California State Student Association

THE CAL STATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION (CSSA) AS A STUDENT-LED ORGANIZATION STRIVES TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY (CSU) STUDENTS BY ADVOCATING FOR STUDENT NEEDS AND ENGAGING STUDENTS IN SYSTEMWIDE, STATE, AND FEDERAL HIGHER EDUCATION POLICY MAKING.

CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY ENGAGEMENT- CSSA MAINTAINS ONGOING STUDENT ENGAGEMENT WITH PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY AS A CRUCIAL ASPECT OF ITS MISSION. CSSA PROVIDES POLICY ANALYSIS TRAINING TO STUDENTS BY FACILITATING ENGAGEMENT WITH VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, LEGISLATORS, INSTITUTIONAL ADMINISTRATORS, AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS. STUDENTS ARE PROVIDED WITH LEGISLATIVE ANALYSIS, TRAVEL TO PARTICIPATE IN/OBSERVE GOVERNMENTAL POLICY PROCESSES, AND COMMUNICATION MATERIALS TO ADVOCATE STUDENT POLICY POSITIONS TO POLICYMAKERS. STUDENTS ARE TRAINED TO REPRESENT THEMSELVES AND ADVOCATE THEIR PERSPECTIVES IN REGULAR MEETINGS WITH STAKEHOLDERS. AS A RESULT OF THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THESE ACTIVITIES, STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO NAVIGATE THE POLICY-MAKING PROCESS, HOW TO DETERMINE POLICY PRIORITIES, AND ULTIMATELY HOW TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF STUDENTS ON RELEVANT STUDENT ISSUES.

STUDENT NONPROFIT BOARD DEVELOPMENT - CSSA'S BOARD IS COMPRISED OF STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY (CSU) SYSTEM. THROUGH MONTHLY CONFERENCES OF APPROXIMATELY FIFTY STUDENT LEADERS IN ROLES OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS, STUDENTS ARE TRAINED ON HOW TO EFFECTIVELY CARRY OUT THE MISSION OF A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. TRAINING IS CENTERED ON INSTILLING NONPROFIT PRINCIPLES; DUTY OF CARE, DUTY OF LOYALTY, AND DUTY OF OBEDIENCE. STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO DETERMINE PROGRAM PRIORITIES, SET AGENDAS, PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE, BUDGET DEVELOPMENT, AND FIDUCIARY/LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. THE PROGRAM ADHERES TO A 1-YEAR CYCLE WITH NEW STUDENTS INSTALLED EVERY FISCAL YEAR. STUDENTS GAIN VALUABLE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE DIRECTLY APPLICABLE TO FUTURE PROFESSIONAL CAREERS IN PUBLIC POLICY AND NONPROFIT SERVICE AFTER COLLEGE.

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY SHARED GOVERNANCE - CSSA MAINTAINS A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM OF SHARED GOVERNANCE FOR STUDENTS ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE. CSSA FACILITATES STUDENT PARTICIPATION ON VARIOUS UNIVERSITY COMMITTEES AND WORK GROUPS AND REGULAR ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN STUDENT LEADERS AND THE UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION AND CSU BOARD OF TRUSTEES. STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN UNIVERSITY INITIATIVES AND DIRECTLY ENGAGE THE CSU ADMINISTRATION ON SYSTEM-WIDE STUDENT ISSUES. THIS PROGRAM RESULTS IN STUDENT-CENTERED DECISION MAKING BY UNIVERSITY LEADERS, ONGOING CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN STUDENT AND UNIVERSITY LEADERS, AND RECOGNITION OF STUDENT-LED INITIATIVES BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND ADMINISTRATORS.SEE SCHEDULE O FOR MORE DETAILS.