Oberlin Initiative in Electoral Politics

The Oberlin Initiative in Electoral Politics (OIEP) provides academic and experiential learning opportunities for students with a strong interest in campaigns and elections. The Cole Scholars Program is the core component of the OIEP and runs during presidential and congressional election years. Interested students apply to the program in the fall before each election year. Those who are selected then take a “Studies in Electoral Politics” seminar before doing an eight-week summer field research placement on a political campaign. Students then return in the fall to take a “Projects in Electoral Politics” seminar, in which they write a major research paper that draws on insights from the placement in light of the academic literature on campaigns and elections. The OIEP also brings to campus campaign experts and researchers who conduct workshops and give talks to the general campus community.