Lake Michigan College Earns Prestigious ALL IN Highly Established Action Plan Seal for 2026 Election Cycle

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. – Lake Michigan College (LMC) has been awarded the Highly Established Action Plan Seal by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge for the 2026 election cycle, recognizing the college's exceptional commitment to fostering nonpartisan democratic engagement among its students. 

Led by Dr. Tiffany Bohm, Department Chair, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Education, and Faculty, Political Science, LMC earned a score of 31.5 out of a possible 36 points on the Strengthening American Democracy Action Planning Guide (SADG) Rubric. The college joins 167 campuses across the United States that have earned this recognition for the 2026 election cycle. 

The ALL IN Highly Established Action Plan Seal is awarded to colleges and universities that develop comprehensive, data-driven action plans to increase civic learning, political engagement, and voter participation among college students. Plans are evaluated across eight key areas: Executive Summary, Leadership, Commitment, Landscape, Goals, Strategy, Reporting, and Evaluation. 

“This recognition reflects Lake Michigan College’s deep commitment to preparing our students not just for careers, but for active, informed citizenship. We are proud to stand alongside institutions across the country that believe higher education has a responsibility to strengthen our democracy,” said Kris Zook, Dean, Arts & Sciences Education. 

The action planning process, guided by the Students Learn Students Vote (SLSV) Coalition’s framework, encourages institutions to build year-round civic engagement cultures that endure beyond individual election cycles. Campuses that deeply institutionalize these efforts have consistently demonstrated higher student voter turnout rates compared to less engaged institutions.

Lake Michigan College’s action plan includes comprehensive, continuous, integrated, equitable, and inclusive strategies. The plan addresses voter registration, voter education, voter mobilization, and long-term institutionalization of civic engagement at the college.

Action plans submitted to the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge are evaluated on a four-level rubric ranging from Undeveloped to Established. LMC’s score places it firmly in the highest tier, reflecting strengths in coalition leadership, commitment from senior administration, data-informed goal setting, and a robust evaluation strategy that goes beyond basic voter data to include broader engagement metrics.

About Lake Michigan College
Lake Michigan College is a comprehensive community college serving Berrien County and surrounding communities from its main campus in Benton Harbor, Michigan. LMC offers associate degrees, certificates, and workforce training programs designed to help students reach their academic and career goals. For more information, visit lakemichigancollege.edu.

About ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge
The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge empowers colleges and universities to achieve excellence in nonpartisan student civic engagement. Working with more than 1,000 campuses nationwide, ALL IN provides structure, support, and recognition to institutions improving civic learning, voting participation, and ongoing engagement in democracy. Learn more at allinchallenge.org.