ASA is hiring Field Managers!
Help win real improvements in students’ lives! ASA is seeking Field Managers in Maricopa, Pima, and Coconino County. This is an opportunity for passionate future leaders to gain real life, hands on experience in issue campaigns, strengthen their understanding of the political process. Field Managers will gain invaluable experience in political campaigning and voter outreach. They will be an integral part of the field team’s grassroots efforts to connect with voters and promote campaign visibility for the Quality Education and Jobs Initiative. Field Managers will be based in Flagstaff, Tucson, and Central Phoenix, but must be willing to travel around the state for campaign activities. Field Managers report directly to campus organizers. For the full announcement and how to apply click here! Fill out your information here and we will be in contact.
Students are about to make history!
Students are working on a grassroots initiative that will finally create a real state-based financial aid system in Arizona! This historic proposition will provide $300 million for higher education and scholarships!
ASA and students have been working toward an initiative like this for years and it’s finally here! This is a historic moment for ASA and students that was built on the work of generations of student leaders. Students have suffered for too long without a real form of state financial aid.
ASA joined a grassroots coalition of parents, students, and teachers to create the initiative that will provide stable funding for K-12 and higher education, and specifically scholarships for students. To learn more about how the initiative that will bring real solutions to K12, higher education, children’s healthcare, transportation, and public safety click here.
Join the movement to get this measure on the ballot – click here to get involved!
Student reaction to tuition proposals
PHOENIX - Dan Fitzgibbon, the chairman of the Arizona Students’ Association, the statewide student organization that represents the 130,000 Arizona public university students, released the following statement regarding the tuition proposals released Friday from the Northern Arizona University, Arizona State University and the University of Arizona:
“After years of steep tuition and fees increases, it is great news to see universities release proposals that include zero percent tuition increases.
Arizona saw the second largest tuition increase last year and some students and families have been completely priced out of a higher education. Events like today show there may be hope that higher education is getting on the right track and students may no longer have to make the terrible decision about whether or not to leave school because of skyrocketing tuition and fees.
Still, graduate students and out-of-state students may see tuition increase. Rebates are also set to expire at NAU and the UA, which will result in increases of $300 at NAU and $750 at the UA. The average Arizona graduate student now leaves school with more than $40,000, while undergrads leave with more than $20,00 in student debt.
ASA will continue to advocate at all levels for affordable and accessible higher education.”
Students call on Legislators to ditch harmful mandatory minimum tuition bill
PHOENIX – Students at all three Arizona public universities are calling on legislators at the Capitol to reject proposed legislation that would make it mandatory for all students to pay $2,000 a year toward school without using any public funds to cover it.
HB2675 will make it mandatory for all students to pay $2,000 a year toward school, but without using any public or private funds to cover this amount. This means students couldn’t use grants, university scholarships, or tuition waivers to cover this amount. The only exceptions for this are athletic scholarships and nationally competitive scholarships.
“The only effect this bill will have is to limit access to our public universities and stunt Arizona’s competitiveness in the global marketplace,” said Dan Fitzgibbon, chair of the Arizona Students’ Association. “Students are already at the financial tipping point, and this bill will force many to consider leaving school or moving out of state.”
Work force projections show that by 2018, there will be jobs for as many as 2.2 million new workers with college degrees. On our current trajectory, we won’t make that goal—in fact we’ll miss it by 3 million workers. This bill will only worsen the situation by adding an unneeded barrier to a higher education.
The piece of legislation stems from the myth that students don’t invest in their higher education. However the total cost of attendance in Arizona, which includes tuition, books and fees, costs an average Arizona family 37 percent of its income.
Students are already saddled with a tremendous debt burden, and total student debt has already outpaced credit card debt.
The average Arizona undergraduate left school with more than $21,000 in debt, according to the Arizona Board of Regents.
“I really can’t afford for this bill to pass,” said UA senior Sara Olivo. “I’m already graduating with mountains of loans and credit card debt, and I’ll have to reconsider if I can afford to go to college in Arizona.”
Veterans are also harmed by the legislation. Last legislative session, a bipartisan group at the Capitol passed a bill granting in-states tuition for all honorably discharged veterans, signaling Arizona’s commitment to educating our nation’s veterans. But, HB2675 has no provision for the GI Bill and gives the negative impression that Arizona isn’t friendly to returning veterans seeking a higher education.
ABOR report shows Arizona in financial aid crisis
TUCSON, Ariz. – Arizona students and families are facing a crisis in how to afford college, a report released by the Arizona Board of Regents Thursday shows.
“The report shows the stark reality facing students and families when it comes to financing a higher education in Arizona,” said Dan Fitzgibbon, chairman of the Arizona Students’ Association. “The universities are doing a great job with the resources they have, but we need more state support to really fix the problem.”
Student loans are the largest source of financial aid “awarded” to students. State-based financial aid only accounts for around one percent of all aid resulting in 47.5 percent of students using loans, which has increased 79 percent in the past 5 years.
Student loans are an enormous burden on students and families, Fitzgibbon said. Recent data from the Project on Student Debt shows that two-thirds of students graduate with student debt nationally. The unemployment rate for recent graduates is 9.1 percent, which makes it harder than ever to pay down debt. According to the report, the average debt for undergraduates is $21,158 and $44,918 for graduate students.
Graduate students saw the biggest increase in indebtedness. Graduate students at Arizona State University average $47,110 in debt.
Still, this is just the debt that the university system tracks and does not take into account private student loans that are not disbursed by Bursar’s offices.
The total cost of attendance is up, which is the real amount students and families pay for school. Alarmingly, there has been a 53 percent increase for students in the lowest income bracket. The increase translates to $2,227 for low-income students. The report shows that out of the 62,153 students who showed need, only 7,699 had their need completely met, while 13,322 students with no financial need were awarded non-need based aid.
“These are tough times for Arizona students because the total cost of attendance is skyrocketing without any additional financial aid support,” said Alisha Raccuia, ASA director and Pell Grant Recipient. “Students and families have paid their fair share – we need more state investment in financial aid so we can graduate more students who can contribute to our state’s economic recovery.”
Statement on the super committee and the Pell Grant
Students continue to call on Congress to support federal financial aid;
7,000 statements of support sent to Sen. Kyl Monday urging support for financial aid
PHOENIX – The super committee in Washington disbanded Monday without a deal on deficit reduction, which means the Pell Grant may be safe from cuts for now, but at the cost of other important federal financial aid programs.
The Arizona Students’ Association continued its campaign to save federal financial aid programs by delivering more than 4,579 signed statements of support to Sen. Kyl Monday, urging him and Congress to stand strong for students and families and support federal financial aid programs. To date, ASA has collected and sent 7,285 signed statements of support to Sen. Kyl.
“Education drives economic growth,” said Dan Fitzgibbon, chair of the Arizona Students’ Association. “Without these vital federal programs, we won’t be able to graduate more skilled professionals and get our economy back on track.”
Federal financial aid programs like the Pell Grant are particularly important to Arizona because the state ranks 49th in the nation for state-based financial aid and students saw tuition increase 39 percent in three years, making it the second largest tuition increase in the nation.
Because the super committee didn’t reach an agreement, the Department of Education faces billions in cuts. Still, the Pell Grant is safe for now, but at the expense of other valuable financial aid programs.
“Until we have a real state-based financial aid system, students like me will have to rely on the Pell Grant as the only way to go to school,” said Alisha Raccuia, ASA board member and Pell Grant recipient. “It doesn’t make sense to save the Pell Grant at the expense of other financial aid programs.”
In Arizona, 38,851 students receive a Pell Grant, data for the Arizona Board of Regents shows.
Have your voice heard about tuition & fees Monday!
Students, families and community leaders have an opportunity to have their voices heard on tuition and fees!
The Arizona Board of Regents is holding an interactive public hearing Monday, March 28 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on tuition and fees on a videoconference all over the state. This is the best opportunity for students, parents and community members to tell the Regents how increased tuition and fees will affect them. Attend the meeting Monday, so the Regents hear a strong voice from the community on tuition and fees.
The University Presidents released their tuition and fee proposals last Friday. Here is a brief summary of the proposals:
UA:
• Base tuition and fees will increase: $1,790
ASU:
• Base tuition and fees will increase around $1,562
NAU:
• Incoming freshmen base tuition will increase: $1,045
Where to attend:
ASU – Tempe: Old Main, Carson Ballroom
Arizona State University – West: University Center Building,
(UCB) La Sala Ballroom C
Arizona State University – Polytechnic: Student Union, Cooley Ballroom - B
Arizona State University – Downtown: Nursing & Health Innovation, Building 2, NHI2 Room 110
Northern Arizona University - Flagstaff: Extended Campuses/ AZUN Building #16A, Room 201
Northern Arizona University – Yuma: Academic Complex, Room AC 108
The University of Arizona – Tucson: Harvill Building, Room 211
The University of Arizona - Sierra Vista: Academic Technology Building, B138
For more information on the hearing e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Students, parents & leaders rallied on campus Wednesday and called on their legislators to stand str
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 23, 2011
Phoenix – Students, parents, and community leaders rallied on university campuses across the state Wednesday and called on their leaders to stand strong for education and to not support cutting university budgets by $235 million.
More than 1,000 students at the UA, NAU, ASU Tempe, ASU Downtown, ASU West and ASU Polytechnic participated in the rally against university budget cuts.
“The Governor and the Legislature must stand strong for higher education and balance the budget and protect the Arizona’s economy without dismantling higher education.” said Arizona Students’ Association Board Chair Elma Delic.
The Senate’s budget proposal seeks to cut university funding by $235 million, $65 million more than the cuts already proposed by Governor Brewer. If passed ASU will be cut $107 million, UA will be cut $92 million and NAU will be cut $36 million.
Students to rally against $235 million in cuts to university budgets
Students will rally against the proposed $235 million cuts to university budgets Wednesday, March 23 at all major university campuses. Students will ask their elected representatives to stand strong for education.
The Senate’s budget proposal seeks to cut university funding by $235 million, $65 million more than the cuts already proposed by Governor Brewer. If passed ASU will be cut $107 million, UA will be cut $92 million and NAU will be cut $36 million.
WHEN:
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
ASU Tempe: 11:50 a.m.
UA: 11:30 a.m.
NAU: 12:00 p.m.
ASU West: 11:30 a.m.
ASU Polytechnic: 12:15 p.m.
ASU Downtown: 11:00 a.m.
WHO:
Students at Arizona State University, University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University
Speakers TBD
WHERE:
ASU Tempe: North of the Memorial Union
UA: Alumni Plaza (in front of the Administration building)
NAU: In the Pedway (East of the Student Union)
ASU West: Fletcher Lawn
ASU Polytechnic: SU West Patio
ASU Downtown: Taylor Mall
State Senate Votes to Cut Universities by $235 million
The State Senate voted Wednesday to cut the universities by $235 million and slash community college budgets by $72 million. They also voted to permanently repeal the state two-to-one match to the Arizona Financial Aid Trust(AFAT), which is the Arizona’s sole state-based financial aid.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to e-mail their Senators. Nearly 500 people sent their Senators a message telling them not to cut higher education by $235 million. The e-mails had a strong impact at the Capitol - Senators noted the e-mails were the first messages from constituents they received about this issue.
Still, the fight isn? over! Next, the budget goes to the State House. We must continue to show our elected officials the devastating impact these cuts will have on our universities. We have to stand united to ensure these cuts go no further!
Keep up the pressure on the Senators who voted for these cuts, but please take a moment to thank the members who voted with students against cuts and to keep state-based financial aid.
The Senators who voted with students are:
Senator Aboud: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Senator Cajero Bedford: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Senator Gallardo: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Senator Jackson: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Senator Landrum Taylor: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Senator Lopez: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Senator Meza: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Senator Schapira: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Senator Sinema: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Senator McComish: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Stay connected to ASA for more alerts as the budget process continues.
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