Over 35 years of student advocacy

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University of California Student Association

• Over 35 years of student advocacy

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UCSAs Mission

• To advance higher education by empowering
  current and future students to advocate for the
  accessibility, affordability, and quality of the
  University of California system.

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What is UCSA?

• Systemwide coalition of student associations
• 19 dues paying members elect representatives to
  the Board of Directors who collectively set goals
  and direction for UCSA
• Each association may appoint a Campus Organizing
  Director and Legislative Liaison to serve on the
  Board
• Each Board member is responsible for organizing
  their own campus around systemwide campaigns 10
  campuses working toward the same state and
  systemwide goals
• Student run education nonprofit 5 full-time staff
• Board of Directors set policy and develop
  campaigns
• Full time Lobbyist in Sacramento, Executive
  Director, Organizing Communications Director,
  University Affairs Director, Field Organizer,
  part-time admin assistant, student interns
• Staff provide support for Board members,
  research, trainings, campaign materials, develop
  website database and coordinate work with
  allied organizations, admin Regents

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Why Do Students Need UCSA?

• To provide a unified student voice on systemwide
  issues. Students need a permanent strong
  systemwide association because issues of
  affordability, access, quality will always be
  concerns.
• UCSA is the officially recognized voice for
  students at the systemwide level where many
  important decisions are made affecting your
  constituents.
• To pool resources and money, turnout greater
  numbers, share information, and build student
  power systemwide.
• To win state and systemwide victories.
  Individual associations alone can not effectively
  sway the Board of Regents, or the legislature and
  have little impact statewide elections.
• Full-time staff increase capacity and resources
  full time lobbyist, field organizers, research,
  media, fundraising, website, developing
  relationships with allies, Regents, legislators,
  coalition partners

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Representation for Members

• Officially recognized voice of UC students to
  Legislature, Governor, Regents, Office of the
  President, Systemwide Academic Senate
• Access to University Officials
• Regent Meeting Whiteliners
• Student Regent Selection
• Systemwide Committee Appointments
• Collective Bargaining Program

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UCSA Accomplishments

• Halted elimination of Academic Prep by joining
  with two other public interest non-profits to sue
  Governor for illegal mid-year budget cut (2003)
• Through UCSA, UC professional students sued
  Regents, successfully refunding up to 6,000 to
  individual professional students
• Fee Freeze for 7 years in a row, 2 yrs rollbacks
  1990s
• Worked in coalition to win victories on many
  issues
• Domestic Partnership benefits for faculty and
  staff Sweat-Free UC Code of Conduct UC Green
  Building Policy

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Recent UCSA Victories

• Governor Fee Freeze 2006-07
• Governor 75 million buyout of UC fee increases
  due to a meeting in December with UCSA leaders,
  freeze will save students hundreds of dollars
  next year
• Increase Financial Aid (33 Return to Aid) 2005
• RTA is set aside from fee increases to
  University Grants
• Secured 40 Million for Graduate Financial Aid
  2005
• Established Student Vote Project 2006
• Also raised 5,000 in donations for materials
  for Nov 2005 election
• Online Legislative Action Tool 2005
• Over 1,000 contacts get action alerts, updates,
  and newsletters website includes board meeting
  info, UCSActivist Toolkit UCSA Press Center
• 2005 State Budget Victories
• Saved Grad students 1038 in fee hikes
• Restored over 300 million to UC budget
• Restored 29.3 million to UC outreach
• Restored funding for redirected students

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2005-06 Action Agenda
The Action Agenda is democratically chosen by
delegates of member associations at the annual UC
Student Congress held in July.

• Build Student Electoral Power
• Freeze UC Systemwide Fees
• Restore Academic Prep Funding

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UCSA Student Vote Project
Building Student Electoral Power

• Institutionalize Voter Registration on campus
• Voter Education
• Statewide Candidate Survey
• Legislative Scorecard
• Non-partisan UCSA Voter Guide
• Get Out the Vote
• Goal increase student voter turnout by 5
• Work with Secretary of State and Voter Registrar
  to increase access early voting

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State of the Budget TodayGovernors Budget
2006-07
WON FEE FREEZE

• 75 million buyout UC fee hikes. Saving
  students hundreds of dollars next year
• 491 Undergraduate
• 689 Graduate
• 497 - 2,239 Professional
• Lowest Nursing Highest Boalt Law

Academic Preparation Cut
John Laird, Assembly Budget Committee Chair, UCSA
Lobby Day Press Conference
17.3 million cut to academic preparation
programs zero funded
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Affordability Victories 2005-06

• Introduced ACR 34 The Student Compact sponsored
  by the Assembly Higher Ed Committee
• Regents Vote to restore 33 RTA
• Secured 40 million for graduate financial aid
  from efficiency savings
• Released 2006 ACCESS YEARBOOK on affordability
• Organized 200 students to November Regents
  meeting
• Over 100 lobby visits systemwide, meeting with
  Governors office, direct meetings with UC Regents

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Academic Prep Funding Campaign

• Systemwide in district lobby visits
• UC Student Lobby Day
• UCSA Access Yearbook
• Online Action Alerts
• Statewide Coalition with Cal State Student
  Association (CSSA) and Community College Student
  Asso.
• Meetings with legislative leadership

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Support the UC Student Movement

• Get involved in UCSA campaigns lobbying
• Come to a UCSA board meeting on your campus
• Represent students on a committee or as
  whiteliner
• Support UCSA through membership dues

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UCSA Membership Dues
More resources equals increased visibility
capacity

• Website development and maintenance, quarterly
  newsletter, membership database, monthly UCSA
  email updates
• Campus visits to support organizing, lobbying
  provide trainings to members
• Professional printing like the Access Yearbook,
  brochures, voter guides, legislative materials,
  postcards, and for props and signs
• Interns to increase media research capacity

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University of California Student Association

• Over 35 years of student advocacy