Lobby Con 2012
Do you want to go down to the Arizona Capitol to Lobby for the issues that matter to students? Then you’re in luck. ASA’s annual Lobby Con 2012 is set for February 3-5 at ASU Downtown in the Cronkite building Friday and A.E. England Building Saturday and Sunday! Click here to register now!
Lobby Con 2012 is an exclusive event where student leaders get the skills they need to advocate for issues that matter to them. Lobby Con is also a chance for students to get briefings from political insiders and network with their peers. Special guests this year include Secretary of State Ken Bennett and Elva Coor of the O’Connor House. Registration is just $20, which covers two breakfasts, two lunches and one dinner.
After the conference, ASA will host its 35th annual Lobby Day at the Arizona Capitol on February 6, 2012! Student leaders from around the state will gather for a day at the Capitol to lobby their elected leaders on the issues that matter to them.
Don’t miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and register now!
Check out the draft Lobby Con agenda here and the draft Lobby Day agenda here
Click here to download a flyer!
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 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.
Follow ASA on twitter @azstudents
Like our Facebook page at goo.gl/Wp3MN
Regents Side with Students!
After robust conversation, the Arizona Board of Regents decided today to direct Regent staff and the universities to work with students before setting tuition and fee policies in April.
This means students will not be shut-out of the tuition and fee setting process.
Regent Ginther was a steadfast advocate for students today at the meeting. On behalf of Arizona students, we thank her and all the Regents for deciding to give students a voice in the tuition and fee setting process.
ASA Board Chair Elma Delic’s Statement on Today’s Tragic Events
“The Arizona Students’ Association is greatly saddened by the tragic attack on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, her staff and other community members.”
“Congresswoman Giffords has been a steadfast advocate for Arizona students, and it is an honor to work with her and her staff on many issues facing Arizona students.”
“We are proud of Arizona Students’ Association Fellow Daniel Hernandez and we are thankful he is well and was able to play such a critical role in saving the Congresswoman and many others injured.”
“Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathy are with the friends and family of those killed and wounded today. We wish everyone injured a full and speedy recovery.”
Common Course Numbering
Initiated by ASA as a means to save students the unnecessary time and money spent on transferring core courses from one Arizona public institution to the next, Senate Bill 1186 (SB1186) was intended to streamline the numbering system of core courses amongst all community colleges and universities. By establishing this Common Course Numbering (CCN) system for core courses, ASA aimed to minimize inconsistencies in the current system (Course Equivalency Guide).
Not intended as an end all, be all solution, CCN does not change direct equivalency requirements, only clarifies them. Deep and complex, much must be done to address the issues associated with the transfer process that are costing students and families. CCN is an overdue step in the right direction.
ASA has and continues to collaborate with members of the Arizona Board of Regents to ensure a cost-manageable option to incrementally implement a Common Course Numbering System. As such, we have provided a CCN Report with support documents and an Executive Summary offering a solution.
University Students Urge Regents Not to Cut AIMS Scholarship
The Arizona Students’ Association (ASA), a statewide advocacy organization representing all of Arizona’s public university students, continues its opposition to proposed cuts in the Regents High Honors Endorsement Award, also known as the AIMS Scholarship. Elma Delic, ASA Board Chair and a student at the University of Arizona, released the following statement:
The Arizona Students’ Association opposes any cuts to financial aid programs, especially when tuition has dramatically increased and Arizona’s students and families planned on receiving this scholarship.
The AIMS Scholarship has provided an incentive to Arizona’s high school students; that if they work hard and pass the AIMS test, they would be rewarded with an academic award in the amount of in-state tuition at any of Arizona’s universities. Many students in Arizona have planned on receiving this scholarship since this program has begun and many are working hard to utilize this as the key to higher education, as can be seen by the steady increase in recipients.
Currently, the AIMS Scholarship is the only form of financial aid that is keeping pace with the dramatic tuition increases over the past few years. In the past three years alone, tuition has increased 63 percent, causing many scholarships to become inadequate.
The concerns of the universities stem from the fact that tuition has dramatically increased causing the AIMS Scholarship to no longer be viable within its current funding mechanism.
“Cutting financial aid should never be used as a cost-saving measure since it directly impacts both accessibility and affordability,” said Delic. “It is therefore the Arizona Board of Regents and the universities’ responsibility to provide due diligence in examining this program prior to making any substantive changes to minimize the harm to any future recipient of the award.
Click here to view the entire student proposal
Click here to view the original proposal from the Arizona Board of Regents
Click here to view the most recent proposal from the Arizona Board of Regents
The US House of Representatives Supported Students by Passing Changes to Student Aid
On March 21st, the US House of Representatives passed sweeping changes to student aid as part of the reconciliation process. The changes to student aid programs will mean the largest investment in student aid in our country since the G.I. Bill. The Arizona Students?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ Association along the United States Student Association, the US Public Interest Research Group and Campus Progress were part of a national campaign to get Congress to support Students and not banks.
The changes in student aid will provide needed funding for student aid programs such as the Pell Grant, which aided 6 million students from 2007 ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú 2008. It will also lower interest rates on need-based subsidized federal student loans, helping more than 5.5 million students across the country. Students will now have more access to the Perkins loan program by expanding the program to every college campus in the United States and students will be ensured a simpler FAFSA form that will make applying for financial aid easier. All the costs for the program are covered by ending the expensive subsidies to the banking industry which will save $87 billion dollars over the next ten years.
Students at Arizona universities worked around the clock during their spring breaks to ensure that their voices were heard and that they would, in fact, be supported with this bill.
On behalf of the Arizona Students’ Association, we would like to thank Congress members Giffords, Mitchell, Kirkpatrick, Grijalva and Pastor in this fight for funding.
Arizona Board of Regents Tuition Hearing.
Arizona Board of Regents Tuition Hearing TONIGHT from 5:00pm - 7:00pm on YOUR campus. This is your opportunity to show your support for Arizona students and higher education by attending this public hearing before the final Tuition Setting on March 11th. You also have the opportunity to voice your opinions or tell your story about what increased tuition means to you and your family. If you would like to speak at this event, please come to your designated campus at 4:30pm to sign up. If you can’t make it, please e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with your comments about increased tuition that will be forwarded to the Arizona Board of Regents. Click HERE for a list of campus locations.