By Ward Mullens

Albion College has been designated a Voter Friendly Campus by the Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA). Albion College is one of 258 campuses in 38 states and the District of Columbia to receive the designation.

“This is important because it lets our students know we are committed to a well-rounded community and civic engagement,” said Elizabeth Netcher, assistant director of Campus Life at Albion College.

Albion was one of only four Great Lakes College Association schools to receive the designation. The others were Kalamazoo College, Allegheny College and Denison University.

The designation will last until the 2024 election cycle, but Netcher said Albion could retain the tag if it continues increasing voter engagement.

“Through our plan, we have increased voter registration tablings and traffic to our voter registration website, TurboVote, which helps students register, get absentee ballots and election reminders,” Netcher said.

According to Netcher, one of the most impactful methods to increase voter engagement on the Albion campus has been faculty volunteering to include voter registration information in the suggested content of their syllabi.

“I don’t think any other GLCA school has done that,” said Netcher. “Before we began this project, there were faculty and staff across campus working on voter engagement and doing different things, but we have gotten more of them involved, and it has become more institutionalized.”

The initiative recognizes institutions that have planned and implemented practices encouraging students to register and vote in the 2022 elections and the coming years.

The 2023 Voter Friendly Campus designation aims to bolster colleges’ and universities’ efforts to help students overcome barriers to participating in the political process — every year, not just during years featuring federal elections.