association (RSA) hosted the Regional Leadership Conference (RLC) for the Central Atlantic Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls (CAACURH). Organized by RSA and resident students, the conference brought over 250 student leaders from Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia to UMBC.

The conference theme was “All Aboard the Leadership” and included a variety of sessions developed by conference participants, including “Mastering the Elevator Pitch: How to Market Yourself Authentically,”  “Intentional Connections: Building a Culture of Belonging,” “Leading a Residence Halls Organization: A Guide For Hall Council and RHA Leaders,” and “Communicating Like Kindergarteners: How Going Back to Basics Builds Stronger Relationships.” Social events, organization meetings, and a banquet rounded out the weekend.

"I am extremely grateful to Residential Life for not only giving me this opportunity but also guiding me,” said Yachi Madaan, RLC conference chair and RA for Chesapeake Hall. “The best lesson I have learned from my experience is remembering that life is extremely unexpected, so when doubt tries to take over, take a deep breath and dive into the deep end. Believe in yourself, believe in the hard work you and everyone around you are putting in. No matter if the tide is high or low, hold on. Because you are the captain of your ‘leader-ship.'"

Dr. Renique Kersh, vice president for student affairs, gave welcoming remarks to conference participants and staff, and shared some lessons learned from her own experience as a community director at UMBC and throughout her career, connecting them to “the five pillars of success” from The Student Leadership Challenge, by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner: model the way, inspire a shared vision, challenge the process, enable others to act, and encourage the heart.

“The skills you learn as student leaders will stay with you in your professional careers,” said Dr. Kersh. “During times of challenge and change, your actions and passion will make a difference. People will watch the ways you model leadership. They will often need direction and motivation, collaboration, support, and affirmation to help keep the collective ‘ship’ afloat.”

Grace Collins, residential education and leadership coordinator for Residential Life, served as the conference advisor.  “I will be forever grateful to have been the advisor for this conference," said Collins. “I loved working so closely with the team of 12 students and 6 advisors. It’s a fully student-led conference, and it was so great seeing their vision come to life! We heard great feedback from the conference participants as well.They really enjoyed UMBC’s facilities, and in particular they really enjoyed Dr. Kersh’s keynote speech. Her words about leadership really resonated with the students.”

At the Feb. 2024 CAACURH Regional Business Conference, RSA officers submitted the winning bid to host the conference: senior Bailey Berg, president; junior Olapeju Otusajo, national communication coordinator; and sophomore Faith Beander, national communication coordinator-in-training, presented a 45-page bid proposal. 

RSA at UMBC has a strong history with the National Association of College and University Residence Halls (NACURH) and CAACURH, which bring together students passionate about leadership, advocacy, and collaboration as they work to improve the quality of life for residential students at their institutions.

Dr. John Fox ‘91, the inaugural dean of students in the Division of Student Affairs (DoSA), spoke at the November 2024 Hilltop and 1966 Societies Dinner about the recent addition of a Dean of Students office to better support student success and wellbeing.

“The Division of Student Affairs focuses on wellbeing, engagement, and the holistic student experience,” Dr. Fox said. “It’s very exciting because the division’s recent realignment increases our collective effectiveness and, for students, better understanding of how we serve them. One aspect of the realignment is the creation of the Dean of Students Office, which provides an entry point for students facing gaps in basic needs, experiencing emotional and social challenges, and in need of direction when they are unsure who can assist them. A Dean of Students' office is one strategy to address student success in and out of the classroom.”

Sara Lerma Jones, director of donor relations in the Office of Institutional Advancement, said, “Donors shared that they are excited to hear about this new direction in support of students, and the talk provided a real opportunity to share current impact and future needs. Opportunities to hear firsthand from leaders like Dr. Fox speaks to the importance of campus partnerships. Demonstrating to donors and other constituents how UMBC is prioritizing student success and well-being, and how their financial support makes a difference in the lives of our students creates an increased sense of commitment and support from these donors.”

The dinner celebrated donors from UMBC’s Hilltop and 1966 Societies and also included remarks from Dr. Valerie Shears Ashby, president; Dr. Manfred H.M. van Dulmen, provost; Tiffany Tucker, director of athletics; Sara Lerma Jones, director of donor relations; and Dr. Stephen Freeland, vice provost of undergraduate academic affairs.

Dr. Ricky Blissett ‘11, associate director of the Center for Democracy and Civic Life, was a panelist at the October 2024 Living Democracy Symposium. Part of UMD’s Living Democracy Initiative, the symposium provided opportunities for civic discourse, sharing of new perspectives, and learning about the ways that our collective history informs our present and future. 

Dr. Blissett served on the panel, “Libraries' Role in Fostering Critical Information Literacy - Nurturing Democracy through Informed Citizenship.” Panelists sought to investigate the pivotal role that libraries play in advancing critical information literacy and its impact on fostering a robust democracy. They explored how libraries function as dynamic environments that nurture well-informed citizens capable of actively engaging in democratic processes. 

The panel moderator was Twanna Hodge, UMD doctoral student, College of Information Studies. Additional panelists included Dr. Ana Ndumu, UMD assistant professor, College of Information Studies; DR. Meredith Evans, director, Jimmy Carter Library; and Dr. Paul R. Carr, professor, Université du Québec en Outaouais.