Election Resources for Higher Education
Practical guidance for campus leaders, faculty and staff, and civic engagement and dialogue centers.
Elections can bring energy and opportunities for civic participation to college campuses. They can also heighten existing tensions. In past election cycles, many administrators found themselves without a playbook for the intensity of feeling among students, faculty, and staff. Existing policies and precedents did not always anticipate the situations campuses encountered.
Election cycles can also outpace institutional memory. Lessons learned during one cycle may leave with the people who experienced it, while faculty and staff continue to grapple with difficult questions about how elections will affect their communities.
Drawing on insights from higher education professionals across a range of roles, these resources offer practical strategies for campus leaders, faculty and staff, and civic engagement and dialogue centers. Together, they can help campuses prepare for election-related challenges, strengthen constructive dialogue, and help students engage thoughtfully across differences.
Live Webinar
Midterms 2026: Fostering Civic Engagement in a Polarized Climate
Election seasons have long been an energizing moment on campuses, a shared, tangible reason for students to connect, debate, and get involved in American politics. But for many, current levels of distrust, dysfunction, and polarization make political engagement feel risky rather than exciting and energizing.
This webinar explores how campuses can set up the 2026 midterms to be a real civic opportunity rather than something to try to tune out or avoid. Experts in civic and democratic engagement will share what they’re hearing from students about the midterms, as well as practices for reframing election programming into opportunities to develop trust, connection, and engagement
Explore Strategies for Your Role
Find practical guidance tailored to your role on campus.
General Principles for Preparing for Election Season
Many institutions are grappling with tensions already, outside of the elections themselves. Several of the strategies and practices that result from addressing those tensions will also be useful structures for mitigating election-related conflict. Practices like checking in with stakeholders, creating space for dialogue, and auditing and disseminating policies are integral components of proactive conflict management and community building. They serve as foundational pillars that can be adapted to effectively navigate potential conflicts arising from an election.
On Demand Webinar
Preparing for the Election: Practical Strategies for Campus Leaders to Foster Community
This on-demand webinar is designed to equip higher education leaders with actionable strategies to maintain community, prevent fractures, and mitigate risk. It focuses on practical, high-impact approaches that can be immediately integrated into your fall plans.
After watching, you'll be better prepared to shepherd your campus through turbulent moments in a way that honors your institutional values and preserves cohesion.
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