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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.