AS General Election: What is an advisory measure?

At Chico State, student representatives are elected each academic year to serve and advocate on behalf of the student body with AS Government Affairs. All elected representatives serve a one-year term, and contribute to Associated Students and University councils and committees, serve as representatives of the Colleges, and advocate on behalf of the students of Chico State. The election is held annually during the spring semester.

This year, the AS General Election is on Wednesday, April 2nd. Starting at 8 a.m. for 24 hours only, all regularly enrolled students can cast their votes for all 17 elected positions with the Associated Students AND to designate $15 of their Revenue Sharing funds to up to three campus-recognized clubs or organizations. But that’s not all. There is also an advisory measure on the ballot this year.

What is an Advisory Measure?

In addition to electing student representatives, students will also vote on an advisory measure. But what exactly is an advisory measure?

Each spring, students are provided the opportunity to place measures on the AS General Election ballot. If passed in the AS General Election with 50% + 1 vote, the advisory measure encourages the AS Board of Directors (BOD) to take action on the item of policy or procedural nature.

The process of getting an advisory measure on the ballot involves a few key steps:

1. A student or student group attends a Government Affairs Committee (GAC) meeting to share their proposed initiative. This allows the student or group to state their intention and ensure it is not duplicative of current AS initiatives.
2. The advisory measure is then submitted via email to the AS Executive Vice President for review.
3. Upon consult with the AS Initiative Panel and AS legal counsel, the measure is verified to be in compliance with applicable campus and trustee policy as well as local, state and federal laws.
4. The measure then goes to a vote of the Board of Directors.
5. Upon approval by the BOD, signature gathering for the petition begins. A minimum of 20% of the number of students who voted in the prior year’s AS General Election must sign the petition to get the measure on the ballot.
6. Once the required number of signatures is collected, the petition is then submitted to the Executive Vice President and the AS Election Supervisor to verify signatures.
7. Upon signature verification, the advisory measure is added to the AS General Election ballot! 

All requirements must be met prior to the publishing of the Sample Ballot 2025.

This Year’s Advisory Measure: Putting Sustainability Back on the Menu

Chico State has a rich history as a national leader in sustainability - making tremendous strides in both campus initiatives and infrastructure. It is essential that we balance the needs of the environment, economy, and the campus community to create a healthier and more equitable world. Our remedy is to "put sustainability back on the menu" to ensure campus accountability for a more productive present and thoughtful future. Therefore, this year's advisory measure asks:

Should the Associated Students encourage the University to reinstate sustainability as one of the highest priorities in Chico State's Five-Year Playbook Action Plan?

The proposal for this measure comes from the GEOG 440 class, led by Mark Stemen, a professor in the Geography and Environmental Studies department. Stemen, who has a history of environmental advocacy, stated, “I like this assignment because my students are engaging with their peers and the familiarity allows them to develop more sophisticated persuasive skills, while also leaving a lasting legacy of their time here.”

For more information about the election, sample ballot, and candidates running for office, head to our website here.