---UC Santa Cruz--- External Affairs Office
The Student Union Assembly's External Affairs office works hard to preserve a quality, affordable, and accessible UC for all Californians regardless of anyone's identity. This Tumblr was created to give important updates, reports, and give key information about higher education issues, campaigns, and the student movement. If you have any questions please feel free to contact the External Vice Chair at evc.sua@gmail.com.
In Solidarity,
Nelson Cortez
External Vice Chair, SUA
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WHAT IS AB 970?
AB 970 ensures accountability and transparency from the UC Regents, who decide how much you pay and where your money goes. (See below for more detailed info) Currently, AB 970 has passed in the state assembly, and is now waiting for a vote by the state senate. Supporters of the bill need YOUR help to make sure the bill passes into law!
WHAT CAN I DO?
The office of External Affairs of the Student Union Assembly is hosting a CALL-IN/FAX-IN day to contact our representatives and ask them to support the bill.
WHERE?
Come to Quarry Plaza on Monday, February 27 to contact your representative and get some FREE NACHOS!
AB 970 ensures transparency and accountability for the state’s working families in the determination of student fee increases at the University of California (UC) system and the California State University (CSU) system. AB 970 ensures the following:
TRANSPARENCY: requires the adoption of a methodology for adjusting fees in consultation with students. In addition, the UC and CSU budgets must be drafted on the basis that any changes in student fees are in accordance with this methodology and shall specify the purposes for which any revenues derived from an increase in fees will be used.
STUDENT INVOLVEMENT: Mandates student consultation at least 90-days prior to publicly noticing a proposed increase in fees.
PUBLIC NOTICE: REquired the Regents and Trustees to include in their public notice justification for the fee increase, an analysis of impact on access, persistence and graduation of historically underrepresented students and low-to-middle income students with a description of mitigation measures, and an explanation of how student fee revenue will be used.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: Requires a 60-day comment period prior to acting on any proposed fee increase, in which UC and CSU encourage, solicit, and receive public comments on the proposed increase in fees. The comments, with appropriate responses to each of the comments, shall be made available to the public at least 10 days to the meeting at which the Regents or the Trustees propose to adopt the increase in fees.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION: Any fee increase would not become effective before a minimum of six months have elapsed after adoption.
FINANCIAL AID: Codifies existing policy that no less than 33% of student fee revenue shall be set aside for institutional student aid. Additionally requires notification of the availability of student financial aid.
ACCOUNTABILITY: Requires UC and CSU to report expenditures for revenues derived from fees, institutional financial aid and information regarding the total cost of education per student Tasks the Legislative Analyst to review the UC and CSU reports and make recommendations to the Legislature. The Student Aid Commission shall also provide a report for the policies and interaction of various financial aid programs -
Higher education cannot be a luxury. It’s an economic imperative that every family in America should be able to afford.President Obama, State of the Union Address
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Introduced by Representative Mike Feuer of the 42nd District
What is AB 1436?
- Currently, individuals who are eligible to vote must submit a voter affidavit at least fifteen days prior to an election, which unnecessarily hinders voter participation. Only 44.1% of eligible voters in California participated in the 2010 election.
- AB 1436 addresses California’s low voter participation rate through the creation of a conditional voter registration process which would provide for same-day registration and voting.
- AB1436 would allow eligible individuals to register to vote as late as the day of an election, and cast a conditional ballot that will be counted once county officials are able to verify an individual’s eligibility.
- There are ten states that already allow for same-day voter registration, and all but one of those states have a higher voter percentage than that of California. After implementing same-day registration, the state of North Carolina saw an 8% increase in voter turnout in the 2008 presidential election.
How will this bill effect students?
- This bill will increase voter registration, especially among students, which would lead to elected officials that are responsive to students’ needs, an issue that takes on even more importance in the current budgetary climate.
What is the position of the University of California Student Association?
- UCSA supports AB 1436. It has been a UCSA campaign to put same-day voter registration into effect in California.
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UC Student Lobby Conference (SLC) brings the membership together to lobby at the State Capitol on legislation related to higher education issues. Legislative priorities for these visits are based on the campaigns chosen at Congress. SLC provides opportunities to build member lobbying skills, refine student testimonials, and directly engage elected officials to support higher education.
SAVE THE DATE
- WHAT: UCSA’s 10th Annual UC Student Lobby Conference (SLC)
- WHEN:March 2-4, 2012 & March and Press Conference March 5
- WHERE: Woodlake Hotel (formerly known as the Sacramento Radisson), 500 Leisure Lane, Sacramento
- DETAILS: Spend 3 nights and 3 days at the Sacramento Radisson; attend workshops that will teach you, how to effectively lobby your legislators; hear inspirational speakers; march to the Capitol; and lobby legislators in the Capitol.
- MARCH ON THE CAPITOL:On Monday, March 5, we are partnering with thousands of CSU and community college students in a massive march from Raley Field (400 Ball Park Drive, West Sacramento) to the California State Capitol Mall to rally against cuts to higher education. After the March we will lobby legislators in the Capitol.
- COSTS: FREE for accepted UCSC students!!!
The deadline to apply is FRIDAY FEBRUARY 10 so don’t wait - apply today!
APPLICATION—> https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHpRakJkWHVMQ3FyUjNXdnlQNTRfZUE6MQ -
Are you DTF?
Down to fund the state of California? Join the UCSC SUA for a week of action to raise awareness about the state budget and how its effecting UC students.
January 24: “Teach the Budget” Teach-In from 12-3 at Science Hill and Quarry Plaza. Learn about the basics of the state budget, and how students are being short-changed by their elected officials.
January 25: Proposition 13 Teach-In - learn how corporations are dodging billions of dollars in property taxes every year. Come learn about your UC Regents too!
January 26: Spray paint your very own DTF t-shirt from 12-3 at the Quarry Plaza. The first 30 shirts are free! Then come join us for a Beat Down the Budget drum circle from 6-8pm at Kresge Town Hall!
January 27: Are you majoring in student debt? Come share your experiences at Quarry Plaza from 12-3. Then join the Student Labor Action Project at their ‘Horrible Bosses’ confessional booth. Snacks will be provided!
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We are going to raise tuition for everRegent Blum at the UC Regent’s meeting discussing the 4-year proposal to raise fees by 16% every year if the state does not provide adequate funding.
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UC Regents will be doing a review of the other University Chancellors about raising UC Chancellor Compensation to make it more competitive in this world market. This is headed by Regent Varner, who says that they do way too much work for the amount that they get compensated, Regent Lansing (Chair of the Board) Agrees that we need to re-look at how we preserve the quality of education and having competitive compensation for Chancellors is important.
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The UC office of the President is proposing this year a 4 year plan that will increase UC tuition up to 16%, depending on how much the State funds/or doesnt fund the UC. This proposal is said, by the Office of the President, that will create a general plan for the UC to increase the stability and sustainability of the UC. According to them, it will increase political leverage, it will give Parents an opportunity to plan ahead, it will ensure programs, faculty, etc. that there is a plan for funding regardless of what it is, giving more assurance to those hesitant in joining the UC.
There are a lot of concerns on behalf of students that will be address in the next couple of months as the Regents Discuss them. One of them is this Proposal seems and it is a way of institutionalizing Fee Increases for the next 4 years. Students should be able to voice there concerns with fee increases EVERY YEAR there is a proposal to increase Fees, this completely shuts students voice down.
The Vote is projected to be in January or March, and discussion on this item will be Tomorrow during the Regents Meeting.
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The second and real part of the CA DREAM Act passed through the Assembly floor today and onto Governor Brown’s Desk to sign or veto. Students, educators, and human rights groups across the state, and country really, are hoping that Gov. Brown will fulfill his promise and sign it into LAW by the end of the Legislative Season.
It is IMPERATIVE that we continue pressuring the Governor to sign the DREAM Act. The TIME IS NOW, and we need to ACT!
Please Call the Govenor’s office at 916.445.2841 and just tell his office staff that we urge Governor Brown to sign the DREAM Act.
You can always send him an email at the following link. -> Email Gov. Brown Here
Please let all your friends and family know!! THIS IS REAL PEOPLE… WE NEED IT TO PASS TODAY!!!
