Summary of CSU Systemwide Federal Policy Priorities for 2008

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With 23 campuses, 450,000 students, and 46,000 faculty and staff, the CSU is the largest, the most diverse, and one of the most affordable university systems in the country. The CSU Board of Trustees has identified the following as systemwide federal policy priorities for 2008:

Pell Grants: Support overall funding increases for the Pell Grant program, an increase to the maximum award, and availability of a second Pell award for students to pursue year-round study.

Early Intervention Programs: Advocate expanding GEAR UP and TRIO, vital to preparing underrepresented students for college and decreasing the need for remediation. These programs, which serve different cohorts of students in distinct ways, should remain separate.

Developing Institutions and Hispanic Serving Institutions: The CSU will work to assure that its campuses receive a fair share of the benefits of programs in Title III and Title V of the HEA that are designed to strengthen “developing” and “Hispanic Serving” institutions, and will advocate Title V changes designed to strengthen graduate programs at Hispanic Serving Institutions.

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields: The CSU will advocate programs promoting the participation and success of diverse California students in STEM fields.

Veterans Education: Support programs and legislation that enhance higher education opportunities for veterans of U.S. military service.

International Education Programs:Advocate expansion of programs that promote global awareness and understanding, creating opportunities for domestic and international students and faculty to study abroad.

Federally Supported Applied Research: Advocate broadening federal support for applied research and programs to advance the vital workforce preparation conducted by the CSU system.

Community Service Provisions: Advocate increasing incentives for student and campus participation in community service activities, including in the Work-Study program.

Campus-Based Aid Programs: Advocate for the continuation of the Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG) program and reinstatement of a federal capital contribution for the Perkins Loan program, which enhance available resources for needy students. Support altering the current campus-based aid distribution formula, which affects the SEOG, Work-Study, and Perkins Loan programs, to assure allocation of these funds on a fair-share basis to institutions with growing populations of students with need and to newer campuses, which have been most disadvantaged by the current formula.

Sustainability: Support federal initiatives consistent with the CSU commitment to sustainability – not only through best institutional practices, but through applied research, education, and service.