ADVOCACY AGENDA

Under Article XVI of the ASUCI Bylaws, the ASUCI Advocacy Agenda is “a list of the Association’s overarching goals, priorities, and business strategies that will be considered by the newly elected Executive Officers and Senators of the following academic year to facilitate the transition of power and continuity within ASUCI.” The Advocacy Agenda is split into two parts:

  • A Five-Year Strategic Plan (beginning in the 2024-2025 academic year) detailing the overarching goals, priorities, and business strategies of the Association; and
  • An Annual Executive Adjunct detailing the overarching goals, priorities, and business strategies of the newly elected Executive Cabinet for their term.

Additionally, each Spring Quarter, the ASUCI President is required to issue a public State of the Association to the Senate to provide an update on ASUCI’s progress on the agenda and any necessary modifications. Please find below the Advocacy Agendas of previous ASUCI administrations and the States of the Association delivered by previous ASUCI Presidents.

2024-2025 ANNUAL EXECUTIVE ADJUNCT

With the passage of R59-100: Advocacy Agenda Reform Act, all newly elected members of the Executive Cabinet are required to submit a list of their overarching goals, priorities, and business strategies for the academic year to the Senate by the first Senate meeting of the Fall Quarter through a Resolution of the Senate – the Annual Executive Adjunct. Listed below is each Executive Officer’s section of the Annual Executive Adjunct.

President – Ethan Martinez

The OP section of the Annual Executive Adjunct was ratified on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 (Fall Week 3) through R60-36: Ratification of the 2024-2025 OP Goals for the Annual Executive Adjunct.

2024-2025 OP Goals

External Vice President – Kylie Jones

The EVP section of the Annual Executive Adjunct was ratified on October 8th (Fall Week 2) through R60-33: Ratification of the 2024-2025 EVP and SSVP Goals for the Annual Executive Adjunct.

The Office of the External Vice President (EVP) serves as a platform for students to advocate for their well-being and equity within higher education. By working at local, UC-wide, statewide, and national levels, the EVP Office promotes justice and equity across the UC system through lobbying, organizing conferences, and supporting student-worker unity. Acting as a bridge between students, the UC Regents, and political officials, the office is committed to promoting affordability, accessibility, quality, safety, and diversity at UCI.

Looking forward, the EVP Office aims to expand upon these efforts, ensuring representation for all members of the community, regardless of background. The goal is to create a space where every student’s voice is uplifted and heard, empowering students to advocate for their own needs through tools and resources that enable meaningful change on campus and beyond.

Advocacy Initiatives

  1. Advocating for Student-Centered Policies: The EVP Office will continue to engage government officials at all levels to prioritize student needs, advocating for policies like increased higher education funding, holistic student support, enhanced campus safety, environmental justice, and equity-focused reforms. Coalitions will be formed, and the office will engage in lobbying efforts, hearings, and media outreach to ensure that student voices shape the policies affecting their education and well-being.
  2. Amplifying Student Representation: The EVP Office will strive to increase student representation in governance, ensuring student input in decisions at the UC, local, statewide, and national levels. By advocating for more student seats on committees and decision-making boards, we will ensure that policies better reflect students’ needs and aspirations. Collaborations with student organizations and governing bodies will help build a more inclusive, student-centered environment.
  3. Fostering Proactive Community Connections: The EVP Office will prioritize historically marginalized and underrepresented communities by organizing town halls, community forums, and meetings to promote dialogue with government officials. By partnering with student advocacy groups, we aim to provide students with the necessary resources, training, and support to advocate effectively for their own needs, ensuring that all voices are represented in decision-making processes.
  4. Making Civic Engagement Accessible: Accessibility in civic engagement is a priority. The EVP Office will work to make the voting process transparent and inclusive, including outreach and education to historically excluded communities. By facilitating civic education initiatives, the office will ensure that all students, regardless of voting status, have opportunities to engage meaningfully in the political process.
  5. Prioritizing Accountability in Advocacy: The EVP Office is committed to fostering genuine engagement, especially with historically marginalized groups, and ensuring accountability within its advocacy efforts. Transparency and integrity will guide interactions with external governing bodies, including the UC Student Association, UC Regents, and lawmakers. The goal is to hold these entities accountable for their actions and foster trust, ensuring advocacy outcomes that benefit all students.

Key Policy Goals

  1. Affordable Housing Initiatives: The EVP Office will continue advocating for policies that address housing insecurity and homelessness among UCI students by increasing affordable housing options and providing support to those in need.
  2. Enhancing Campus Safety: The office will work with community organizations and student groups to address campus safety concerns, including supporting legislation like Assembly Bill 2608 (Gabriel) to combat sexual violence and harassment and improve overall campus security.
  3. Increasing Higher Education Affordability: Advocacy for policies like the Cal Grant Equity Framework and Double the Pell campaign will continue to make higher education more affordable by increasing financial aid and scholarship opportunities, alleviating financial burdens on students.
  4. Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: The EVP Office will champion programs and policies that foster an inclusive campus, including supporting initiatives like California Assembly Bill 2586 (Alvarez), which expands employment opportunities for undocumented students.
  5. Sustainable Practices and Environmental Stewardship: Sustainability will be a priority, with a focus on environmental justice and climate change mitigation. The office will support renewable energy efforts, waste reduction programs, and initiatives incorporating indigenous perspectives on environmental policies.

Commission Goals

Communications

Mission: To facilitate the clear dissemination of information about office initiatives, voter registration, upcoming events, and legislative updates through various media channels. The commission ensures that students are well-informed about advocacy opportunities and policy issues.

Current Goals:

  1. Create a Campus Newsletter: Launch a newsletter that updates students on office activities, upcoming events, and policy breakdowns to keep them informed and engaged in campus improvements and advocacy efforts.
  2. Develop Enhanced Communication Strategies: Implement innovative communication techniques to increase student awareness of advocacy campaigns and opportunities for involvement through social media, newsletters, and campus-wide announcements.
  3. Launch Policy Simplification Initiative: Simplify complex policy issues by breaking them down into easily digestible content for students. This initiative ensures that all students, regardless of background, can engage in policy discussions.

Government Relations

Mission: To advocate for legislative priorities in higher education at the local, state, and federal levels, ensuring student concerns are addressed throughout the legislative process. The commission works to influence policies that impact UCI students through lobbying, bill analysis, and public meeting monitoring.

Current Goals:

  1. Host Election Events: Organize debates and town halls for the 2024 election cycle, giving students opportunities to engage directly with candidates and issues on the ballot. This promotes civic engagement and ensures students are well-informed.
  2. Increase Government Accessibility: Improve student access to state and federal government leaders, encouraging students to actively participate in policymaking processes that affect their education and well-being.
  3. Strengthen Local Relationships: Build stronger ties with local Irvine and Orange County political leaders to ensure that local housing, transit, and safety concerns affecting UCI students are addressed.

Internal Organizing

Mission: To mobilize the student body on UCI-specific advocacy issues and ensure that students are informed and engaged on topics such as labor rights and civic participation. The commission strives to create an inclusive and safe environment where all students can thrive.

Current Goals:

  1. Advance Labor Rights and Ethical Practices: Advocate for fair wages, better working conditions, and equal treatment for student workers, while promoting ethical labor and services on campus. This includes collaborating with unions, supporting sustainable supply chains, and providing resources for students interested in labor and ethical employment issues, ensuring fairness, equity, and sustainability in campus policies.
  2. Inclusive Civic Engagement: Create opportunities for non-voting members of the UCI community to participate in civic advocacy through forums, town halls, and partnerships with local organizations.
  3. Create a Platform for UCI-Specific Advocacy: Establish a platform for students to express their concerns on UCI-specific issues and advocate for policy changes that address their needs at the local, state, and federal levels.

External Organizing

Mission: To enhance UCI students’ involvement with the UC Student Association (UCSA) and increase transparency regarding UCSA campaigns. The commission mobilizes students around statewide campaigns and advocates for UCI-specific student needs in university-level conversations.

Current Goals:

  1. Mobilize for Advocacy Campaigns: Collaborate with campus partners to engage UCI students in UCSA campaigns that address basic needs, financial advocacy, racial justice, and environmental justice. This includes increasing awareness and fostering student participation.
  2. Promote Campus-wide Engagement: Organize events and workshops that educate students on UCSA initiatives and advocacy campaigns, promoting a culture of activism and involvement at UCI.
  3. Strengthen Representation in UCSA: Ensure that UCI’s interests and opinions are effectively represented at the UC Student Association by increasing engagement between UCI students and the UCSA board.

Internal Vice President – Shruti Gundu

The IVP section of the Annual Executive Adjunct was ratified on Thursday, October 3rd (Fall Week 1) through R60-31: Ratification of the 2024-2025 IVP Goals for the Annual Executive Adjunct.

The Office of the Internal Vice President aims to hear and engage with the undergraduate student body to improve the access and availability of resources on campus. The Internal Vice President will serve the campus community through extensive programming and initiatives that will bring back resources to students and address systemic and institutional challenges faced by students. Additionally, the Internal Vice President will work with campus organizations and departments within Student Affairs and Registered Campus Organizations (RCOs) to identify the needs of different student populations and address these needs with thorough care and consideration. Finally, through the staffing efforts of the office of the Internal Vice President, students will have the opportunity to actively participate in the various commissions.

The overarching goals of the Office of the Internal Vice President include:

  • Actively recruit and retain undergraduate students to engage with and participate in the various branches of ASUCI, not limited to executive offices, through events and professional development opportunities.
    • Furthermore, improving the access and awareness to resources such as local businesses by bringing them to campus and fostering positive relations between the campus and local communities. 
  • Employ commissions to work as focus groups to work closely with relevant campus organizations and entities to accurately identify and address student needs and concerns. 
  • Encourage comments and discussions from student populations that are currently underserved in an effort to identify areas of resources that need to be made more accessible. 
    • As of the 2023-2024 academic year term, the IVP Office has housed an International Student Advocacy Commission, a Commuter Student Support Commission, and a Transfer Student Support Commission, as some special interest groups.
    • Potential conversations for the 2024-2025 term year will focus on identifying the need for either such commissions or bridging the gap between students and other existing resources beyond just these. 
  • Uphold the vested interest of student well-being holistically through sustainability initiatives and increasing green spaces on campus, in line with university goals for sustainability and carbon neutrality. 
    • Work with students and local indigenous communities to establish informed and impactful garden spaces that will give back to students directly and provide opportunities for volunteering and activism.
  • Enhance educational resources for students through four (4) student-led courses that will allow students to engage with each other and gain a better understanding of how to access and utilize resources as students to better navigate each unique experience at UCI. 
    • These courses include the Visions Mentorship Program around student leadership and advocacy, the HEALTH class for student wellness, and student diversity, and the STEAM program for transfer student integration into the anteater community. 
  • Promote students to have direct representation on advisory boards for the Anteater Recreation Center (ARC), the Bren Events Center, Bus Love, Student Health Insurance Advisory Committee (SHIAC), the Student Center and The Hill.

Anteaters in Action

The Anteaters in Action Commission strives to motivate the student community to act on important issues that impact the student body and local communities through volunteering, awareness and education. Furthermore, establishing relationships with organizations on and off campus to promote student activism. 

  • Increase education about volunteering opportunities for students on and off campus.
    • Work closely with the Campus Organizations and Volunteer Programs (COVP) office to improve volunteer opportunities and education on campus.
    • Identify and encourage student interest in volunteering and bring in off campus resources to bridge the gap between interest and opportunities.
    • Build a close relationship with student organizations whose mission revolves around volunteering and outreach to connect students to these resources.
  • Create meaningful events that allow student participation across various aspects of volunteerism on campus through donation drives, awareness campaigns, and more.
    • Successfully plan and host annual events like the Donate Life walk/run and events for Volunteer Appreciation Week.

Campus Partners: Campus Organizations and Volunteer Programs (COVP), Student Outreach and Retention (SOAR) Center, Basic Needs Center, Campus Assault Resources and Education (CARE), DREAM Center, Womxn’s Center for Success, others.

Commuter Student Support

The Commuter Student Support Commission aims to engage the large commuter student population through programming and initiatives that make resources more accessible to students to help them succeed. Additionally, the commission also works with various campus departments to better represent the needs of commuter students and the most effective ways to address these needs. 

  • Aid commuter students on campus by creating spaces to engage with the campus community and access resources equitably.
    • Work with the Student Center to raise awareness of the Commuter Lounge, as well as greater programming to increase student use of this space.
    • Work with administration to identify more spaces on campus that are easily available for commuter students who need to stay on campus in between classes and extracurricular activities.
    • Work with UCI Transportation to address issues around parking, space, etc.
  • Establish programs for commuter students to help them succeed holistically as students.
    • Work with UCI Housing to bring back the Zot Adopt program (pre pandemic) that would allow commuter students to also experience living in the dorms.
    • Work with UCI Dining to identify potential meal plans or other programs from which commuters can benefit given their unique experience.
  • Plan and host events for students to foster a sense of community through various activities and educational awareness.

Campus Partners: Transportation and Distribution Services (TDS), Student Center (Commuter Lounge), Student Housing, Dining, Student Outreach and Retention (SOAR) Center, Basic Needs Center, Transfer Student Center, RISE Suite Centers, others. 

Garden

The Garden Commission aims to create a student community around the care and development of the Ants In Your Plants Garden at Arroyo Vista, bridge the gap between student involvement and resources of basic needs, and work with the local communities to increase the equitable access of sustainable and indigenous resources.

  • Maintain the garden at Arroyo Vista in conjunction with the garden fellows of the Sustainability Resource Center.
    • Continue the installation and maintenance of the hydroponics system (already funded through TGIF).
    • Host the Gardening class with the garden fellows (SRC).
    • Regularly keep up tasks to promote the wellness of the garden spaces and students who access it.
  • Collaborate with the Environmental Justice (SEED) Coordinator (EVP) and local indigenous communities to establish an indigenous/native plant garden at Middle Earth.
  • Host open houses and engaging events to raise awareness of the garden and increase student participation.
  • Bring students into the existing garden spaces to volunteer and have direct access to resources like fresh produce.
    • Work closely with the Basic Needs Center to provide resources to students through the food pantry programs.
    • Allow students to actively volunteer in an entirely student run space on campus and build community revolving around sustainability and basic needs efforts.

Campus Partners: Basic Needs Center, Sustainability Resource Center (SRC), American Indian Student Association (AISA), Housing, Dining, others. 

International Student Advocacy

The International Student Advocacy Commission aims to bring together international students at UCI through programming and initiatives to help international students integrate into the campus community and navigate unique challenges while collaborating with different campus resources. 

  • Closely collaborate with the International Center and other departments to address the issues faced by students through programming.
    • Host student panels and gather student input on the state of available resources around campus catered to international students’ needs – i.e. employment, visa/immigration, etc. 
    • Also work with the DREAM Center and the Immigrant Student Services office to address the concerns of undocumented, mixed-status and other immigration status students and families.
  • Have deliberate conversations with housing and administration to address housing insecurity within international student populations.
    • Focus on finding temporary housing for international students during breaks in the academic year.
  • Roll out a comprehensive “International Student Guidebook,” as planned during previous years.
    • Engage in meaningful dialogue with students and campus organizations to gather relevant information.
    • Relay student needs to administration to address equitable resource distribution. 
  • Work with different student organizations and populations to increase international student engagement on campus.
    • Host cultural events for important days in international communities (i.e. Lunar New Year, Diwali, Eid, etc) in conjunction with the Anteater Cultural Awareness Program.
    • Host informational and interactive events to introduce international students to landmark events and significant cultural practices of the Americas.

Campus Partners: International Center, Basic Needs Center, Housing, Dining, Transportation and Distribution Services, RISE Suite Centers, others. 

Recruitment & Retention

The Recruitment & Retention Commission serves to build a community within the various offices and members of ASUCI and promote the work of the organization to the student community, acting as a bridge between students and ASUCI.

  • Plan and host all-ASUCI meetings three (3) times every quarter to enhance transparency and communication of progress and goals between the various branches of ASUCI. 
    • Plan and host the end of year all-ASUCI banquet to celebrate and recognize the efforts and achievements of all members of the organization. 
  • Foster a sense of community for the members of ASUCI outside of their individual branches through programming centered around networking and team building.
  • Conduct Open House programs to recruit new students to be a part of ASUCI, and also disseminate information about ASUCI and its programs.

Student Health & Wellness

The Student Health & Wellness Commission is committed to the holistic wellness of the student community through programming that addresses the varied concerns of health and wellness for students, including but not limited to sexual health, mental health and physical health. Beyond the regular programming, the commission is also tasked with hosting the HEALTH class every winter quarter.

  • Work closely with the Student Health Center, Student Wellness and Health Promotion, Campus Assault Resources and Education (CARE), the Womxn’s Center for Success, LGBTQ Resource Center and Sorority and Fraternity Life to increase sexual health awareness and resource accessibility on campus.
    • Participate in events like Take Back the Night (CARE) and the Reproductive Justice series (Womxn’s Center) and other major events. 
    • Host a Sexual Health Fair with a focus on the intersection of various student identities to ensure better access to the distinct resources students may need.
  • Collaborate with the Disabilities Resource Center (DSC), the Anteater Recreation Center (ARC) and other departments to identify areas for improvement for students with disabilities. 
    • Hold panels and focus groups for students with disabilities to hear directly from them as to what kind of accommodations and resources are available and still lacking on campus.
    • Work with departments and administration to increase general accessibility to campus and resources. 
  • Host the HEALTH class with the Student Wellness and Health Promotion in the Winter to promote wellness habits and awareness for students to incorporate into their daily lives to cope with the various stressors of life. 
    • Promote an engaged community of students who build meaningful connections with each other while developing healthy habits as college students.

Campus Partners: Student Wellness and Health Promotion, Student Health Center, Campus Assault Resources and Education (CARE), Sorority and Fraternity Life (SFL), Disabilities Resource Center (DSC), LGBTQ Resource Center (LGBTQRC), Womxn’s Center for Success, others.

Sustainability Project

The Sustainability Project Commission strives to amplify student voices on various matters of sustainability across campus while also increasing education and awareness about current campus resources that can be more equitably accessed by all.

  • Collaborate with departments like the Sustainability Resource Center (SRC) and Dining to identify areas of concern and address them by providing the student perspective.
    • Discuss ways to make sustainability initiatives on campus more inclusive and critically consider the position of various student identities with respect to environmental justice and activism.
    • Center discussions and collaborations around sustainability as a social justice issue that directly impacts student welfare.
  • Program interactive and informative events that bring in different student groups and populations to increase awareness of intersections within sustainability on campus. 
    • Work with student organizations to address the impact of global concerns like climate change and its impacts as they vary on different student populations and provide accurate resources for students to tap into.
  • Improve efforts and awareness about the university’s zero waste and climate action plans through engagement with school units and regular communication with units like Housing and Dining.
    • Work closely with various school departments to host guest speakers for students interested in sustainability work and careers. 
    • Have conversations on the improvement of the compost awareness program and other zero waste initiatives at Housing and Dining units. 
  • Host events that bring together the campus community to address major issues like consumerism and student financial wellness among others.
    • The annual pop-up thrift ‘Zot N Clothes’ event to challenge consumerism and provide students with the opportunity to access resources better.
    • Work with the Basic Needs Center and Housing to strengthen a move-in/move-out donation system to prevent excess waste during the end of the year and help students access required materials easier. 

Campus Partners: Sustainability Resource Center (SRC), Basic Needs Center, Womxn’s Center for Success, Housing, Dining, others.

Transfer Student Support

The Transfer Student Support Commission aims to create an inclusive community for transfer students through outreach, education, mentorship and efforts to increase transfer student access to resources and services on campus. Furthermore, the commission also runs the STEAM program during the year to increase transfer student mentorship and community engagement.

  • Build a strong connection with the Transfer Student Center and its affiliates to improve programming and access to resources for transfer students.
    • Work closely to plan intentional programming that will provide a wide range of resources and tools that will help transfer students succeed with the transition to and while at UCI.
  • Facilitate multiple opportunities for transfer students to gather and build an inclusive community while also integrating them into the larger student body. 
    • Focus on events that will help students socialize and meet other students they can build relationships with at UCI.
    • Regular meetings for interested students to build community through interactive activities.
  • Host the STEAM program to provide continuing transfer students the chance to be mentors to incoming transfers and discussing resources and engagement opportunities.
    • Recruit mentors for the upcoming academic year and train them through team building and information about campus resources for support.
  • Recruit incoming students (mentees) for the year to participate in the program for the year, build meaningful relationships on campus, and have comprehensive knowledge about tools for success.

Campus Partners: Transfer Student Center, Student Outreach and Retention (SOAR) Center, Basic Needs Center, RISE Suite Centers, Student Life and Leadership, Housing, Dining, others.

Vendor Fair

The Vendor Fair Commission is tasked with planning and hosting the quarterly Vendor Fairs at UCI by bringing in local vendors and businesses to interact with the student population. The Vendor Fair is a significant opportunity for students to access resources beyond what is already available on campus while also creating an environment that promotes engagement between the campus and local communities. 

  • Build positive relationships with local businesses and invite them to act as vendors on campus during the week-long program each quarter.
    • Work with professional staff to evaluate vendor applications.
  • Approach new vendors who would be interested in attending the program in an effort to diversify the vendor pool and provide students with more opportunities. 
    • Research vendors of different products and services that are relevant to student interests.
  • Understand the needs and wants of students through communication and feedback opportunities.
    • Regular feedback forms to be sent to students associated with opportunity drawings.

Visions Leadership

The Visions Leadership Commission promotes student engagement to amplify the voices of students and address student needs through innovative advocacy and leadership, entirely for and by the student population. Additionally, the commission runs a 2-quarter class to aid the professional development of students in the program over the course of their projects. 

  • Implement advocacy projects and initiatives in collaboration with other branches of ASUCI or departments and academic units across campus.
    • Past projects like Anteaters Farm (with Food Security Commission, Office of the President).
    • Current year projects that will be developed over the course of the year.
  • Plan and host the two (2)-quarter mentorship course for the new cohort of students to develop their own advocacy projects.
    • Recruit mentors for the academic year and train them with the necessary information and resources to act as successful mentors.
    • Recruit mentees for the academic year who will enroll in the VISIONS course for two (2) quarters and work together to address student concerns through innovative projects.
    • Program the annual ZotTank event where students will share their advocacy projects to be launched.

Campus Partners: ANTrepreneur Center, Basic Needs Center, Student Life and Leadership, others.

Office Outreach

The Director of Office Outreach and their team serves as the public relations and management commission of the office and shares office updates, events and more with the student body through active communication via platforms like campus wide emails and social media.

  • The Director of Office Outreach will work closely with the Chief Media and Technology Office on promotional efforts, specifically for the Office of the Internal Vice President. 
    • Share the needs of our commissions as well as their events and programming with the CMTO team so that they may help with the production of graphics and media content.
  • Office Outreach will be responsible for the publication of promotional materials within the office and will serve as a liaison between the office and the professional staff. 
    • The director will be tasked with administering and adapting the rules for publicizing content within the office. I.e. compiling upcoming events into a weekly office-specific campus wide email for students.
    • The Director will contact professional staff with any questions about the marketing and outreach efforts required for the successful programming of commissions. I.e. reaching out for questions about special requests for marquees.
  • Office Outreach will be the primary liaison between commissions and external student organizations for contact on collaborative efforts for programming. 
    • Create databases of on-campus resources that commissions may access to identify potential avenues for collaboration.
    • Connect commissions with relevant resources and potential clubs/RCOs that would be interested in collaborating or participating in the events being planned. 
  • Work with the Recruitment and Retention Commission as well as other Directors of Office Outreach/Communications Officer to improve communication within ASUCI as a whole.
    • Maintain strong communication channels across ASUCI to prevent overlap of events and increase collaboration across offices.
    • Support quarterly ASUCI Open House events and give specific information about the Office of the Internal Vice President.

Academic Affairs Vice President – Shreyas Chandramouli

The AAVP section of the Annual Executive Adjunct was ratified on Tuesday, October 15th, 2024 (Fall Week 3) through R60-34: Ratification of the 2024-2025 AAVP Goals for the Annual Executive Adjunct.

The Office of the Academic Affairs Vice President is an office under the Executive Cabinet responsible for enhancing the academic experience and supporting students’ career goals at UC Irvine. This office bridges the gap between students and faculty, coordinates academic programming, and raises awareness of campus resources. The Office of the Academic Affairs Vice President represents student interests in the Academic Senate and oversees programs that promote academic enrichment and leadership development, in line with Article VII, Section 2.e. Of the ASUCI Constitution. We have the following goals for the 2024-2025 Academic Year:

  1. Increase student access to necessary academic resources by promoting collaborations with the UCI Libraries and university resources, handouts, and outreach.
  2. Increase student input to academic councils discussing AI by ensuring student concerns are understood, and constant updates are published on the current status of those discussions.
  3. Ease Transfer/International Student concerns regarding unit transfers by promoting increased transparency within academic counseling units within all schools.
  4. Invite Speakers from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds to UCI to encourage greater student participation and sense of belonging.
  5. Promote engagement between students and university leadership to ensure that the divide between faculty and students remains as small as possible.
  6. Promote engagement between alumni and students by hosting events that discuss career paths, possible job opportunities, and personal stories.

Commissions:

1. The Academic Advocacy Commission (1 Director, 7 Representatives) will continue to provide student representation on the councils and committees of the UCI Academic Senate. In conjunction with the Academic Affairs Vice President, the student representatives will document items occurring in the Academic Senate, gather feedback on those items, and present that feedback at the next Academic Senate meeting. They aim to increase transparency of the administrative processes of UCI, increase student representation within these administrative meetings, and represent all UCI undergraduates by actively reaching out and listening to the voices of students and staff. Additionally, the Advocacy Commission will actively represent student perspectives in discussions about AI policies, emphasizing the importance of addressing student concerns and safeguarding student data from being used to train AI models without informed consent. 

  • Address student concerns regarding unit transfers by promoting increased transparency. 
  • Increase student awareness of Academic Senate decisions that affect the student body by releasing quarterly reports on recent developments. 
  • Represent student input to academic councils discussing AI by ensuring student concerns are understood and that student data is not used to train AI models without their knowledge. 
  • Conducting a campus-wide survey on ChatGPT to get students’ input on their usage of it, their thoughts on the AI, and whether they believe it enhances or hinders their academic experience.
  • Investigating financial aid and providing feedback on its accessibility, effectiveness and the ways it can be improved to better support students in their academic journeys.

2. The Outreach Commission (1 Director) will enhance its outreach initiatives to University of California, Irvine (UCI) undergraduates to ensure they are well-informed about all matters related to academic affairs. The Commission is tasked with raising awareness about the Office of the Academic Affairs Vice President among the UCI student body. To achieve this, the Outreach Commission will create meaningful connections with students by hosting bi-weekly booths on Ring Road, promoting understanding through social media explanations of the Office’s events and activities, and disseminating communications throughout the broader UCI community. Through these initiatives, the Outreach Commission aims to increase student engagement and foster an inclusive campus environment where every student feels academically supported and empowered to thrive. Furthermore, the Outreach Commission is committed to effectively expanding its digital presence and enhancing the visibility of ASUCI Academic Affairs initiatives and resources. 

  • Create and distribute a campus-wide newsletter each month featuring updates from our office, the Academic Senate, staff office hours, and other responsibilities.
  • Ensure that all paid staff members consistently hold office hours, and promote these hours to the student body. 
  • Enhance our engagement and social media presence by designing graphics, merchandise, and promotional materials for all office events, particularly the Speakers Commission’s events. 
  • Organize a bi-weekly booth on Ring Road to promote office events, vacancies, and increase student engagement. 
  • Verify that all AAVP staff members are meeting their publication requirements.

3. The Academic Engagement Commission (1 Director) aims to offer undergraduate students valuable resources and opportunities for career exploration. Through a range of events and workshops, the Academic Engagement Commission helps students identify potential career paths, develop essential professional skills, and build meaningful networks within their chosen industries.

  • Organize events to support current undergraduates with their future career options, including mixers that connect them with alumni. 
  • Seek collaborations with university departments, such as ANTrepreneur Center and UROP, to provide students with opportunities to engage in unique extracurricular activities. 
  • Facilitate major exploration for undeclared students by hosting events that allow them to connect with graduate students in various fields of interest.

4. The Academic Resources Commission (1 Director) is dedicated to enhancing student success by providing accessible and comprehensive support. They aim to bridge the gap for students facing academic and financial challenges through free resource distribution events. By offering essential supplies such as greenbooks, scantrons, pens, pencils, notebooks, and more, they strive to alleviate the financial burden on students and empower them to focus on their studies. Additionally, they are committed to connecting students with other campus resources, such as the Learning Assistance Resource Center (LARC) and the Division of Career Pathways, to ensure they have the necessary tools and guidance to achieve their academic goals.

  • Potentially collaborate with the UCI Libraries to support students by providing easy and free access to essential academic resources like calculators. 
  • Provide free academic resources through boothing events, where supplies such as greenbooks, scantrons, pens, pencils, and notebooks are handed out to students
  • Assist students who are academically and/or financially struggling by providing them with resources that can help them succeed in class 
  • Direct students to other resources like LARC and the Division of Career Pathways to support their academic journey 

5. The Speakers Commission (2 Directors) is dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive learning environment. They aim to bring in speakers who represent a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives, ensuring that all students feel seen, heard, and valued. By inviting voices that resonate with the student body, they aim to inspire students and provide valuable lessons and insights that can be applied to their personal and professional growth, empowering them to reach their full potential.

  • Emphasize diversity and inclusion in the speakers brought to campus 
  • Invite voices that engage and represent the UCI student body especially from different academic backgrounds and perspectives that appeal to a wider audience. 
  • Ensure students receive the most benefit possible from each event, including valuable lessons they may take with them in their journey forward

Student Services Vice President – Trish Ly

The SSVP section of the Annual Executive Adjunct was ratified on Tuesday, October 8th (Fall Week 2) through R60-33: Ratification of the 2024-2025 EVP and SSVP Goals for the Annual Executive Adjunct.

The Office of the Student Services Vice President strives to enhance the undergraduate experience on campus with respect to entertainment and recreational activities and to promote student spirit throughout campus. They oversee ASUCI performance agreements and develop and maintain all ASUCI programs relating to entertainment for the undergraduate student body.

Commissioners must attend weekly all-staff meetings and weekly leadership meetings. Responsibilities of commissioners include, but are not limited to:

  • Event planning:
    • Coordinating with the CORE team as well as pro-staff to plan events from conception through execution 
    • Complete purchase requests and check requests for the commission
    • Serve as point of contact on event day and coordinate SSVP efforts for the event
  • Commission management:
    • Hosting routine commission meetings 
    • Establishing, maintaining, and nourishing a social and working dynamic for the commission by implementing team bonding, team socials, or any other interactive and benefitting activities for the commission
  • Other:
    • Host office hours (pub hours) at least once a week 
    • Promote inter-engagement across all commissions in SSVP as well as promote the social & professional aspects of the office. 
    • All other assignments as provided by the SSVP.
  • Supervising and coordinating event planning across the six commissions, as well as orchestrating collaborative efforts among all SSVP personnel to optimize the efficiency and effectiveness of our office’s operations. This includes fostering staff satisfaction, and facilitating the professional development of our team.
  • Increase accessibility, attendance, student representation at our events
    • Expand our outreach efforts by organizing additional booth events, with the goal of hosting them twice a quarter. These events will provide opportunities to gather a wider range of perspectives on our campus events and implement enhanced accessibility measures to ensure that every student feels welcomed and supported.

Athletic Engagement

Mission Statement: The Athletic Engagement Commission will host events in collaboration with UCI Athletics to support and promote UCI Athletics programs. In addition, the Athletic Engagement commission serves to  promote & support athletes/athletic teams while also encouraging athletic spirit here at UCI.

  • Successfully plan and host Athletic rallys, merchandise giveaways, and any other athletic-related events and activities

Campus Spirit

Mission Statement: The Campus Spirit commission aims to increase student engagement/involvement and student-body morale overall. Campus Spirit events, through dynamic and spirit-oriented programming, provide an exciting and welcoming environment for students and community community members to come together and celebrate anteater pride.

  • Successfully plan and host spirit days/spirit weeks
  • Collaborate with Student Alumni Association (SAA) in hosting their annual event, Homecoming
  • Host Spring Formal and Matchmaking event

Concert Engagement

Mission Statement: The Concert Engagement Commission plans concerts for UCI undergraduates, by selecting artists and implementing dynamic programming to connect Anteaters and provide the community with memorable experiences.

  • Successfully plan and host Aldrich Park After Dark (APAD) and Summerlands

Multimedia

Mission Statement: The Multimedia Commission leverages media as a means to unify the community in a recreational/entertainment-oriented manner. Multimedia aims to program their events to encourage Anteaters to enjoy various media(s) while also making memories with their peers.

  • Successfully plan and host Screen on the Green (film screenings)

Student Talent

Mission Statement: The Student Talent Commission offers a platform for students to share their diverse talents  by performing and entertaining for the student body. In addition to hosting student-talent-related events, the Student Talent commission also assists other SSVP commissions and other departments in recruiting diverse student talents to perform at other campus events.

  • Successfully plan and host Sunset Showdown (or any other performance-based talent competition)
  • Serve to recruit and manage performances for SSVP events and other campus events who choose to use Student Talent’s Services

Office Outreach

Mission Statement: The Office Outreach’s commission’s mission is to unify and further develop the relationship between the Office of Student Services VP and the UCI undergraduate community. Through dynamic outreach efforts, Office Outreach  strives to increase student engagement by fostering relationships with students and educating them about the Office of the SSVP’s mission and events while creating an inclusive campus community.

  • Host boothing events to educate the undergraduate student body on the function and role the Office of Student Services, as well as to promote any Student Services events
  • Conduct outreach to form and maintain relationships with the student body and any other campus departments/entities
  • Implement feedback mechanisms

PAST ADVOCACY AGENDAS

PAST STATES OF THE ASSOCIATION