Though the COVID-19 crisis has impacted our ability to do this work in-person, we remain committed to supporting student learning and civic preparedness via E2020.
The deadline for the upcoming summer cycle is now May 22, 2020 (11:59pm).
Only proposals for remote support of civic engagement efforts will be reviewed unless social distancing restrictions are lifted before the application deadline.  Proposals will be reviewed and award decisions will be made on a rolling basis.
If you have questions about what remote work could look like, please see our examples below or contact engage@wesleyan.edu.

Wesleyan Engage 2020

The Wesleyan Engage 2020 (E2020) initiative is a comprehensive university effort to support student learning via civic engagement and liberal arts education. E2020 is open to and encourages participation regardless of political affiliations or stances on specific issues.

Wesleyan University has a long history of supporting student engagement in the public sphere. Wesleyan’s Civic Action Plan sets goals for building civic preparedness among students, faculty, and staff and for enhancing the University’s role in public life.

CSPL 494

Participants will enroll in CSPL494 through pre-registration for the semester of the break (Fall and Spring) or following the break (Winter and Summer).  This quarter credit course will include orientation, structured reflection, and a final paper.

Funding Support

Participants can apply to the E2020 Fund for costs associated with doing remote work, such as phone and internet services. Applications will be assessed based on the degree to which they address the educational value inherent in civic engagement on contentious matters, as well as according to the reasonableness of proposed budgets. Applications will not be evaluated on the political nature of specific causes, which are chosen and pursued wholly according to the interests of individual participants.

Students can apply for funding support for Summer Session or work during the semester.

The Summer Application is now closed.

• The E2020 Team will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis. Funding is limited, so we recommend applying soon. 
  • Expect to hear from the team within two weeks of submission. 
• The final deadline for applications is Friday, May 22, 2020. 

Ideas for Remote Civic Engagement

• Contact a campaign, advocacy organization, or voter registration group to see how you can support them remotely
  • Phonebanking and texting voters and elected officials are needed now more than ever
• Join a remote Get Out The Vote effort like Turnout Nation – started by Mark Mullen ’89, P’23
• Support the civic engagement of your peers
  • Create a social media campaign to show Wesleyan students how to register to vote
  • Send text blasts to your friend groups reminding them to vote
• Become a CEEP Engagement Fellow
• Host a virtual civic engagement event
  • Reach out to your local elected officials to talk about topics relevant to young people 
  • Keep your peers informed about current events
• If you’d like to brainstorm any remote ideas, please contact us at engage@wesleyan.edu