The Lone Star College Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) offers robust educational and civic opportunities to involve more students in the country’s political process. The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) awarded LSC a Bronze Seal for its student voter engagement and campus turnout in the 2022 mid-term elections.
“Lone Star College provides students with knowledge and skills that allow them to choose for themselves in the voting booth, think critically and be concerned for other citizens,” said Clark Friesen, LSC-Tomball speech professor and CCE coordinator. “Achieving a Bronze Seal shows Lone Star College faculty utilized various tools to create effective citizens.”
ALL IN empowers colleges and universities to achieve excellence in nonpartisan student democratic engagement. When Lone Star College’s CCE began its efforts in 2014, the student voting rate was 13%, which increased to 28% in 2022. The college attributes the increase to voter registration drives, deliberative dialogue events, and community-based service-learning projects.
“Low voter turnout among college students has allowed elected officials to shift college financial aid from grant-based to loan-based with little consequence,” said John Theis, Ph.D., LSC-Kingwood political science professor and CCE coordinator. “Additionally, when student voter turnout increases, it lends credence when Lone Star College proposes bond packages or lobbies state government.”
LSC was among 1,060 institutions that participated in the ALL IN challenge, and one of nearly 500, earning recognition for its efforts. LSC students like Elizabeth Miller are helping to recruit more student voters by getting them involved in campus activities. She believes involving more citizens in civic responsibilities starts with encouraging college students.
“Students are the new generation coming up in the world. They need to get active, stay involved and learn why their vote matters,” said Miller. “Additionally, if students see their peers actively participate in student engagement efforts, it will make them more comfortable and open to the idea of becoming informed registered voters.”
The Lone Star College Center for Civic Engagement aims to get more students involved in robust activities that promote participation, advocacy, social justice and sustainability. Learn more at LoneStar.edu/CivicEngagement.
Lone Star College enrolls over 80,000 students each semester providing high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Mario K. Castillo, J.D., serves as Chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and has been named a 2023 Great Colleges to Work For® institution by the Chronicle of Higher Education. LSC consists of eight colleges, seven centers, eight Workforce Centers of Excellence and Lone Star Corporate College. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.