TAMIU Designated a Voter-Friendly Campus by NASPA and Campus Vote Project
Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) has been named a Voter Friendly Campus, one of 272 campuses in 39 states and the District of Columbia by Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project and NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education.
The initiative recognizes institutions that have planned and implemented practices encouraging students to register and vote.
The mission of the 2025 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.
TAMIU was evaluated based on a written plan for how it planned to register, educate, and turn out student voters in 2024, and how it facilitated voter engagement efforts on its campus, in addition to a final analysis of its efforts.
TAMIU’s Dr. Nicholas Hudson, director of the Office of Student Orientation, Leadership, and Engagement shared TAMIU’s involvement and efforts to promote civic engagement.
“For the third cycle in a row, TAMIU has been honored by being named a Voter Friendly Campus. Our philosophy has been that all Dustdevils that are eligible should exemplify the principles of effective global citizens and civic engagement by exercising their franchise in all elections. Our efforts as the TAMIU All-In Democracy Task Force ensured that all voices from across the University were part of the planning and execution of our ambitious plan. We specifically emphasize civic engagement at the onset of the student experience during orientation and extending throughout their collegiate experience.
“This includes participating in campus, local, state and federal elections whenever possible, thereby making them lifelong voters. We are truly thankful for all University stakeholders and partners in this effort to ensure that our plan incorporated all aspects of the University community and experience,” Dr. Hudson explained.
As part of its effort to be designated a Voter Friendly Campus, TAMIU undertook extensive voter registration, education and turnout efforts to engage the campus community, faculty, staff and students in their democracy. It held voter registration drives and Party at the Polls events to encourage participation in the election, including hosting registration drives throughout Orientation and Weeks of Welcome. Resources were provided to faculty and staff to civically engage students around the elections. A social media campaign garnered over 15,000 impressions aimed at increasing students’ political efficacy.
“TAMIU has made intensive efforts to inform students of their civic duty and prepare them to be engaged participants in our democracy. We are eager to continue refining our tactics, expanding our efforts, and engaging students through 2025 and beyond,” Dr. Hudson concluded.
The institutions designated Voter Friendly Campuses represent a wide range of two-year, four-year, public, private, rural, and urban campuses, collectively serving over four million students. Notably, the list of designated institutions includes 13 Historically Black Colleges and Universities, as well as 47 Community Colleges.
A Member of The Texas A&M University System, Texas A&M International University is a primarily Hispanic-serving, public university founded in 1970 with over 8,900 students enrolled. Its 300-acre campus in northeast Laredo is on former ranchland donated to secure higher education in South Texas by the Killam Family.
TAMIU’s mission is to nurture its students’ academic and social development through instruction, research, and service to be responsible and productive members of our global society.
For more about TAMIU’s student engagement and leadership opportunities visit the Office of Student Orientation, Leadership, and Engagement online at https://www.tamiu.edu/sole/, email sole@tamiu.edu, call 956.326.2280 or visit offices in the Student Center, 225.
Registration for TAMIU’s Maymester, Summer, and Fall 2025 courses begins Monday, April 7, 2025, at 8 a.m. online via Uconnect.
For more, contact the Office of the University Registrar at 326.2250, email registrar@tamiu.edu or visit offices in the Zaffirini Student Success Center, suite 121.
More on the University’s story is available at tamiu.edu and from its social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X-Twitter, and YouTube.
NASPA is the leading association for the advancement, health, and sustainability of the student affairs profession. Its 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 non-partisan organization dedicated to safeguarding the future of democracy through innovative efforts focused on voting rights and civic engagement. It uses advocacy, litigation, organizing, education, and technology to protect and expand the right to vote, understanding the impact on disenfranchised, underrepresented, and marginalized communities.
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 needed to register and vote.
