The Center for Community Engagement at the U of A is thrilled to announce the launch of the highly anticipated Democracy Fellows Program. Designed to foster a democratically engaged campus community, this program aims to empower students, improve access to voter information and encourage active participation in the democratic process.

In an effort to ensure the success of this initiative, the Democracy Fellows Program is now accepting nominations from staff and faculty members who recognize the leadership potential and dedication of students in promoting civic engagement. To nominate a student leader for this esteemed opportunity, interested staff and faculty are encouraged to email their nominations to cce@uark.edu. Nominations will be accepted at any time in the academic year; however, a timely response is greatly appreciated.

The Democracy Fellows Program, facilitated by the Center for Community Engagement, will provide a platform for selected fellows to engage their peers and create awareness about the significance of active democratic participation. Throughout the upcoming 2023-24 academic year, the fellows will organize and conduct various programs and events, including voter registration drives, absentee ballot request drives and voter education initiatives.

"The Democracy Fellows Program presents an incredible opportunity for students to contribute meaningfully to the democratic process and make a lasting impact on our campus community," said Katie Brocklesby, staff adviser to the Democracy Fellows Program. "By empowering our fellows to educate and inspire their peers, we aim to create a culture of democratic engagement and instill the importance of voting and active participation in our students."

To be considered for the program, prospective fellows must meet the following criteria: maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher, demonstrate a commitment to non-partisan voter education and be able to dedicate five to 10 hours per week to program delivery. The selected fellows will have the chance to volunteer starting in the summer of 2023, with the majority of programming taking place during the fall and spring semesters. Preference will be given to candidates who exhibit enthusiasm for increasing democratic participation among U of A students, possess a deep understanding of the democratic process and can effectively communicate this knowledge to their peers.

Students interested in becoming a Democracy Fellow are encouraged to submit an application through this link: Democracy Fellows Application. The application form can be found on the U of A's Center for Community Engagement Instagram. 

For any further information about the program or the nomination process, interested individuals are encouraged to reach out to the Center for Community Engagement at cce@uark.edu.

The U of A's Democracy Fellows Program welcomes nominations from staff and faculty as it strives to create a democratically engaged campus community. By empowering student leaders, this initiative aims to shape the future by fostering active democratic participation and cultivating an informed electorate.

Thank you for your interest in the Democracy Fellows Program.