National Initiatives

ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge 

The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge empowers colleges and universities to achieve excellence in nonpartisan student democratic engagement. The organization presented TU with the following awards:

• Highly Established Action Plan 
• Campus Champion Award for Best Action Plan 
• New Most Engaged Campuses for College Student Voting Recognition 
• Best in Class for a 4-year public institution 

Heather Polonsky, Assistant Director for Civic Engagement in the Office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility, is the Institutional Representative of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge at Towson University.

American Democracy Project 

The American Democracy Project (ADP) is a network of nearly 300 state colleges and universities collaborating to deepen the impact public higher education institutions have on preparing students who are empowered to: 

• be engaged and lead in the future of our democracy
• directly contribute to a more competitive workforce and a stronger local and national economy
• have knowledge of the structures and processes of democracy and reflect on those processes
• learn to develop civic skills of critical thinking, deliberation, thoughtful listening and dialogue, particularly with opposing views and perspectives
• engage with their community

Dr. Romy Hübler, Director of the Office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility, is the ADP Campus Coordinator at Towson University and a member of the ADP Steering Committee. She previously served on the Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement Annual Meeting planning committee, was named an ADP Civic Fellow and received the ADP Spirit of Democracy Award.  

Dr. Alison McCartney, Professor of Political Science and Faculty Director of the Honors College, is the ADP Faculty Representative at Towson University. She also serves on the ADP Steering Committee.  

Andrew Goodman Foundation  

The Andrew Goodman Foundation supports youth leadership development, voting accessibility and social justice initiatives on campuses across the country. 

The Office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility (CESR) receives an annual Voter Engagement Programming Grant to support voter education and engagement. CESR also coordinates the selection process of the Andrew Goodman Puffin Democracy Fellowship and provides ongoing support to fellows. For more information, go to the Regional and National Fellowships page.

Charis Lawson, Coordinator for Civic Engagement in the Office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility, is the Institutional Representative of the Andrew Goodman Foundation at Towson University.    

Campus Compact 

Campus Compact is a national coalition of colleges and universities committed to advancing the public purposes of higher education. 

The Office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility coordinates the nomination process of the Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellowship. For more information, go to Regional and National Fellowships.  

Dr. Romy Hübler, Director of the Office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility, serves on the design team for the Campus Compact Leadership Retreat. She also was a Research Fellow for the Community Engagement Professionals Project.

Campus Vote Project 

The Campus Vote Project works with universities, community colleges, faculty, students and election officials to reduce barriers to student voting. 

The Campus Vote Project and NASPA coordinate the Voter Friendly Campus Designation Program. The Office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility coordinates Towson University’s application process. Access the latest report.   

Heather Polonsky, Assistant Director for Civic Engagement in the Office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility, is the Institutional Representative of the Campus Vote Project at Towson University.   

Imagining America 

Imagining America (IA) is a consortium that brings together scholars, artists, designers, humanists, and organizers to imagine, study, and enact a more just and liberatory ‘America’ and world. IA works across institutional, disciplinary and community divides. The consortium strengthens and promotes public scholarship, cultural organizing, and campus change with the goal of inspiring collective imagination, knowledge-making, and civic action on pressing public issues. 

The Office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility support students in applying for Imagining America’s Joy of Giving Something (JGS) Fellowship and the Publicly Active Graduate Education (PAGE) Fellowship. For more information, go to Regional and National Fellowships. 

Dr. Romy Hübler, Director of the Office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility, and Dr. Suranjan Chakraborty, Professor of Computer and Information Sciences and Director of the School of Emerging Technologies, serve as IA Institutional Liaisons.  

Students Learn Students Vote Coalition 

The Students Learn Students Vote (SLSV) Coalition is the national hub and largest nonpartisan network in the country dedicated to increasing student voter participation. The Office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility partners with SLSV to promote national initiatives such as celebrating Civic Holidays and National Voter Education Week.

Heather Polonsky, Assistant Director for Civic Engagement in the Office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility, is the Institutional Representative of the SLSV Coalition at Towson University.

Transform Mid-Atlantic 

Transform Mid-Atlantic (TMA) mobilizes and builds the institutional capacity of our member campuses and their community partners to develop global citizens who work to create just, equitable and sustainable institutions and communities. 

The Office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility coordinates the nomination process for the TMA Civic Fellowship. For more information, go to Regional and National Fellowships. 

Dr. Romy Hübler, Director of the Office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility, represents Towson University on the TMA Senior Advisory Group for Engagement.  Morgan Rawlings, Assistant Director for Public Purpose Initiatives in the Office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility, serves on the TMA Equity Task Force.