ETSU designated ‘Voter Friendly Campus’ for fifth time
East Tennessee State University has received the “Voter Friendly Campus” designation for the fifth consecutive term.
The recognition comes from the Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project and NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. This year, 272 campuses nationwide were honored for implementing practices that encourage students to register and vote – not just in major election years, but consistently.
The mission of the 2025-26 Voter Friendly Campus designation is to bolster colleges and universities’ efforts to help students overcome barriers to participating in the political process – every year, not just during years featuring federal elections.
In March 2022, ETSU became the first institution in the state of Tennessee to host an on-campus early voting site. This effort, led by the Office of Leadership and Civic Engagement and ETSU Votes, played a large part in helping ETSU obtain the Voter Friendly Campus designation in 2023-24.
In the 2024 election cycle, ETSU Votes launched the Bucky vs. Pepper campaign, a faux election between campus’s most beloved Buccaneers that encouraged students to attend a lineup of election-themed events.
“Civic engagement goes far beyond simply registering to vote and showing up at the polls on Election Day. It’s about understanding how our government functions at every level, staying informed about the candidates and issues on the ballot and recognizing the important role each of us plays in strengthening our democracy,” said Joy Fulkerson, director of Leadership and Civic Engagement at ETSU.
“At ETSU, we are proud to be recognized as a Voter Friendly Campus and remain committed to providing the resources, support and opportunities for every student to make informed choices, vote and be heard.”
This prestigious designation, officials said, is a testament to the work that ETSU is doing in its commitment to support students, faculty and staff in being active citizens through voter registration, engagement and education.
For more information about ETSU Votes and to register to vote, visit etsu.edu/votes.
NASPA is the leading association for the advancement, health and sustainability of the student affairs profession. Thier work provides high-quality professional development, advocacy and research for 15,000 members in all 50 states, 25 countries and eight U.S. territories.
Fair Elections Center is a national, nonpartisan voting rights and legal support organization that works to eliminate barriers to voting and improve election administration across the United States. Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project works with universities, community colleges, faculty, students and election officials to reduce barriers to student voting and helps campuses institutionalize reforms that empower students with the information they need to register and vote.
East Tennessee State University was founded in 1911 with a singular mission: to improve the quality of life for people in the region and beyond. Through its world-class health sciences programs and interprofessional approach to health care education, ETSU is a highly respected leader in rural health research and practices. The university also boasts nationally ranked programs in the arts, technology, computing, and media studies. ETSU serves approximately 14,000 students each year and is ranked among the top 10 percent of colleges in the nation for students graduating with the least amount of debt.
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