*The nonpartisan ClemsonVotes coalition will be providing ideas and resources to faculty and instructors throughout the fall 2020 semester via the Clemson Teaching Listserv.
Clemson may be on fall break November 2 and 3, but we shouldn’t expect business as usual when we return to the classroom/virtual classroom on November 4.
There is much uncertainty around the November 3 Election Day this year, including how long it may take some states to certify ballots, with high voter turnout and high levels of mail-in ballots expected. American idological polarization is also at a high point, so whatever the result of the election may be – whenever there is a result of the election – we should expect that a large swath of our campus commuity will be disappointed or upset with the outcome.
Faculty should prepare for the election to impact the classroom environment. OTEI is sponsoring a “Teaching During Election Week” panel discussion on Friday, October 30 from 1-2 p.m., open to all Clemson faculty & instructors. (**Edited – Link to resources shared in the panel.)
What else could/should you do as you work with students?
At minimum, talk with your students about the election. Data shows that when faculty do not even mention the election in the days after the event, students do not feel supported. In these cases, students feel less social cohesion to the professor and less motivation in the course. Even a quick acknowledgement shows your support for student well-being – “So how about election day? It’s an exciting time. I also stayed up late last night watching the news.”
Young adults do not always turn out to vote at the same high rates as older Americans, but this is a result of confusing and multi-step processes, not apathy. College students care very much about government, about society, and about issues. Many students have also participated in activist movements over the past weeks and months.
Some students may feel emboldened to use rhetoric that does not reflect Clemson’s values of integrity, honesty, and respect. Other students – especially those from historically marginalized groups – may feel vulnerable based upon election results. When students’ deeply held beliefs, assumptions, and worldviews clash in the classroom, we need to provide the opportunities for processing in appropriate ways. The links below and previous posts in this Clemson Votes blog contain resources on conducting dialogue in the courses you teach.
Faculty and instructors are often the first line of contact with students in distress. If you have concerns about a student’s well-being, please use the CARE Network to report a concern so that trained Clemson staff can check in with them.
The Students Learn Students Vote Coalition suggests helping students understand that it may take time to count votes, but that is how we ensure a fair election. For those who voted by mail, you can encourage students to follow up on their ballot’s status to ensure their vote gets counted. You can elevate credible sources of information, using the guide created by Clemson Library faculty.
These resources are specifically focused on working with students during election week & in the weeks after.