Now, more than ever, there is attention to the field of election administration and the people who keep the nation’s democracy – and the voting systems that support it – running, and running well.
Last summer, I was pleased to announce that the University of Minnesota had approved an online Certificate in Election Administration, which would allow students to complete a program of courses culminating in a Regents-approved graduate certificate. Courses are offered entirely online, with weekly self-paced assignments and discussions leading to a final paper, project or exam.
The program is aimed at three communities of people:
- Current election administrators who seek to expand or deepen their knowledge of the field, especially those who seek to place their state/local experience into a larger national and theoretical framework [NOTE: We know that this fall is likely not the best time for many of you, but going forward we can offer group rates for jurisdictions or other organizations who enroll 5 or more students];
- Present or future graduate students in public administration or other disciplines who wish to use the skills they’re developing to help form the next generation of election administrators nationwide; and
- Professionals in other fields – law, design, information technology, journalism, etc. – who are interested in bringing their skills and experiences to the field of elections and want to put them into context and/or who wish to gain a deeper understanding of election administration as part of their ”day jobs”.
We are also deeply interested in finding ways to reach students interested in civic engagement – particularly those from traditionally-underrepresented communities, where training and education in election administration becomes not only the basis for a lifelong career but a means to making the profession look more like the population of voters it serves.
Registration is now open for students nationwide for Fall 2016 for three courses…