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Celebrating our rights on Constitution Day 2026

Constitution Day events on Sept. 16 at URI to feature opportunities for civic participation and community involvement on campus and off

American Flag waving against a blue sky
A Volunteer and Community Engagement Fair will be held outside URI’s Memorial Union on Sept. 16. (URI Photos / Nora Lewis)

KINGSTON, R.I. – Sept. 14, 2026 – The University of Rhode Island is celebrating Constitution Day on Wednesday, Sept. 16, giving students the chance to explore topics surrounding the United States’ founding document and engage with the larger Rhode Island community prior to national Constitution Day.

A Volunteer & Community Engagement Fair will be held outside the Memorial Union from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., where local nonprofit and government organizations will offer information for students on internship and volunteer opportunities, and more. Students are invited to stop by to hear from employers in healthcare, education, and civil service, and organizations looking to hire employees in community-oriented fields.

Students can also learn more about opportunities for civic involvement and career opportunities by making an appointment to see their Career Education Specialist.

The Rhode Island Secretary of State’s office will also return to campus, with team members speaking to students in URI political science classes in Swan Hall Auditorium. Special guests Rob Rock ’05 ’14, Rhode Island deputy Secretary of State, and Nick Edwards, elections information coordinator, will talk to students about the U.S. Constitution and how they can play a role in democracy as new voters.

Rock and Edwards will speak in Swan Hall Auditorium to students in PSC113 (Intro to American Politics) on voting in Rhode Island and the importance of celebrating and understanding our Constitution. After class, they’ll head to the Memorial Union sidewalk to speak to students, while students in PSC 113 will share Constitution information at the Expo. The South County League of Women Voters will also be on hand, distributing information on voting rights and the voter registration process. FloURIsh Fest is also taking place on the URI Quad.

“This is going to be a really fun civic-based day,” said Alicia Vignali Henry, coordinator of community engagement in URI’s Center for Career and Experiential Education, which is hosting the fair.

If students want to learn more about networking or opportunities for civic-oriented internships or jobs, Henry says they can reach out to their Career Education Specialist to make an appointment to learn more about careers and experiential opportunities across a range of majors and fields. Drop-in sessions in Roosevelt Hall are also available.

For more information, contact Alicia Vignali Henry at alicia.vignalihenry@uri.edu, 401-874-2568.