ABSTRACT
Community colleges, often referred to as “democracy’s colleges,” serve a vital and underappreciated role in both our system of public higher education, as well as the functioning of our democratic system. At Miami Dade College (MDC) we have embraced this role. With more than 100,000 students and eight campuses, MDC is one of the largest institutions of higher education in the United States, serving a majority of students of color, students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, first-generation students, and students requiring remedial courses. In 2020, MDC implemented the most comprehensive, successful, college-wide voter engagement effort in the institution’s history. MDC prides itself on producing civically engaged leaders, but recognizes that there are gaps when it comes to empowering students in their participatory roles in civic life.
