Tempe, Ariz., September 19, 2024 – Maricopa Community Colleges is proud to announce the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) has recognized nine of the system’s 10 colleges for nonpartisan student voter engagement during the 2022 midterm elections. The recognition underscores the system’s commitment to strengthening a culture of civic engagement across its college campuses.
“Maricopa Community Colleges has a strong history of civic engagement, and ALL IN campuses are building nonpartisan momentum around our nation’s democratic processes, including the right to vote,” said Deanna Villanueva-Saucedo, Associate Vice Chancellor of the Center for Excellence in Inclusive Democracy (CEID) of Maricopa Community Colleges. “Our system not only prepares students to enter the workforce but to be civically minded individuals who are engaged with their communities.”
Maricopa Community Colleges ALL IN Award Winners
Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC) earned the national 2022 Best in Class Campus Awards for Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs): Most Improved Voting Rate. This recognition reflects the college’s ongoing commitment to promoting nonpartisan democratic engagement initiatives among its Hispanic and Latino student population.
Three colleges were honored in the 2022 Arizona Campus Voting Challenges category. Scottsdale Community College (SCC) received recognition for the Highest Voting Rate, Mesa Community College (MCC) for the Highest Voter Registration Rate, and PVCC for the Most Improved Voting Rate.
Seven colleges earned a Silver Seal for their 2022 campus voting rate, with 30%-39% voter participation, including Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Estrella Mountain Community College, MCC, PVCC, Phoenix College, SCC, and Rio Salado College.
GateWay Community College and South Mountain Community College earned the 2022 Bronze Seal, indicating 20-29% campus voter turnout.
Why It Matters
According to data collected by Tufts University, student voter turnout during the 2022 midterm elections was the second highest in recent decades. Furthermore, students attending ALL IN campuses voted at a rate two percentage points higher than the national average, demonstrating the effectiveness of nonpartisan, democratic engagement initiatives in higher education. Maricopa Community Colleges has a long history of promoting civic engagement in the classroom and beyond. Through college-centered civic engagement programs, like Service Learning, Student Government, the Maricopa Student Senate, and the Student Board Member position, students develop leadership skills while gaining real-world experience.
Center for Excellence in Inclusive Democracy
Founded in 2022, the CEID is dedicated to advancing democratic education initiatives and experiences for students, employees, and the broader community. By fostering relationships with community groups, civic organizations, nonprofits, and municipalities, CEID helps prepare students to be lifelong, contributing members of society. CEID supports the system’s 10 colleges with resources and programs that enhance an understanding of civic participation. Each year, CEID connects students with resources and programming, including the Student Public Policy Forum, Chancellor’s Leadership Medallion, and Constitution Week celebration to strengthen understanding of civic participation.
About the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge
In collaboration with over 1,050 institutions, ALL IN enrolled more than 10 million students to participate in the ALL IN Democracy Challenge. The ALL IN Awards recognizes voter registration and turnout during the 2022 midterm elections, which includes 83 four-year public institutions, 35 community colleges, 22 HSIs, and seven Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Learn more at maricopa.edu.
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Media Contact:
Lindsey Wilson, lindsey.wilson@domail.maricopa.edu, (480) 703-8378
Mel Valenzuela, mel.valenzuela@domail.maricopa.edu, (480) 298-5364
About Maricopa Community Colleges
The Maricopa County Community College District includes ten individually-accredited colleges – Chandler-Gilbert, Estrella Mountain, GateWay, Glendale, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Rio Salado, Scottsdale, and South Mountain – and the Maricopa Corporate College, serving approximately 140,000 students with bachelor’s degrees, two-year degrees, certificates, and university transfer programs. Visit www.maricopa.edu to learn more.