My1CreativeLife - Ronald E. Maynard's Writing Portfolio: Grant Proposal (Accepted) - 2012 General Election Voter Registration Drive

Antioch University Midwest (AUM)

2012 General Election Voter Registration Drive

This 2012 Ohio Campus Compact grant proposal is the collaborated efforts of

Audrey Treasure, Director of Grants and Contracts

& Ronald Maynard - AUM Federal Work-Study Student

2012 Campus Election Engagement Project

The Ohio Campus Election Engagement Project (CEEP) is helping colleges and universities around the state mobilize thousands of students to get involved in the 2012 election. We are connecting campuses, building relationships with statewide and national organizations, compiling research, creating new elections materials, and helping campuses come up with new and innovative programming to ensure students across the state are engaged in this important election. In addition to this work, Ohio Campus Compact has secured funding to offer $250 to $1000 grants to campuses for their events.

Selection of Campuses

Members of Ohio Campus Compact are eligible for this grant. Staff, faculty, and students are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to groups who have a clear plan for their voter engagement efforts and who demonstrate financial need. Preference will also be given to uses that have the greatest potential impact on student civic engagement.

Applications are due by September 7, 2012. Selections will be made and campuses notified by September 14.

Requirements

· The funds must be spent entirely by November 16.

· A brief, 1-2 page, programmatic report and budget expenditure report must be emailed to Ohio Campus Compact within 30 days after the election to let us know how your efforts developed.

· The money may be used for programs (posters, speakers, food, supplies) or to help with staffing costs related to engagement efforts. (For example, a new student assistant may be hired to work on voter engagement activities.) Grant money MUST be used for direct project-related costs ONLY.

· A 50% non-federal grant match is required. See last page of this application for details.

To get an idea of what is currently being done across the state and nation, check out the Ohio Campus Compact and Campus Vote Map websites.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. We look forward to working with you closely through this election process to ensure you have the resources necessary to engage your students in the political process.

Thank you,

Brenna Limbrick

Project Director

Ohio Campus Compact

740.587.6366

Overview of The AUM 2012 Campus Election Engagement Project

Antioch University Midwest (AUM) respectfully requests funding from Ohio Campus Compact to implement The AUM 2012 Campus Election Engagement Project in early October of 2012. The primary element of this project is a nonpartisan presentation and discussion regarding the two presidential candidates, which outlines how they compare on different issues. The event will be facilitated by adjunct professor Glenn Lambert, Ph.D., a life-long educator who is committed to experiential learning and engagement in the democratic process. In conjunction with the event, AUM will also encourage people to register to vote and provide a voter registration drive on campus. The drive will be open to the community and will provide resources about important local and state issues. The project team’s mission is to be an effective group that provides timely information to students through multiple channels to encourage participation in the 2012 election. An overview of the associated costs of the event include $250.00 to secure Dr. Lambert as the speaker, $500.00 to provide lunch for attendees, and $100.00 for advertising and promotions such as stickers or buttons that reflect participation in voter registration. Approximately 75 to 100 students will be in attendance at the event.

Engagement with The Election Process

In addition to the voter registration drive held in conjunction with our presidential campaign overview, Antioch University Midwest will be communicating regularly with the student body by sending reminders through email, university web platforms and social media, providing informative guides around campus and hanging reminder posters. These communications will engage with students at every level of the process including voter registration, learning about the issues, and finally voting. The online platform will be the most relevant instrument to use to communicate with our students as Antioch University Midwest is a nontraditional school for adult learners. The students attend classes in the evenings, on Saturdays, and online.

Election Activities

AUM encourages students to share in the experience of the election process as an important value taught in our curriculum. AUM adjunct professor Nathan Singer has implemented student participation in the election process with his two academic courses this fall: Social Media and Social Change and Diversification and Acquisition of Language. As a requirement of both courses, students must spend time working as a support team to employees at the local National Public Radio station, WYSO, on November 6 and 7, 2012. Students’ responsibilities will include live blogging and writing editorials about incoming data as WYSO receives reports on the results of the election.

Cross-Campus Collaboration

The team will collaborate with the Office of the President and the academic programs at AUM to encourage students to participate as volunteers in the election process. As adult learners in a commuter school setting, student collaboration is difficult in planned University activities unless they take place on days where students attend class. The team’s hope is to secure five student volunteers to support the election engagement efforts and then reach out to students about the importance of taking part in the election process to encourage people to registration and vote in this year’s election.

Alternative Plans

Should Ohio Campus Compact choose not to fund this initiative, AUM will support paired down election engagement efforts funded by internal resources.

Conclusion

The Antioch University Midwest Campus Election Engagement team is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Ohio Campus Compact to provide timely and relevant election and voting information for our unique and diverse adult student body. The campus presentation and communications plan will promote democratic participation for the benefit of society.

2012 Voter Engagement Grant Budget