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Civic Engagement

Democracy only works when everyone participates. Student Leadership and Civic Engagement supports students in using their right to vote, and in actively contributing to their communities. Through resources and programs for voter registration, education, and participation, we support students in making their voices heard and being informed and active citizens.

Fall 2022 Important Dates Heading link

National Voter Registration DayTuesday, September 20

National Voter Education WeekOctober 3-7

Online Voter Registration DeadlineSunday, October 23rd (Remember in Illinois, you can register to vote in person up until Election Day)

Early Voting (City of Chicago Residents Only) for the 2022 Primary Elections – Oct 24 – Nov 7, Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-4pm, SCE Tower 613

Party to the PollsThursday, November 3rd, 10am-4pm, SCE East Terrace

Election Heroes Day November 7

Election DayNovember 8 (UIC is closed but City of Chicago Residents can still vote at SCE Tower 613 from 6am-7pm)

Check Your Registration and/or Make a Plan to Vote Here!

Download our voter engagement Zoom background!

Definitions Heading link

Our Civic Engagement work is grounded in the following definitions:

  • Civic engagement means working to make a difference in the civic life of our communities and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivations to make that difference. It means promoting the quality of life in a community, through both political and non-political processes” (Civic Responsibility in Higher Education, Ehrlich, 2000, p.vi).
  • Civic learning and democratic engagement means promoting the education of students for engaged citizenship through democratic participation in their communities, respect and appreciation of diversity, applied learning, and social responsibility” (NASPA, https://www.naspa.org/focus-areas/civic-learning-and-democratic-engagement).
  • “Community engagement is collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity” (Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement).

News & Events Heading link