WASHINGTON –  The University of Northern Iowa has been recognized by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge as a 2024 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting. The ALL IN Most Engaged Campuses for College Student Voting recognizes colleges and universities for outstanding efforts to increase nonpartisan student voter participation. UNI joins a group of 471 colleges and universities recognized 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. 

“At the University of Northern Iowa, we take great pride in preparing our students for their professional and personal lives after graduation,” said UNI President Mark Nook. “One of the skills we emphasize is understanding our responsibilities as community members and citizens in a democracy. Being named an AL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting is a testament to our strength in civic engagement.”

“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,” said Jennifer Domagal-Goldman, executive director of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. “These Most Engaged Campuses are setting the standard for nonpartisan civic engagement work for colleges and universities across the country.” 

“We are proud to be recognized by ALL IN as a Most Engaged Campus. UNI has a strong tradition of voter turnout,” said Justin Holmes, associate professor of political science at UNI. “Since we started Panthers Vote in 2018, we have worked with administration, faculty and various stakeholders to educate students on the mechanics and importance  of voting. This year with the help of three student voting ambassadors, we were able to get in front of students in a variety of settings. We are happy that voting has become an important part of the Panther culture.” 

The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge empowers colleges and universities to achieve excellence in nonpartisan student democratic engagement. Campuses that join the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge complete a set of action items, with the support of ALL IN staff, to institutionalize nonpartisan civic learning and voter participation on their campus. The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge currently engages 10.8 million students from more than 1,075 institutions in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 

Through an intentionally designed program that provides structure, support and recognition, the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge works to improve civic learning, political engagement and voter participation on more than 1,075 campuses nationwide.