Accepting Applications: Elect Her - Campus Women Win

The 113th Congress may boast a record-breaking 20 female senators, but that still isn't quite near 50/50. To get more women on the congressional or presidential path, we've got to start sooner and begin more locally. AAUW and Running Start are partnering with the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities to host the Elect Her - Campus Women Win training to support college women in running for student government positions in their universities. Know a young women who you want to ask to run? Be her first vote and nominate her to participate or encourage her to apply directly!

Elect Her - Campus Women Win

Introduction

Elect Her-Campus Women Win is a 4.5 hour training that is held on campuses and that teaches college women how to run for and win student government positions at their institutions such as the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.  The training covers skills such as how to mobilize a constituency, how to craft a message, and how to speak confidently and present oneself as a candidate.  Outside experts and current and former student government officials speak to participants about their experiences and what they have learned from running for office. 

In addition to leadership training through Elect Her-Campus Women Win, we want to provide more college women the valuable experience of running for and serving on student government because there is a clear connection between service in student government and future political service.

Sponsored by AAUW and Running Start, the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities has been selected as one of 39 sites on college campuses across the country to host this training this year.  In conjunction with its partners, the Women’s Center is pleased to have the opportunity to bring this training to the University of Minnesota.  It is an exciting time for women in politics; as a result of this past election there will be more women in Congress than ever before.  Still, there is much work to be done.  We believe it can happen here, right at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. 

Overview

Participants in this training are women who are interested or have considered running for student government.  It is NOT expected that participants have prior political experience; that is what the training is for.  We strongly encourage women of all identities and backgrounds to apply.  We recognize that women have many other identities in addition to their gender.  It is important that women step into leadership roles to not only provide a voice for other women, but also for the other identities they might hold such as their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, ability status, religion, age and more.  This training is open to BOTH undergraduate and graduate/professional students who are interested in running for: Minnesota Student Association (MSA), Graduate and Professional Student Assembly (GAPSA), Student Senate, or other opportunities.

Elect Her-Campus Women Win will be held on Saturday, February 23, 2013 from 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. in Coffman Memorial Union.  All participants are asked to stay for the entire training.

Application

Interested students can apply online or download the application in Microsoft Word format. (please email your completed paper application towomen@umn.edu or turn into: Women's Center, 64 Appleby Hall, 128 Pleasant St. SE, Campus Delivery Code 3503, Minneapolis, MN 55455).Applications are due by midnight on Friday, February 8, 2013.

Applicants will be notified of their application status on a rolling basis.

Nomination Form

Do you have someone in mind that you think might benefit from this experience? You can nominate a student for the training at z.umn.edu/electhernom; once you submit your nomination, we will send them instructions on how to apply. Nominations are due by midnight on Friday, February 1, 2013.

Training Agenda

Check back in the coming weeks for the full schedule.

For questions or for more information, contact Sara Pennebecker at 612-625-0629 or penne048@umn.edu.