California State Student Association The CSSA Review
December 2005/January 2006 Volume I, Number 6

California Higher Education Student Summit

On March 3, 2006 through March 6, 2006 California State Student Association will host the 11th annual California Higher Education Student Summit (CHESS). CHESS offers student leaders a variety of ways to serve as active members of their respective communities with a focus in higher education. CHESS provides students with an introduction to statewide institutions, leaders, educational sessions, and grassroots organizing techniques. For seasoned leaders, CHESS offers opportunities to network, facilitate workshops, cultivate ideas, enhance skills and advocate for CSSA student issues at the state capitol.

The Certified Student Leader Program featured at CHESS is a great opportunity for students to develop their leadership skills. Students can choose between six workshop tracks to become a Certified Student Leader. CHESS conference is the only statewide leadership conference for CSU students. The Conference is held at the Double Tree Hotel in Sacramento, California. For information about CHESS go to the CSSA website at, www.csustudents.org.

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Legislative Affairs Committee Update

FINANCIAL AID REFORM

The Legislative Affairs Committee has made eliminating age discrimination in the Cal Grant Program a priority for the past two years. Committee members were disappointed when the committee chair announced at the last meeting that CSSA-sponsored legislation AB 700 (J. Horton) had died in the Assembly Appropriations committee due to the cost. Essentially, the bill would have made all needy students eligible for a Cal Grant, regardless of their age. Right now, students who take more then 18 months between high school and college have a much harder time getting Cal Grants, even if the have a very low expected family contribution.

Making financial aid available to underrepresented groups is still a priority for the committee. This issue remains a priority for the board regardless of this set back. This spring CSSA is sponsoring new legislation jointly with the CSU Board of Trustees that would:

Provide all Cal Grant B high school entitlement award recipients who enroll at four-year institutions with funds to cover tuition and fees during the initial year of their award

Double the number of Competitive Grants - from 22,500 to 45,000 - in recognition of the five-fold demand for these limited grants

Modify the age cap limitation for Cal Grant Transfer Entitlement awards from 24 to 27 years to reflect the average age of students seeking a college degree in California

As of now, CSSA and the CSU are looking for a representative to author the bill. For more information, check out the governmental relations section of the CSSA website »

LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCED

Join us in honoring our 2005 Legislator of the Year, Jerome E. Horton, Assemblyman representing the 51 st Assembly district. We wish to thank Assemblyman Horton for his consistent support of student and education issues throughout the year.

FIRST LOBBY DAY OF THE YEAR

Are you ready for CSU Student Day at the Capitol is March 6 th , 2006? It will be the Monday after the California Higher Education Student Summit (CHESS). The committee is gearing up to take Sacramento by storm, and to let legislators know that yes, students do care about politics.

 

University Affairs Committee

Enrollment Management Resolution

The University Affairs committee examined The California State University's Enrollment Management Policy and Practices, in order to understand the roles of the legislature and the CSU. The committee discussion concluded that the CSU was established as a regional education institution to service the unique regions of the State of California. The committee identified diversity as a key issue in regards to the CSU enrollment management policy, especially on impacted campuses. The resolution, introduced at the January Conference, focuses on reflecting the diversity of the local area and of teh state on impacted campuses. The committee plans to take action on the Enrollment Management Resolution in February.

Parking Equity

The community also revisited The Parking Equity Resolution passed in December. The CSU campus presidents were forwarded a copy of CSSA's parking equity resolution, and chose to take no position on the resolution. The campus presidents encourage unions to address parking as a collective bargaining unit. The president's recommendations direct the Board of Trustees in the development of the CSU legislative agenda. Therefore sponsoring a parking equity bill will not be on the Board of Trustees legislative agenda. Read the resolution »

 

Internal Affairs Committee

The Internal Affairs Committee is beginning the planning and development of the 2006-2007 budget. During the San Diego conference the IAC discussed and approved the expenditure of a partnership with the Student Empowerment Project (SEP). SEP will partner with CSSA and provide two organizers to work on behalf of the students. The IAC also evaluated the upcoming mid-year budget requests and looks forward to utilizing the mid year budget request to implement the strategic plan.

 
 

Multicultural Caucus Update

The Multicultural Caucus resolved that the current caucus structure is in fact best for the purposes of accomplishing the mission of the group in the most efficient manner possible. The Caucus and the board expressed strong sentiment about the importance of the potential work of the Caucus.

The Caucus also took action and passed a Resolution in Support of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Inter-sex Student Communities. Student leaders expressed their concern about the need to build supportive rather than hateful environments on CSU campuses. These discussions were eye opening for many students who are unaware of the struggles faced by such a large number of students. The resolution adopted recognizes these concerns and requests the administration to take proactive steps to foster a welcoming and supportive environment.

 
 

More Information
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Ideas, comments, questions? Have news or other information to share? Contact

Alexandria Cordon at acordon@calstate.edu

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