A Guide for Students

STUDENTS AT THE CENTER OF CHANGE

The role of students is central to the Raise Your Voice campaign; however, ways of engaging students are not always as clear. In The New Student Politics the participants of the Wingspread Summit on Student Civic Engagement assert that a new type of politics is emerging that links the work of community service with the development of skills to change public policy. Many students feel that their engagement is not accurately being measured by contemporary benchmarks such as voting. Below are a number of ideas of ways for students to be involved, support the Raise Your Voice campaign, and link their service and politics. Presidents have a wealth of resources to support, endorse, and encourage student engagement in service and activism. Students and presidents can work as a powerful team toward a more engaged campus. As part of Raise Your Voice, the president and administration are pledging their support for your work. If you are interested in getting involved go to www.actionforchange.org.

PRESIDENTS AND STUDENTS CREATING AN ENGAGED CAMPUS

• Student organizations can schedule a series of topic-based public dialogues exploring the role of student voice on campus and in democracy; the President’s office may be able to support and offer needed resources.
• Students can identify a significant campus issue in which they are already invested, for example, a campus environmental assessment; the campus relationship to globalization issues; or children’s rights and health abuse. Students can develop meaningful patterns of involvement and learning; they can enlist the resources, both academic and otherwise, of the college or university administration to address these issues.
• Invite administrators, faculty and community members to the meetings of civically oriented student groups on campus, holding dialogues on student voice and participation in democracy.
• Encourage administrators, faculty, and staff to mention the Raise Your Voice campaign, and highlight the work of some campus groups in various on-campus speeches and events.
• Organize a Student Civic Engagement and Action Advisory Board on campus.
• Use your debate, speech, and theatre clubs or classes to hold dialogues around public issues of student concern.
• Contact your state Campus Compact office to identify students on your campus who are part of the statewide leadership team. Meet with those students on your campus or invite the state leadership team to campus to meet with your administration.
• Request that campus administration and other interested leaders hold “office hours” once a month for students to consult with them regarding civic engagement, campus and community participation, and other student concerns.
• Organize a panel discussion on a local, global, or campus issue that students have identified, include a student, faculty, and community member on the panel, ask the president to moderate.
• Propose an award provided by the college to recognize students who have taken active roles not only in service, but also in promoting student voice in campus and community decision making.
• Invite the president and other administration to work alongside students and community members on your service projects.

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