This past summer, AS President, Chris Sullivan, and Commissioner of Student Engagement and Advocacy, Humberto Partida Jr, spent their time with the Cal State Student Association (CSSA) at CSUnity connecting with other student leaders.
The Cal State Student Association (CSSA) is officially recognized by the CSU Board of Trustees and the California State Legislature as the voice of CSU students. CSSA plays a pivotal role in shaping student experiences and advocating for policies that directly impact students across the CSU system.
One of CSSA’s key events is CSUnity, an annual conference that brings together CSU student leaders from all 23 campuses. The purpose of CSUnity is to foster meaningful conversations and share knowledge on leadership and higher education policy-making. It's an opportunity for student leaders to collaborate, build networks, and exchange ideas to advocate for positive.
CSUnity 2024, held in San Bernardino, featured various committees and discussions that shape the future of student engagement in the CSU system. Here’s a breakdown of some of the key committees and topics:
Legislative Affairs Committee:
This committee focuses on state-level policy advocacy and legislative priorities affecting CSU students. This year, a new Vice Chair was elected to lead this effort.
Systemwide Affairs Committee:
In this committee, student leaders discussed pressing system-wide issues identified by various campuses. Conversations centered on the challenges students are currently facing, such as funding disparities and academic policy changes.
The committee also reviewed CSSA’s representation on CSU systemwide committees, ensuring that student voices are heard. Significant discussions included the future merger of CSU Maritime with Cal Poly SLO, which would reduce the total number of CSUs to 22 in the coming years.
International Affairs Committee:
This committee concentrated on regional policy revamps and enhancing campus engagement in international affairs. These changes will take effect in the upcoming academic year, with a new Vice Chair being elected to lead the committee’s efforts.
Board of Directors & Regional Appointments:
At CSUnity, special regional officers were appointed to represent the North, Central, and South regions of California, ensuring localized student issues are addressed.
Workshops and Keynotes:
In addition to committee discussions, CSUnity offered workshops that addressed critical topics such as:
- Navigating Intersectionality as a Student Leader
- Affordable Housing for Students
- Black Student Success and AAPI Initiatives in Higher Education lead by Dr. Luke Woods.
The next CSSA meeting is scheduled to take place virtually on September 21-22, 2024. This virtual format will allow
even more students to participate in the discussions and continue working on the critical issues that were highlighted at CSUnity. For more information about the September Plenary Meeting, including to tune in to the meeting, click here.
More From Government Affairs
