Otterbein has earned the Highly Established Action Plan Seal for the 2024 election cycle from the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge for its nonpartisan democratic engagement action. Otterbein is one of 192 campuses that has earned this recognition so far for the 2024 election cycle. The seal recognizes higher education institutions with strong action plans to increase nonpartisan democratic engagement by promoting civic learning, political engagement, and college student voter participation.   

Additionally, Otterbein earned the Silver Seal award from the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge for its nonpartisan democratic engagement work and voter turnout during the 2022 Midterm Elections. The silver medal recognizes campuses with 30-39% of students voting in the midterm election year, which historically sees lower voter turnout than presidential election years. 

At Otterbein, the plan is an institution-wide effort supported from the top down.  

“It is the role of higher education institutions like Otterbein to encourage thoughtful civic and political engagement to model how to engage on these matters respectfully, and, hopefully, to listen, learn, and grow as a person from these experiences,” said President John Comerford. “The student leaders and administrators at Otterbein have always led by example, and this plan not only formalizes that behavior, but turns it into action.” 

For his role as a champion of democracy, President John Comerford was invited to join the College Presidents for Civic Preparedness, a unique consortium convened by the Institute for Citizens & Scholars. He joins 91 participating presidents who are dedicated to preparing the next generation of well-informed, productively engaged, and committed citizens; defending free expression, civil discourse, and critical inquiry as essential civic norms; and increasing thoughtful engagement and better understanding by students for the effective functioning of our democracy. The consortium was established in August 2023 with 15 members. 

The participating presidents represent diverse institutions from across the country, but they all share the perspective that it is the responsibility of higher education to equip students with the critical civic skills to participate effectively in a democracy, engage in civil discourse, and express themselves responsibly. Learn more at www.collegepresidents.org. 

Learn more about Otterbein’s ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge Action Plan and voting statistics at www.allinchallenge.org/campuses/otterbein-university/.