Applied Learning Resources: Post Election Resources

This resource has been updated from the 2020 version that was developed by the Students Learn Students Vote (SLSV) Coalition’s Resources and Support Working Group, and Ask Every Student.
The framework for this resource was developed in October of 2020 when over 100 stakeholders – primarily campus administrators and faculty members – in the nonpartisan student voting space came together to ideate around the question, “How might we prepare to support campus stakeholders in processing and responding to a tumultuous post-election season?” This document is a synthesis of their ideas for how best to address that challenge with information updated to fit the context of the 2024 election. We’ve provided helpful resources that can support you and your community in enacting these ideas, though this is by no means an exhaustive list.
The 2024 version of this resource was developed by the SLSV Coalition and the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN). We’d like to also thank and acknowledge Nancy Thomas, Senior Advisor to the President of AAC&U and Executive Director of the Institute for Democracy & Higher Education (IDHE) for her input.

An eight-part module. “At the conclusion of this module, participants will be able to:
Know the types of habits and tools that shape active and engaged communities and workplaces.
Understand ways to identify and work inclusively with others.
Better identify civic issues and their own civic passion.
Develop a deeper recognition and appreciation for community stakeholders.
Better understand the complexities and power of communities.”

This document provides step-by-step planning strategies, sample language for tone-setting, question banks to invite conversation, and insight on navigating common obstacles that arise during election-related conversations. Starting on page 19, find tips for classroom conversation obstacles!

This guide was prepared by Center for Engaged Pedagogy Graduate Assistant Joscelyn Jurich and updated by Lizz Melville, Graduate Assistant, Research and Evaluation, Center for Engaged Pedagogy. Media reports have described the recent US midterm elections as critical to the country’s fragile democracy in the face of recent political violence. These and other US elections exist, of course, in the context of crucial international elections with implications that impact students, instructors, and the general populace worldwide. In the lead up to the 2020 presidential election, the CEP created our Presidential Election Discussions in the Online Classroom guide to help support conversations about the US presidential election and its potential aftermath. Since then, teaching and learning has moved almost fully in-person and the political climate in the US has changed significantly since the period before, during, and after the last US presidential election. To address these shifts in both national and teaching contexts, we offer these suggestions, adapted from our 2020 guide, for instructors seeking to create spaces in their classroom communities that allow for generative and sensitive discussions of elections and post-election contexts.

This guide provides an overview on:
Acknowledging the Significance of Elections
Acknowledging Multiple Perspectives and Experience
Acknowledging the Role of Constructive Dialogue

Seven considerations for preparing for an election.

Describes seven planning considerations and methods for discussing the election in class.

This "morning after" guide, created by the Institute for Democracy & Higher Education and AAC&U. This resource provides ideas for preparing for and managing “the morning after” on college campuses—the days and weeks following Election Day. We present seven topics for consideration, each followed by links to relevant examples and resources. This document also clarifies who should act. Combined, the ideas call for compassion, courage, and commitment from the entire campus community.

Provides post election content on:
General Tips
Understanding Your Role
Facilitating the conversation
Faculty Self-Care

Whether you’re talking with students or family members who disagree with you, or friends who can only think about the worst-case scenario, election conversations can be super stressful. Use these tips to stay calm and feel confident and comfortable in your conversations!

Togetherall has created some post election supports for faculty to share with students. Togetherall is a confidential, anonymous, peer to peer support site with many students internationally participating. It is available to FIT students at no additional cost. There are mental health professionals behind the scenes monitoring the site’s content but this is not an emergency service.

Provides links to emotion and mental health related articles.

Psychological science shows that politics can harm our physical and mental health, but the positive aspects of political engagement can lead to greater well-being.