Advocating the student perspective since 1959

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• Advocating the student perspective since 1959

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California Public Post-Secondary Institutions

• University of California (UC)
• Board of Regents
• California State University (CSU)
• The Board of Trustees
• Community College (CC)
• The Board of Governors

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Student Associations(CSSA is not alone)

• United States Student Association (USSA)
• University of California Student Association
  (UCSA)
• California State Student Association (CSSA)
• Student Senate for Community Colleges (SSCC)
• Students for Californias Future

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Mission Statement

• It is the mission of the California State Student
  Association (CSSA) to maintain and enhance
  accessibility for the people of California to the
  Peoples University.
• As the single recognized voice for over 450,000
  students in the California State University
  system, CSSA is the acknowledged statewide
  student organization designed to represent, serve
  and protect the collective interests of the CSU
  Students.

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Founding History

• 1958- Student Presidents Association
• 1963- CSU Trustees recognized the Student
  Presidents Association as the official student
  voice of the CSU (3 yrs. After the CSU was formed
  and two months after the first Academic Senate
  meeting)
• 1970- Student Presidents Assoc. sponsored
  legislation to authorize student body fees to
  fund lobbyist for CSU students (Education Code
  89300, signed by Governor Reagan
• 1979- Student Presidents Association renamed
  itself to be called the California State Student
  Association.

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OUR PURPOSE

• To foster and coordinate communication among the
  campus student associations
• To bring unity in addressing campus and statewide
  issues impacting individual campuses, campus
  student associations and the CSU system.

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PURPOSE

• To officially represent the CSU students, our
  constituents at the legislative level and at the
  systemwide level.
• CSSA is officially recognized by the state
  legislature, CSU Trustees, Office of the
  Governor, California Student Aid Commission
  (CSAC), California Postsecondary Education
  Commission and all other state and federal
  agencies that develop policies affecting higher
  education.
• To appoint students to all CSU systemwide
  committees and task forces, to recommend to the
  Governor the next Student Trustee and to
  recommend to CSAC the student representative.

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Why do students need CSSA?

• 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.
• CSSA is the officially recognized voice for
  students at the systemwide level where many
  important decisions are made affecting your
  constituents.
• To pool resources, turnout greater numbers, share
  information, and build student power systemwide.
• To win state and systemwide victories.
• Full-time staff increase capacity and resources
  lobbying, organizing, research, media,
  fundraising, website, developing relationships
  with allies, trustees, legislators, coalition
  partners.

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Governing and Guiding Documents

• Governing
• Gloria Romero Open Meetings Act of 2000
• CSSA acts under the IRS code of 501(c)3
• CSSA Constitution
• CSSA Internal Policies and Procedures
• Guiding
• Roberts Rules of Order

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CSSA Funding

• CSSA depends on voluntary membership dues from
  ASIs at each campus. Each ASI pays .60 per
  student.
• (Operating expenditures from this revenue
  includes the Governmental Relations Office, CHESS
  Conference and any other legislative
  program/event)
• CSSA has a memorandum of understanding with the
  Office of the Chancellor for 189,255 per year.
• (Expenditures include, Student Travel for all
  officers, Retention Summit, Pride Clinic, Office
  of the Executive Director, Office of University
  Affairs and any other program and/or University
  Affairs event)

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ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
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Board of Directors

• The CSSA Board of Directors is comprised of two
  representatives from each CSU campus.
• The board consists of the following standing
  committees
• Executive Committee
• Internal Affairs Committee
• Legislative Affairs Committee
• University Affairs Committee
• The organization has a Multicultural Caucus to
  address higher education issues through a
  multi-cultural lens

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Officer and Liaison Positions

• Executive Officers
• President, Chair , Vice President of University
  Affairs, Vice President of Legislative Affairs
  and Vice President of Finance
• Liaison Positions
• CSU Academic Senate Liaison
• CSU Alumni Council Liaison
• Officer Positions
• Speaker, Multicultural Caucus
• Chief of Staff
• Environmental Affairs Officer
• Financial Aid Officer
• Lobby Corps Officer
• Technology Officer
• Elections Officer

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Executive Committee

• Functions Review, research and make
  recommendations on, but not limited to the CSSA
  budget, policies and procedures, personnel
  matters, constitution and standing rules of
  operation for the organization
• Membership
• President
• Chair
• Vice President of University Affairs
• Vice President of Legislative Affairs
• Vice President of Finance

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Internal Affairs Committee

• Purpose The IAC will ensure CSSAs internal
  processes are effective, fair and comply with
  sound business practices.
• Function The committee shall, at all times,
  insure that members of the California State
  Student Association derive the maximum benefit
  from CSSA by ensuring that the board stays focus
  on student issues.
• Manage internal matters and documents as directed
  by the board of directors

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Internal Affairs Committee

• The Chair of the Board presides over the Internal
  affairs committee. Membership consists of
• 6 voting members of the Board of Directors. The
  CSSA Chair , Vice President of Finance, and all
  other voting members are nominated and appointed
  by the CSSA Board of Directors.
• 3 non-voting members ( President, Executive
  Director and the Chancellors Office Liaison).

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Legislative Affairs Committee

• Purpose Legislative Affairs is the center point
  of legislative advocacy for the California State
  Student Association (CSSA)
• Function Under the direction of the CSSA Board
  of Directors, is responsible for the development
  and implementation of the Associations
  legislative
• policy agenda,
• programs ( advocacy and training campaigns)
• and initiatives
• Membership Vice President of Legislative Affairs
  and one representative from each campus,
  including the Lobby Corps Officer.

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University Affairs Committee

• Purpose University Affairs is the center point
  of student advocacy for the California State
  Student Association.
• Function The CSSA University Affairs Committee,
  under the direction of the CSSA Board of
  Directors, is responsible for the development and
  implementation of the associations University
  Affairs
• policy agenda
• programs
• and initiatives
• Membership Vice President of University Affairs
  and one representative from each campus,
  including the Academic Senate Liaison/Alumni
  Council Liaison

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Multicultural Caucus

• Purpose The Multicultural Caucus (MCC) is an
  official on going task force of the CSSA to
  advance and monitor the further development of
  programs and policies regarding the maintenance
  and enhancement of diversity within the CSU
  System and our communities.
• Mission It is the mission of this council to
  undertake progressive efforts to promote
  multiculturalism through education,
  communication, and action on an individual campus
  and statewide level.
• Membership Outlined in the Caucus bylaws

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OUTCOMES...

• You will learn the legislative process
• You will learn systemwide policies
• You will learn how to be influential to benefit
  your constituents, the CSU students
• You will learn how to testify at hearings at the
  state capitol before legislators
• You will learn how to build consensus, be a team
  player and make lifetime FRIENDS
• You will be the face behind the statistics of the
  education system
• YOU ARE THE FUTURE LEADERS OF OUR STATE!

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Get Involved!

• Start with your ASI
• Attend CSSA Monthly Conferences
• Participate in CSSA Elections
• Apply to serve on systemwide committees
• Attend hearings
• Visit your local legislator
• Call your CSSA elected student leader or CSSA
  staff for more information on how to get involved!

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Executive Officer Contact Information

• Executive Officer contact information
• http//www.csustudents.org/board_directors/executi
  ve_committee.asp

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CSSA Staff Contact Information
Miles Nevin, Sarah Vagts, Director Olgalilia
Ramírez, Director Executive Director University
Affairs Governmental Relations mnevin_at_calstate.edu
svagts_at_calstate.edu oramirez_at_calstate.edu
[phone] [phone] oramirez_at_csustude
nts.org [phone]
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For more CSSA Information

• Visit our Web site

www.csustudents.org