The new Tufts Campaign School is a six-day course in the winter term designed to train students about political campaigns ahead of the 2020 election
The 2020 election is fast approaching, and campaigns are heating up. Now students can learn more about political campaigns—to work on them or simply understand the process better—with the new Tufts Campaign School, being offered during the winter term in early January.
The Tufts Campaign School offers students a chance to learn how campaigns work via faculty-led sessions, visits from expert guest speakers, and skill-building workshops. Students will attend a series of campaign events in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, including a visit to several presidential campaign headquarters in New Hampshire, just one month before the presidential primary there.
During these trips, students will get a real-life look at how political campaigns function and will be able to network with campaign leaders, reporters, past candidates, and Tufts alumni involved in campaigns.
The program runs from January 5 to 11 as part of the first-ever Tufts University winter term run by Tufts’ University College. The six-day course—open to undergraduate students from Tufts and other colleges and universities—will train participants to be interns or staffers on political campaigns.
Through the Tisch College of Civic Life, students will participate in field work and learn about voter outreach, recruiting volunteers, and building engagement strategies. Also on the syllabus are lessons on data analysis and polling, how to engage with the media, and how to communicate campaign messaging effectively.
By the end of the week, students will produce a digital portfolio of work, including polling analysis, written speeches, campaign talking points, and social media strategies.
The program will be led by Jessica Byrnes, program administrator at Tisch College, and Brian Schaffner, Newhouse Professor of Civic Studies. Other faculty and alumni leaders will be announced later. The application process opened September 15 and closes on November 18. Tufts students may apply during a priority round that closes on October 21.
Visit the Tufts Campaign School website for more information, including cost and application requirements.
Angela Nelson can be reached at angela.nelson@tufts.edu.
