The California State Student Association (CSSA), also known as the Cal State Student Association, is an "unincorporated income tax exempt association". CSSA is exempt from taxation under Section
501(c)(3)
A 501(c)(3) organization is a United States corporation, trust, unincorporated association or other type of organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code. It is one of the 29 types of 50 ...
of the United States
Internal Revenue Code
The Internal Revenue Code (IRC), formally the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, is the domestic portion of federal statutory tax law in the United States, published in various volumes of the United States Statutes at Large, and separately as Title 26 ...
and it is exempt from state franchise or income tax under California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 23701d. CSSA is registered with the
California Attorney General’s Registry of Charitable Trusts.
Mission
The mission of the California State Student Association (CSSA) is to maintain and enhance the accessibility of an affordable quality education for the people of California, to the California State University. CSSA is the recognized voice for over 450,000 students in the California State University System (CSU), the CSSA is the acknowledged statewide student organization designed to represent, serve and protect the collective interests of students in the CSU system.
History
In 1958, three years before the formation of the California State University (CSU) system, a group of Associated Students presidents founded the Student Presidents Association. This group initially served mostly as an informational forum for the campus student associations, but the fact that a well-organized statewide student association was firmly established when the CSU was founded ensured that the students had a place in the CSU's internal policy making from the beginning. The Student Presidents Association was formally recognized by the CSU Board of Trustees in 1963, three years after the formation of the system itself and two months after the statewide Academic Senate held its very first meeting.
The 1970s saw a revival in student governance in the CSU that carried through to the present day. In 1972 the Student Presidents Association sponsored legislation which authorized the expenditure of student body fees to fund a lobbyist for CSU students. The bill passed the legislature and was signed into law by then
Governor Reagan.
By 1974, the student leadership had moved beyond the activism of the 1960s to become more articulate, intelligent, and politically astute. The student leaders of this era were quite successful both in the legislature and within the system, and are responsible for much of the foundation of student leadership that still exists today. Through their successes with
Governor Brown and many legislators, they started the tradition of seeking victories in the legislature if they are not forthcoming from the system.
By 1979 CSSA had become extraordinarily active, and many student body presidents were finding it difficult to fulfill both their campus and CSSA responsibilities and thus began appointing CSSA representatives (a few campuses had already started electing separate representatives). The Association decided to recognize this reality by renaming itself the California State Student Association in 1979.
In 2005, CSSA successfully lobbied for an 8% student fee freeze for the CSU that the Governor included in his January budget.
In 2009, the California State University faced a $584 million budget cut. The Board of Trustees and the Office of the Chancellor responded by implementing furloughs and work force reductions, a total fee increase of approximately 32%, enrollment caps anticipating a reduction of 40,000 qualified students in the next two academic years and additional campus by campus cuts to cover the remaining $190 million loss. CSSA has continued its dedication to advocacy projects for the betterment of public higher education in California. CSSA continues to maintain regular communication with the California State Legislature, the Office of the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees and representatives from each of the 23 campuses meet on a monthly basis.
Standing Committees
Executive committee
The duty of CSSA Executive Committee is to review, research and make recommendations on the CSSA Budget, CSSA Policies and Procedures and CSSA Personnel matters. The President, Chair, Vice President of Systemwwide Affairs, Vice President of Legislative Affairs, and Vice President of Finance are voting members of the Executive Committee. The Executive Director serves as an advisor to the Executive Committee.
Legislative Affairs
The job of the Legislative Affairs Committee is to make recommendations to the CSSA board of directors on higher education issues pending in the California State Legislature. Committee members vote to recommend positions on bills and strategies for accomplishing the board's policy objectives. Since 2003, the Legislative Affairs Committee has led the way for CSSA to sponsor legislation that would curtail student fee increases and reform the state financial aid program, called Cal Grants. Members of Legislative Affairs are also leaders in engaging our own campus community on legislation that would affect students by running information-based campaigns on CSU campuses, organizing letter writing and call-in days, and working with local news outlets. The committee oversees the CSSA Lobby Corps program, which provides the opportunity for students to develop the leadership skills to confidently speak with state senators or assemblymembers and be engaged with civic life.
Systemwide Affairs
The Systemwide Affairs Committee principals are to promote access, affordability and quality of instruction. In addition, the committee seeks to expanding students' role in the decisions that affect the CSU by influencing system wide issues and policies and promoting shared governance through systemwide committee representation. Each year these principals are carried out through a policy agenda voted on by the entire CSSA Board. The Systemwide Affair Committee creates an action plan on all policy agenda items and all 23 campuses work together to progress the student perspective and quality of education on the campus and system wide level. Systemwide Affairs activities include working with CSU and campus administrators including the Academic Senate, testifying in front of the Board of Trustees, writing resolutions and passing them on each individual campus, and implementing information campaigns on system policy or initiative. An example of CSSA activity within Systemwide Affairs would be the annual voter registration drives hosted by individual campus's to help encourage a next generation of young people to become involved in the electorate process.
Internal Affairs Committee
The Internal Affairs Committee develops and revises the policies, procedures and constitution of CSSA as well as the scholarship funding for dues-paying campuses and other internal documents as directed by the board. The committee insures that members of the California State Student Association derive the maximum benefit from their association by ensuring that the board stays focused on student issues.
Social Justice and Equity Committee
The Social Justice and Equity Committee is an official ongoing force of the CSSA to advance and monitor the further development of programs and policies regarding the maintenance and enhancement of the diversity, social justice, and equity within the CSU system and campus communities. Student leaders express their concerns about the need to build supportive rather than hateful environments on CSU campuses and adopt resolutions which recognize these concerns and request the administration to take proactive steps to foster a welcoming and supportive environment.
CHESS Conference
CSSA hosts the
California Higher Education Student Summit (CHESS) annual conference composed of California State University leaders, student advocates, higher education policy experts, public officials, alumni and students. This conference is the only statewide leadership conference for CSU students. CHESS offers student leaders a variety of ways in which to become active members of their respective communities with a focus in higher education.
Nomination of student trustees
The California State University (CSU) is administered by a board named "Trustees of the California State University". California Education Code Section 66602 provides that the CSU board shall include two students. Paragraph (b)(2) of Section 66602 provides that, "In the selection of students as members of the board, the Governor shall appoint the students from lists of names of at least two, but not more than five, persons furnished by the governing board of any statewide student organization that represents the students of the California State University and the student body organizations of the campuses of the California State University". In accordance with that paragraph, the CSSA nominates students for appointment to the CSU board of trustees.
Board of Directors
The California State University has 23 campuses and a "student body organization" has been established at each campus. Each student body organization may appoint one person to serve as a member of the governing board of CSSA. The governing board is known as the "California State Student Association Board of Directors". As of June 30, 2017, the following student body organizations are participating in the governance of CSSA:
* Associated Students, California State University, Bakersfield, Inc. — (
California State University, Bakersfield
California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB, Cal State Bakersfield, or CSU Bakersfield) is a public university in Bakersfield, California. It was established in 1965 as Kern State College and officially in 1968 as California State College Bake ...
)
* Associated Students of California State University, Channel Islands, Inc. — (
California State University, Channel Islands
California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI, CSU Channel Islands) is a public university in Camarillo, California. It opened in 2002 as the 23rd campus in the California State University system. CSUCI is located on the Central Coast of C ...
)
*
Associated Students of California State University, Chico — (
California State University, Chico
California State University, Chico, or commonly, Chico State, is a public university in Chico, California. Founded in 1887, it is the second oldest campus in the California State University system. As of the fall 2020 semester, the university had ...
)
* Associated Students, California State University, Dominguez Hills — (
California State University, Dominguez Hills
California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH, CSU Dominguez Hills, or Cal State Dominguez Hills) is a public university in Carson, California. It was founded in 1960 and is part of the California State University (CSU) system.
In 2020, ...
)
*
Associated Students, Inc., California State University, East Bay — (
California State University, East Bay
California State University, East Bay (Cal State East Bay, CSU East Bay, or CSUEB) is a public university in Hayward, California. The university is part of the 23-campus California State University system and offers 136 undergraduate and 60 pos ...
)
*
Associated Students California State University, Fresno — (
California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno (Fresno State) is a public university in Fresno, California. It is one of 23 campuses in the California State University system. The university had a fall 2020 enrollment of 25,341 students. It offers bachelo ...
)
* Associated Students California State University, Fullerton, Inc. — (
California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton (CSUF or Cal State Fullerton) is a public university in Fullerton, California. With a total enrollment of more than 41,000, it has the largest student body of the 23-campus California State University (CSU) ...
)
* Associated Students of Humboldt State University — (
Humboldt State University
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt also known as Cal Poly Humboldt, Humboldt or Cal Poly"Cal Poly" may also refer to California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California or California State Polytechnic Universi ...
)
* Associated Students, California State University, Long Beach — (
California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) is a public research university in Long Beach, California. The 322-acre campus is the second largest of the 23-school California State University system (CSU) and one of the largest universities i ...
)
*
Associated Students of California State University, Los Angeles, Inc. — (
California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA) is a public university in Los Angeles, California. It is part of the 23-campus California State University (CSU) system. Cal State LA offers 142 bachelor's degrees, 122 master's degrees, ...
)
* Associated Students of the California Maritime Academy — (
California Maritime Academy
The California State University Maritime Academy (Cal Maritime or CSU Maritime Academy) is a public university in Vallejo, California. It is one of 23 campuses in the California State University system and the only maritime academy on the United ...
)
* Associated Students of California State University Monterey Bay — (
California State University, Monterey Bay
California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB or Cal State Monterey Bay) is a public university in Monterey County, California. Its main campus is located on the site of the former military base Fort Ord, straddling the cities of Seaside and ...
)
* Associated Students, California State University, Northridge, Inc. — (
California State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge (CSUN or Cal State Northridge) is a public university in the Northridge neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. With a total enrollment of 38,551 students (as of Fall 2021), it has the second largest un ...
)
* Associated Students, Incorporated, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona — (
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona, CPP, or Cal Poly"Cal Poly" may also refer to California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in San Luis Obispo. See the '' name'' section of this article for more info ...
)
*
Associated Students of California State University, Sacramento — (
California State University, Sacramento
California State University, Sacramento (CSUS, Sacramento State, or informally Sac State) is a public university in Sacramento, California. Founded in 1947 as Sacramento State College, it is the eleventh oldest school in the 23-campus California ...
)
* Associated Students California State University, San Bernardino — (
California State University, San Bernardino
California State University, San Bernardino (Cal State San Bernardino or CSUSB) is a public research university in San Bernardino, California. Founded in 1965, it is one of the 23 general campuses of the California State University system. The m ...
)
* Associated Students, San Diego State University — (
San Diego State University
San Diego State University (SDSU) is a public research university in San Diego, California. Founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, it is the third-oldest university and southernmost in the 23-member California State University (CSU) system ...
)
* Associated Students of San Francisco State University — (
San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University (commonly referred to as San Francisco State, SF State and SFSU) is a public research university in San Francisco. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers 118 different b ...
)
* Associated Students San Jose State University — (
San Jose State University
San José State University (San Jose State or SJSU) is a public university in San Jose, California. Established in 1857, SJSU is the oldest public university on the West Coast and the founding campus of the California State University (CSU) sys ...
)
*
Associated Students, Incorporated of California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo — (
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (California Polytechnic State University, Cal Poly"Cal Poly" may also refer to California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt in Arcata, California or California State Polytechnic Univ ...
)
* The Associated Students of California State University, San Marcos — (
California State University, San Marcos
California State University San Marcos (CSUSM or Cal State San Marcos) is a public university in San Marcos, California. It was founded in 1989 as the 21st campus in the 23-campus California State University (CSU) system.
CSUSM offers 43 bachel ...
)
*
Associated Students of Sonoma State University — (
Sonoma State University
Sonoma State University (SSU, Sonoma State, or Sonoma) is a public university in Rohnert Park in Sonoma County, California, US. It is one of the smallest members of the California State University (CSU) system. Sonoma State offers 92 Bachelor's d ...
)
* Associated Students Incorporated of California State University, Stanislaus
Associated Students Incorporated of California State University, Stanislaus
was incorporated on September 9, 1991. — (California State University, Stanislaus
California State University, Stanislaus (Stanislaus State, Stan State) is a public university in Turlock, Stanislaus County, California. It is part of the California State University system. It was established in 1957 and is also the only cam ...
)
See also
* Student Senate for California Community Colleges
Student Senate for the California Community Colleges (SSCCC) was a task force established in 1988 by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges. SSCCC was originally known as the "Council of Student Body Governments" and then la ...
* University of California Student Association
The University of California Student Association (UCSA) is an active 501(c)(3) unincorporated association, purposed as a student association of all University of California (UC) students. Its charter states that it "shall exist to: serve the int ...
* California State University
The California State University (Cal State or CSU) is a public university system in California. With 23 campuses and eight off-campus centers enrolling 485,550 students with 55,909 faculty and staff, CSU is the largest four-year public univers ...
* Student governments in the United States
Student governments in the United States exist in both secondary and higher education. At the collegiate level, the most common name is Student Government, according to the American Student Government Association's database of all student gove ...
References
{{reflist
External links
Official site
CSU Official site
CSU Office of Gov. Affairs
California State University
1958 establishments in California
Student organizations established in 1958
Student governments in the United States
Student organizations in California
Groups of students' unions
Charities based in California
Organizations based in Long Beach, California