Democracy Fellow
To Apply: Please submit a resume and cover letter to Alexis Crosby at acrosby@campusvoteproject.org .
UC's Center for Community Engagement, in partnership with the Campus Vote Project, is seeking students who are passionate about democratic engagement, politically interested and are self-starters to help peers register and vote and engage them in dialogue around democracy. Campus Vote Project is dedicated to helping students gain access to the ballot and increasing youth voter turnout. Fellows are an integral part of carrying out voter engagement and empowerment at institutions of higher education across the country.
As a fellow, you will have the opportunity to work with administrative and faculty partners. You will work with the on-campus team to complete the four planning steps of the Students Learn Students Vote checklist, created to build power and ensure success. You will also be responsible for meeting deadlines and carrying out nonpartisan voter engagement activities on your campus.
Responsibilities and Goals each semester:
- Participate in supporting a voter engagement plan on your campus, including meeting planning deadlines and being an active spokesperson.
- Carry out voter registration and voter education activities on campus. This includes: Informing your peers about registration and election deadlines; Providing nonpartisan information about issues and candidates on the ballot; Engaging students as voters and voter advocates for their peers
- Complete timesheets and check-ins with campus partners and with CVP staff regarding voter engagement efforts. Fellows will be required to do one-on-one check-ins with their CVP state coordinator, small group check-ins with their campus sponsor/administrator and CVP state coordinator, and state-wide check-ins with other Democracy Fellows and CVP state coordinator. Each takes place monthly and are at a maximum one hour long.
- Participate in leadership, skill-building, and historical-context discussion blocks, optional trainings, and webinars. New Fellows will be required to attend a three hour orientation and returning Fellows will be required to attend a one and a half hour orientation refresher which reviews requirements of being a Democracy Fellow, the history of voting rights, current voting rights issues, and equitable and inclusive campus organizing. Attend an Election Law training specific to your state. Attend two of the three one-hour Discussion Blocks, which review grassroots organizing and voting rights issues. Write a reflection on your work and the program. Attend a one hour-long end-of-semester reflection meeting. In addition to these requirements, there are a number of optional training opportunities available to Fellows. Contribute to Campus Vote Project’s social media and respond to media inquiries looking for student perspectives.
- Learn from professionals in the civic engagement space through a series of monthly panels.
- Opportunity to attend a Student Voter Summit in your state to learn new skills, discuss issues, and network with other students and organizations passionate about youth voter engagement.
CVP is proud to support the program by conducting regular check-ins with fellows and administrator and faculty partners. CVP also produces student voting guides, voting information posters, and draft email, social media, and website content that can be used by fellows during the program.
Compensation: New Fellows will receive a $1,200 stipend in two installments ($700 at the end of their first semester in the fall and $500 at the end of the spring semester). Fellows should be prepared to spend 10 hours per week on the program during the spring and fall semesters.
Reflection Course policy :
Student’s successful completion of the On-Campus Co-op Program involves enrollment in the COOP 1000 On-Campus Coop Professional Development & Reflection course*, led by Experience-Based Learning and Career Education (ELCE) faculty. The course provides academic-based reflection and course assignments to guide the student in reflection and integration of coursework and skill development. 1 credit hour, (0 credit option for students enrolled in >12 or <18 credit hours).
*Students who are federal work-study eligible within the On-Campus Co-op Program are not required to enroll in the course to be eligible to receive compensation from the Federal Work-Study program. However, a student’s enrollment in the course is integral as an element of the On-Campus Co-op Program. The student will be compensated either from departmental funds or the Federal Work-Study program while they complete their on-campus co-op.