February 2020

President's Message

Greetings Student Leaders!

As most of us have begun class or will soon begin and many of us have other responsibilities including family, work, social, and personal activities, we would like to remind everyone to take care of your physical and mental health. 

That said, here’s what is happening at the state level as we work on your behalf:

• Our March in March event is about advocating for the governor and legislature to fund the full cost of college, which includes fixing financial aid and providing funds for housing and food securities.  It is no secret that it costs more for someone to attend a community college than it does to attend a CSU or UC. This event is how we use our voice to let the state legislature and the governor know that if California is to succeed, then they need to provide students with more funds! Our needs can’t be ignored. Thousands of community college students are facing hunger and housing insecurities. It is time our government makes a meaningful investment into our education, our lives, and our future! I am excited to stand side by side with all of you as we march on the State Capitol and in our districts. 
   
• General Assembly is also right around the corner. This event guides the SSCCC in the advocacy work we do. If the SSCCC is going to have a strong advocacy voice, we need to hear from you! We advocate for student trustee rights because we heard from you. Last year, you told us that you don’t feel like your voice is being heard at the local level so you asked us to advocate to give student trustees the right to vote on the local boards of trustees. This year, the student trustee's right to vote is one of our priorities. We advocate to fix financial aid because we have heard your stories and understand that our current system does not address all of your needs so you can complete your education. I hope to see you all at the General Assembly so we can continue discussing issues that impact community college students and guide the SSCCC priorities for the next year. 
   
• We are also for the first time in SSCCC history teaming up with the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges to hold a statewide training event for local student senate leaders. This event will train student leaders on how to effectively work with your local academic senate to accomplish goals that benefit your students and your colleges. Since we have new student leaders every year, we are often at a disadvantage. It’s important we are all informed and trained to ensure we serve our students and developing relationships with other participatory governance groups such as faculty can be a valuable resource for students.  

Lastly, I want to take this time to thank you all for your engagement and participation in the work we do at the Student Senate for California Community Colleges. We have never been closer to financial aid reform specifically for community college students. We are advocating for student rights on a larger scale than ever before. We are also growing and maturing as an organization. It could not be done without all of you! Please continue to stay engaged.  If you are not participating at the state level but would like to, please check out the volunteer opportunities below. Thank you.

In Solidarity,

Danny Thirakul

MARCH IN MARCH 

Theme: Fund the Full Cost of College  

The Board of Directors has approved the theme for the upcoming March in March.  We will be marching to advocate for the legislature to "Fund the full cost of college!"  This means we want them to fix financial aid; provide more funds for basic needs (e.g. housing, food insecurity, textbooks, childcare); ensure that there are more funds for our low income, veteran, foster youth, and incarcerated and previously incarcerated students; and fund mental and general health just to name some of the costs of attending college.  We are hoping to have over 400 students, but we need you!  In an effort to ensure we have the proper permits, please let us know that you are planning to march on the Capitol or in your district.  Let us know you are marching here.  There are no costs. #MarchinMarch2020 

2020 General Assembly
April 3 - 5, 2020 in Ontario California 

We are so excited! Can you believe the SSCCC General Assembly is right around the corner -- less than two months away?  This might seem like a long time away but there is much for us to do and we have much for you to do.  Below is your to-do list.  

• Registration: If you have not registered yet, early registration ends on February 15, 2020.  After that date, the rate increases.  Register today!  
• Room reservations: Rooms are filling up fast.  If you want to be within walking distance from the Convention Center, we highly encourage you to secure your room soon.  You can find hotel room information on our website here.  The deadline to secure your room is March 12, 2020.  

• Call for Proposals: For the first time, the SSCCC is calling for proposals.  If your ASO or students on your campus are doing some amazing work and you would like to share with others, consider sending in a proposal.  However, you will need to act fast as the deadline is February 14, 2020.  You can find the possible topics and submission form here. 

• Resolutions:  Check out the first resolution packet available on the SSCCC website here. We highly recommend that you review the resolution packet with your college ASO and consider amendments to perfect the resolutions if they are not quite right.  Amendments are due by February 28, 2020.  We will then perfect the resolutions and send out and post the final packet by March 4, 2020.

• Webinars: The SSCCC Board of Directors is proposing revisions to important governing documents for the delegates to consider:  the SSCCC Constitution and Bylaws Revision and the three-year Strategic Plan.  These documents are complex, and we want to ensure that the delegates have time to review them before considering action during the General Assembly.  In an effort to provide more background information, we have developed several webinars.  See below for the time and dates for the webinars.  The documents related to these governing documents can be found on the SSCCC calendar under the dates of the webinar.  

Elections 

Candidate eligibility forms were submitted by January 31, 2020, so it is too late to run for an officer position.  However, you can review the candidate statements available online on March 3, 2020, here.  Review these candidates with your ASO and come prepared to vote.  You will have an opportunity to meet the candidates, learn more about them, and to ask questions during the Candidate Forum on Friday night. 

If you are not running for an executive position, you can serve on the SSCCC Elections Committee.  Sign up here.  

Program

The Preliminary Program is available on the SSCCC website here.  Please do not miss this year's General Assembly.  

General Assembly Keynote Speakers

COMING SOON -- CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR BOARD OF GOVERNORS STUDENT POSITION

Education Code §71000 provides that the student organization recognized by the California Community College Board of Governors--the SSCCC--shall submit at least three student members to the Governor for the appointment as the student representative to the Board of Governors.  It is that time again!  The Board of Governors Student Representative Application will be available the second week in February and sent out via the SSCCC Listserv.  If you have not signed up for the listserv, you can do so from this link.     

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

We are seeking volunteers to serve on SSCCC Shared Governance Committees.  This is your opportunity to serve at the state level without making an extensive commitment since some committees meet only two or three times a year.  If you are interested in serving on any of the shared governance committees listed below, please visit the SSCCC website "Serving at the State Level" page to learn about the appointment process and to access the application.  

• Accessibility Standards Workgroup
• Distance Education Technology Advisory Committee
• Library and Learning Resources Program Advisory Committee
• Next up/Cooperating Agencies Foster Youth Educational Support 

Serving at the state level can be very rewarding.  Consider serving today! 

UPCOMING EVENTS

• SSCCC Board of Directors Meeting February 7, 2020, Woodland. 
• SSCCC Executive Committee Meeting, February 28, 2020, TBD
• SSCCC Board of Directors Meeting, March 13 - 14, 2020, TBD. 
• SSCCC Executive Committee Meeting, March 27, 2020, TBD. 
• SSCCC Board of Directors Meeting, April 2, 2020, Ontario. 
• SSCCC 2020 Spring General Assembly April 3 - 5, 2020 in Ontario at the Ontario Convention Center.  
• SSCCC Executive Committee Meeting, April 24, 2020, TBD
• SSCCC Board of Directors Meeting, May 1 - 2, 2020, TBD. 
• SSCCC Executive Committee Meeting, May 29, 2020, TBD.  
• SSCCC Board of Directors Meeting, June 12, 2020, Sacramento. 
• Joint Leadership Event with the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges June 17 - 18, 2020 in Newport Beach. 
• Check out all the SSCCC events including Regional Meetings on the SSCCC Calendar.  

All SSCCC Board of Directors and Executive Committee meetings are available via teleconference.  Check out the calendar on the SSCCC website (link above) for the agendas and call information at least 72-hours prior to the meeting.