Dr. Donald Generals, President of the Community College of Philadelphia, was recently announced as a recipient of the 2021 Standout College President/Chancellor Award by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. 

The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge is a national initiative that empowers colleges and universities to achieve excellence in nonpartisan student democratic engagement.

He was recognized for his leadership in helping college students improve nonpartisan civic learning, political engagement and voter participation. 

“This award does not only reflect my vision of a more civically engaged campus, but the efforts of the entire college community in doing their part to see that vision become a reality,” said Dr. Generals.

CCP features an Institute for Community Engagement and Civic Leadership, which Generals credits for its work and programming.

This includes its year-round #CCPVotes initiative that helps students get registered to vote, provides students with information explaining the importance of civic engagement, and the long-term impact voting can have on communities and the entire nation.  

“Under the leadership of Dr. David E. Thomas, our vice president of Strategic Initiatives and Community Engagement, our #CCPVotes initiative is intentional in presenting our students with solutions to the issues they see first-hand in their communities,” said Generals.

The Institute for Community Engagement and Civic Leadership also hosts a number of timely and relevant programming that keeps students, faculty and staff aware of what is at stake for each election cycle. 

“They are intentional in educating our community on how simple and accessible it is to cast their vote. This includes hosting voter registration drives, setting up voter education stations across campus and having one-on-one conversations with anyone who is skeptical about the importance of voting,” he added. 

According to ALL IN, the 2020 presidential election engaged the largest and most diverse group of college students in U.S history, and more than 840 institutions enrolling close to 9 million students participated in the ALL IN Challenge.

In addition, 66% of college students voted in the 2020 election, according to a report from the Institute for Democracy and Higher Education. This represents a 14-point increase from 2016. 

During the 2021 ALL IN Awards Ceremony on Nov. 8, CCP was also awarded a Bronze Seal for its participation in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge and reaching up to 60% student voter participation.

Generals was one of two recipients for the 2021 Standout College President/Chancellor Award, with Fayneese Miller, president of Hamline University, being the other.