Follow these steps to propose the Day at your institution. The steps are listed in a suggested order-of-action, to make implementation easier for you and your school. Let’s get started.

STEP 1

Assemble a team consisting of a few students and at least one faculty advisor. Access to an administrator can be very helpful for navigating policy, so if you can add an admin to your team, you'll have an advantage.

STEP 2

Do some research on your institution. This information is your evidence for why the Day is necessary at your school, and will later feature in your customized proposal. Use our research Checklist to organize your notes.

STEP 3

Pick a model of the Day to propose. There are three different models of the Day, with the only variation being which courses are cancelled on Election Day. Choose what fits your campus best. You can find the models in the Toolkit tab.

STEP 4

Send out a petition to gauge how your campus feels about the Day. At our institution, the University of Mary Washington, we sent out a petition in the beginning stages of the campaign for the Day. You can utilize our sample petition on the Checklist page, or create your own. Keep track of how many signees there are so you can use this information in Step 7.

STEP 5

Reach out to local nonprofits and service organizations in your area. Civic engagement isn't just about voting and elections—it includes active participation in your community. Coordinate with these organizations to see if they'll accept volunteers from your school on Election Day, or come visit campus during the celebration.

STEP 6

Compile a list of program suggestions for activities on the Day. Ask your friends, professors, and colleagues what would be interesting to them. Consider activities and programs leading up to the Day, as well as those taking place on the Day itself.

STEP 7

Customize your proposal to fit your school, based on the model of Day that you've decided to pursue. Our sample proposals are fill-in—but that doesn't mean you can't get creative. Check out our proposal examples on the Toolkit page for creative inspiration, and put your Day into words.

STEP 8

Get feedback on your customized proposal. Identify the members of your institution's legislative body and send them a copy of the proposal. Ask them to give you some constructive criticism, and allow them to voice any questions or concerns. Their feedback will allow you to strengthen your report before the final push.

STEP 9

Take the leap and submit your proposal to your institution's lower legislative body. Depending on the structure of your school, you may have to have a faculty member or admin submit the proposal. If you can, attend the deliberative meeting and speak on behalf of your proposal if there is any discourse. In the event that it doesn't pass, ask how you can improve, and try again.

Ready to start working on your proposal?