Election resources for faculty

Election season is a time for political learning and promoting civic engagement. Many of our students are trying to make sense of the election process and the effect potential election outcomes will have on their livelihoods. The pandemic and current social movement add another layer to navigating this year’s election. Faculty are in a unique position to facilitate awareness of the election process and to provide spaces for dialogue on policy issues and election concerns. As Election Day approaches, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion would like to share a few approaches to providing non-partisan engagement with students.

• Encourage students to develop a voting plan and vote. There are three ways to vote in Georgia—requesting an absentee ballot, early voting, and voting in person on election day. UGA Votes, a non-partisan voter registration and engagement campaign, outlines students’ options including voting on campus if students are registered to vote in Clarke County. Students can also learn about their options in Georgia via the State of Georgia website.
• Use non-partisan resources to engage with students. The Gephardt Institute created resources that you can incorporate in your classes to encourage students to participate in the election. They provided a chart to help you determine to what degree you would like to engage students. You can also find text to include in your syllabi and presentation slides to use in class or add to eLC.
• Plan for discussions in your courses. One way you can help students with understanding the election is by facilitating healthy dialogue in your courses. From assignments to class discussions, there are several avenues for students to gain awareness and make informed decisions about political issues. The Gephardt Institute and Project Pericles have examples of assignments from across disciplines you may adapt, and Living Room Conversations created conversation guides you can use for class discussions.

For additional course planning support or advice on responding to the election, please contact the DEI office.