American Democracy Project

Innovations in Democracy

A grant-funded summer cohort where faculty and staff build knowledge of democratic innovations and apply their learning through action-oriented student projects. 

Apply by May 15.

 

Democracy works better when its citizens understand how it works. Build your capacity to help students understand, engage with, and improve democracy.

Colleges and universities play a central role in preparing students for democratic participation. That’s why AASCU created Innovations in Democracy, a grant-funded summer faculty and staff cohort supported by Unite America. Participants will learn about new, nonpartisan approaches to democracy and develop campus-based projects.

During summer 2026, selected faculty and staff will learn about democratic innovations such as ranked choice voting, primary election reform, participatory governance, and other approaches designed to strengthen fair representation. Through expert-led sessions, peer exchange, and individual project coaching, participants will connect these ideas to their teaching or cocurricular civic activities. 

By the end of the summer, participants will develop a concrete, actionable project plan tailored to their campus. Projects will launch fall 2026 to create opportunities for students to promote civic learning about democratic innovations and practices.  

Grounded in intentional design and sustained learning, Innovations in Democracy supports campuses in translating democratic ideas into concrete action that strengthens student learning and engagement. 

Who should participate:

Faculty and staff who have:

  • A genuine interest in how democratic systems shape citizen participation and representation
  • An interest in introducing nonpartisan democratic innovations into the classroom, co-curriculum, or campus community
  • A readiness to engage in virtual professional learning during June and July 2026
  • An interest in developing a concrete, implementable campus project beginning fall 2026
  • A willingness to share insights and resources with the broader AASCU community

Benefits of participation:

  • A stronger understanding of nonpartisan democratic innovation concepts and practices
  • Support to develop a campus-based project proposal focused on student learning or engagement
  • Connection to a national peer learning community committed to strengthening democracy
  • $1,000 summer stipend for faculty and staff accepted to the summer cohort
  • Mini-grants up to $1,500 to support approved cohort project activities that occur during fall 2026

Applications are due on May 15.

Apply now.

What to Expect
  • Apr. 15: Applications open
  • May 15: Applications due
  • May 29: Applicants notified
  •  June 11, June 29, and July 28: Summer learning sessions
  • Aug. 15: Campus project plan due

Applications will include the following information: 

  1. Name, title, institution, department/unit, email 
  2. What civic learning, democratic engagement, or community-focused work are you currently involved in or responsible for on your campus? (100-150 words) 
  3. What interests you about democratic innovations (such as primary election reform, ranked choice voting, participatory governance, or citizen assemblies), and why do you want to explore them at this point in your work? (150-200 words) 
  4. Describe a preliminary idea for a campus-based project or class-based initiative you might like to develop through the cohort. (150-200 words)
    Note: This can be an early or exploratory idea and does not need to be fully formed and may change as you engage in the program. 
  5. Acknowledgements:  
    1. I am able to attend the virtual learning sessions on June 11, June 29, and July 28 
    2. I am able to start implementation of project fall 2026 
  6. Required attachments: 
    1. Current CV or resume 
    2. Current course syllabus if for a course-based project 
    3. Letter of support from department chair (faculty) or supervisor (staff) [submitted separately] 
Apply now.
Frequently Asked Questions

The cohort is designed for faculty and staff at AASCU institutions who are already working in civic learning or civic engagement and want to explore new democratic approaches to strengthen their work. Faculty and staff from all disciplines and focus areas are encouraged to apply.

No. While participants should have experience in civic engagement, prior knowledge of democratic innovations is not required. What we’re looking for are educators and practitioners who are passionate about civic engagement, curious about democratic reform, and excited to bring new learning to their students and campus communities. 

Participants are required to attend three 90-minute virtual professional development sessions and one-on-one coaching during June–July 2026 and develop a campus– or course-based project plan to pilot during the 2026–27 academic year. 

Yes. Cohort participants receive a $1,000 summer stipend and mini-grants ($500-$1,500) are available to support approved project activities that take place in fall 2026.

Cohort sessions will be led by leading scholars and practitioners in electoral systems, democratic theory, and civic engagement. We will explore topics such as:

  • Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) and how it works
  • Single Transferable Vote (STV) and proportional representation
  • Alternatives to direct primaries (Top-Four, Top-Two, nonpartisan blanket primaries)
  • Automatic voter registration and vote-by-mail
  • Multi-member districts and geographic representation
  • Campaign finance reform: limits, disclosure, and party involvement
  • Citizen assemblies and participatory governance
  • Emerging civic technology and participatory tech tools

Projects should support student learning about democratic innovations. The following are examples of the kinds of activities that cohort members might develop—we encourage creativity and adaptation to your own institutional context:

  • Host a Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) or Single Transferable Vote (STV) simulation using a real or hypothetical campus election, with live vote-counting and debrief discussion
  • Organize an Electoral Policy Challenge where student teams design and pitch innovative solutions to democratic reform challenges over 24–48 hours
  • Launch a podcast or video series featuring interviews with AASCU faculty experts on democratic reform topics, scripted and produced with students
  • Create and deploy infographic lesson plan suites on RCV, STV, and plurality voting for use in political science, sociology, or civic engagement courses
  • Organize a screening of the film Majority Rules, followed by a structured campus dialogue or student panel
  • Develop an Augmented Reality (AR) or interactive digital experience to help students visualize how vote transfers work in RCV and STV systems
  • Launch a campus #InnovateDemocracy social media challenge with short student-produced explainer videos on electoral reform topics
  • Coordinate a student-led deliberative forum or capstone project resulting in policy briefs or multimedia advocacy campaigns

Yes. Cohort members are expected to attend the full series. The summer stipend is an acknowledgement of the time necessary to participate.

No. The project can continue through spring 2027, but should begin the fall. Mini-grants are only available for activities that occur fall 2026.

Program Partner

Unite America

Questions about the Innovating Democracy program? Let us know.

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