WASHINGTON – Ten colleges from across the nation and Jamaica will host Campaign College in 2010, a unique campus-based program that teaches women how to run for elective office. Campaign College, a collaboration of AAUW, American University's Women & Politics Institute, and Running Start, addresses the disparity between the high percentage of women in colleges and universities and their low representation in student government by encouraging women to run for campus leadership positions.
Beginning in February, AAUW, the Women & Politics Institute, and Running Start will take Campaign College to the following institutions: Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho; Loyola University, New Orleans, Louisiana; Mt. San Jacinto College, Menifee Valley, Menifee, California; Northern Michigan University, Marquette, Michigan; University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut; University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, Massachusetts; University of North Carolina, Wilmington, North Carolina; University of Texas, Arlington, Texas; University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica; and Winthrop University, Rock Hill, South Carolina.
"We often hear about how women outnumber men on college campuses; unfortunately, not nearly enough attention is focused on why so few women hold campus leadership positions," said AAUW Executive Director Linda D. Hallman, CAE. "We must continue to cultivate the next generation of women leaders, not only because it’s the right thing to do but also because we know that women leaders can play an effective role in our advancement as a nation."
"We are working to build a greater pipeline of women who will potentially run for elected office. Campaign College gives young women across the country an important experience, encouraging them to step forward and lead, whether in the classroom or the community," said Running Start President Susannah Wellford Shakow. "The benefits of these early leadership experiences are integral in the foundation they build for our future leaders."
Jennifer L. Lawless, an associate professor of government and the director of the Women & Politics Institute, said that "Campaign College plays a pivotal role in closing the gender gap in political leadership. Research consistently reveals that students who run for office in college are more likely to exhibit political ambition as adults. If we want to increase the numbers of women running for local, state, and federal offices, then we first need to increase the number of female students throwing their hats into the electoral arena on college campuses. Campaign College provides the tools to accomplish this goal."
In 2009 Campaign College was offered at Iowa State University and the University of Louisiana, Lafayette. The 2010 trainings launch the program’s nationwide expansion. Campaign College was first instituted in 2006 at American University to address a major imbalance: 62 percent of their student body was female, but women made up only 28 percent of the school’s student government. After the Campaign College program began, women’s representation increased significantly.
AAUW also co-sponsors the annual National Conference for College Women Student Leaders, now in its 25th year. The conference, which typically draws 500 attendees annually, will be held June 3–5, 2010, at the University of Maryland, College Park, and will once again feature Campaign College training. AAUW’s Student Advisory Council members, who advise AAUW on student issues and serve as campus leaders, help facilitate Campaign College during the conference.
Running Start, which is dedicated to educating and inspiring young women to participate in politics and run for office, works directly with high school, college, and young professional women to encourage them to think of themselves as political leaders.
American University's Women & Politics Institute has trained almost 400 women from Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, giving them the skills necessary to run for public office.
