Trinity University Receives National Recognition for Voter Engagement

Trinity University has been honored to receive the Highly Established Action Plan Seal for the 2024 election cycle. This recognition comes from developing a nonpartisan democratic engagement action plan based on the Strengthening American Democracy Action Planning Guide (SADG) Rubric. Trinity University is among 192 campuses nationwide that received this recognition this year.

The Highly Established Action Plan Seal is awarded to campuses that demonstrate a strong commitment to fostering civic engagement and voter participation. It is part of the All In Campus Democracy Challenge, which encourages colleges and universities across the United States to develop comprehensive plans that promote informed and active citizenship among students. These plans are evaluated based on criteria such as voter education, registration initiatives, and efforts to increase voter turnout.

Jamie Thompson '05, Ed.D., associate dean of students, is the chair of the Trinity Voter Engagement Task Force. Thompson explained that the task force, which includes two student Trinity Democracy Fellows, James Obertwormann ‘26 and Jackson Delhagen ‘25, developed the action plan during the Fall 2023 semester. "This action plan will set up our campus for success heading into the general election this fall. The plan includes educational and awareness events, voter registration information, deadlines, and more,” Thompson says. 

The action plan will be implemented in 2024 and into 2025 by the Task Force, which includes faculty, staff, and student representatives. Thompson also highlighted the importance of community involvement, noting that the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE) recently shared Trinity's 2022 midterm voter registration and voting rates. The voting rate at Trinity is higher than the average voting rate for both public and private institutions across the country, according to the NSLVE report. 

Nina Pollak ’26, one of 137 students nationwide selected for the 2024 ALL IN Student Voting Honor Roll, is proud to represent Trinity University for this recognition. Pollak expressed her enthusiasm and excitement for the collective work being done on campus surrounding voter engagement.

“I hope that students continue to realize that their voices matter,” Pollak says. “The most important thing is that people believe their vote matters because if they have confidence in their ability to create change, they will actually show up to the polling stations.”

Engaging with underrepresented student populations to register and vote continues to be an opportunity to promote voter engagement on campus. Pollak serves as the president of Trinity’s MOVE Texas chapter alongside vice president Lily Broussard ‘26, a registered student organization working to build the political power of young people in underrepresented communities through civic engagement, leadership development, and issue advocacy.

In addition to promoting voter engagement, Pollak emphasizes the importance of listening to others' opinions, even when they may contradict one's own beliefs. This practice promotes mutual respect and understanding, which are both essential for constructive dialogue and a healthy democratic process. "I think it is really important to have conversations and listen, especially in situations where we might disagree. Be brave enough to respect an opinion you don’t like," Pollak says.

Reflecting on her journey, Pollak shared, "I just kind of dove in and was lucky enough to be surrounded by a lot of supportive and ambitious people. I like knowing that I get to play a role in helping someone better understand local and national issues and engage in our system in the best way we can."

Trinity University’s achievements in fostering civic engagement and voter participation are a testament to the dedication and hard work of our community members. As the 2024 election cycle approaches, Trinity is well-prepared to continue making a positive impact.

Interested in learning more about voter engagement on campus? Visit Trinity’s Voter Engagement webpage or contact @email for more information.