Student voting gets college recognition

COC recognized for programs, opportunities offered to students both during, after election season

College of the Canyons has been ranked as one of the top colleges in the nation for student voting by Washington Monthly magazine.

Washington Monthly recognized more than 140 institutions around the country for their colleges’ and universities’ individual efforts to promote civic engagement on their campuses.

According to the magazine, less than 50 percent of eligible students vote in elections, and colleges and universities have an “unparalleled opportunity” to reverse this trend in young adults and “crystalize” within them the importance of civic engagement.

“The colleges that invest in student voting aren’t just helping their Washington Monthly rankings — they’re helping the country,” read the Washington Monthly’s article.

COC was recognized by Washington Monthly for the various programs and opportunities that are offered to students both during and after election season, according to officials.

“Just as citizens have a responsibility to vote, we have a responsibility to promote civic engagement among the next generation. We are proud to be recognized by this report and we are proud of our students who are participating in the democratic process,” said Patty Robinson, faculty director at College of the Canyons.

COC faculty works with students to develop programs such as awareness campaigns, voter registration drives and the distribution of nonpartisan information to young voters at both the Canyon Country and Valencia campuses, according to officials.

“We’ve been focusing on ways we can increase civic engagement for the last couple years now,” said Eric Harnish, spokesman for College of the Canyons. “It’s important for students to understand that this is something that you don’t just get involved in once you’re older. It’s something you do when you’re younger so that you can develop the habit to be civically engaged.”

The school also participates in the National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement (NSLVE), which provides colleges and universities with data measuring the success of future voting engagement efforts.

“It’s rewarding for us to see students participate in the process and get excited about getting to vote in upcoming elections,” said Harnish.