What is Civic Engagement?

“Civic engagement means working to make a difference in the civic life of our communities and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values, and motivation to make that difference. It means promoting the quality of life in a community, through both political and nonpolitical processes.” – Thomas Ehrlich (Civic Responsibility and Higher Education, American Council on Education/Oryx Press, 2000, p. vi).

Read the Civic Sense QEP

Engagement Efforts

PVCC consistently receives national recognition for its civic engagement efforts to increase voter engagement and registration among students. Recent civic activities have included nonpartisan voter registration drives, a Congressional debate and ongoing voting awareness events.

For a fourth time, PVCC has earned "Voter Friendly Campus" designation. This honor is valid through December 2024. Created in 2016, the Voter Friendly Campus initiative is the result of a partnership between the Campus Vote Project and professional organization NASPA, Student Affairs Professionals in Higher Education. Read about this most recent accomplishment.

PVCC is repeatedly recognized as a leader in the "ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge" and received the 2022 "ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting" designation. PVCC is also on the honor roll of Washington Monthly's annual college rankings and is named "One of America's Best Colleges for Student Voting.