Campus Reports: Northridge

California State University, Northridge serves approximately 35,000 students, with a campus community that strives to offer an affordable, accessible and quality education with a pleasant environment for student life. The Associated Students is an auxiliary organization of the university and recognized student government that represents the student body, advocates students’ needs and defends students’ interests in dealing with faculty, campus administrators and government officials. Furthermore, AS provides a series of programs to improve the quality of student life including AS SPACE, Recycling Services, Children’s Center and Recreation Sports.

Key Accomplishments

Improving Academic Advising: It has been an AS priority to help with the growing problem of an overloaded advisement program. In fall 2007, CSU Northridge will be launching a database that will assist in answering advisement inquiries. In-person advisors will continue to assist in the planning of a student’s academic year and assist with other student inquiries. If the question that a student asks is not in the database, then it will be e-mailed to an advisor. The advisor will then respond within 48 hours, and the answer will be added into the database. Ultimately, AS is partnering with the university to create an instant messaging advisement system through our Web portal.

Assisting With the Longevity of Clubs and Organizations: This year, AS in collaboration with the Matador Involvement Center has created an officer transition workshop. The workshop aims to help ease the transition of leadership in clubs and organizations and keep them growing and not fading away.

Student Advocacy: AS has been in the process of rebuilding the AS Advocacy Team. Key legislative targets of AS included AB 2813, AB 302 and SB 160, all of which are related to the affordability of higher education. AB 2813 was by far the most successful of the three drives held—the AS collected over 250 letters from the student body.

Voter Registration: AS held a highly successful voter registration and education campaign, with over 200 students registered in the Los Angeles area. AS also distributed over 300 voter guides to students, staff and faculty. This campaign was one of the most successful AS has experienced in years.

Growing Recycling Program: AS expanded the amount of recycling bins on campus in classrooms, businesses and offices. During American Recycles Day, AS collected of 2,000 pledge cards, far exceeding its goal of 1,000 pledges.