CSU Delegation Shares University Priorities in Washington, D.C.

A delegation of 115 California State University advocates came together in Washington, D.C., for Hill Week​ April 13-16, impressing upon members of Congress the importance of saving the Pell Grant, supporting Emerging Research Institutions (ERIs) and ensuring that federal investments in an AI-ready workforce align with regional universities such as the CSU.

“Your voice matters," CSU Chancellor Mildred García told the members of the delegation, which included CSU presidents, government relations staffers, faculty, students and alumni. “It has an impact not only on the lives of our students and their families and in the extended communities our universities serve, but also on a national and global scale. And this week, more than ever, we need your help to protect the CSU's power and amplify our key messages to our federal leaders."

Kicking off the week's events was House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, who appeared as a surprise guest at an opening reception. Pelosi thanked the delegation members for traveling to Washington and emphasized the importance of the CSU's role in advancing higher education.​CSU Chancellor Mildred García (right) ​and House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (Photo courtesy Kea Taylor/Imagine Photography)

​“I thank you for what you are doing—students, administrators, teachers—all of you," Pelosi said. “Education is the key to a democracy—our founders knew that. ...​ So, thank​ you for what you do to make that possible."​

Pelosi also cited Pell Grants as a top priority​​ and emphasized the importance of having conversations about Pell Grants with members of Congress. “One thing that I know we all have in common, whatever our political views, is that we have to do as much as possible for Pell Grants," she said. “Sometimes I think our colleagues don't understand the difference $1,000 makes in a family's decision as to whether their child can go to school."

Throughout the week, delegation members heard from a variety of Hill staffers—including professional staff from the House Committee on Education and Workforce, staff members from the offices of United States Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff and House minority leadership staff—​who spoke on issues ranging from the Pell Grant to immigration to the future o​f the Department of Education.

Members of the CSU delegation also made visits to legislative offices, and several CSU leaders visited editorial boards of national publications and participated in a media roundtable. Additionally, at a special meeting with Schiff and Padilla, the CSU campus presidents had a chance to ask questions about major issues facing the CSU and the impact of new federal policies.

Pell Grant, Institutional Funding Top Priorities List

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​​​​Chancellor García​ with CSU student leaders and federal legislative interns participating in the Cal State DC Scholars program.

​At the top of the list of the CSU's federal priorities is protecting the Pell Grant maximum award and student eligibility. Almost 60% of CSU undergraduates receive Pell Grants, representing more than $1 billion in federal investments to benefit low- and middle-income students across California. However, there is currently a $16.9 billion shortfall in the program that if left unfilled would necessitate reducing the current maximum award of $7,395. If Congress does not appropriate additional support, the grant will be cut or student eligibility will be reduced. The CSU maintains that the Pell Grant is Congress's most effective degree-completion tool, by reducing stop-outs, lowering student borrowing and increasing timely degree completion.

The CSU is also advocating for funding Emerging Research Institutions (ERIs​), the federal designation for universities with growing research capacity that have not yet reached the highest levels of federal research and development funding. As the administration reevaluates Minority-Serving Institutions, the CSU is encouraging Congress to strengthen and operationalize the ERI framework as a forward-focused pathway for research capacity-building—especially at high-access public systems such as the CSU. That research capacity would provide experiential learning opportunities that prepare students for evolving career demands, one of the goals of the CSU's strategic plan.

A third priority for the CSU is to ensure that federal investments in creating an AI-ready workforce align with the CSU and regional public institutions. In its recently released National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence, the administration recommended additional investments in AI development at land-grant institutions such as the University of California system. However, to fully meet the workforce needs of California and the nation, the CSU—which has been at the forefront of AI education and investment in higher education—​must be in a position to compete for additional federal funding.

Reps. Bera, Obernolte Honored

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​​​​United States Representatives Ami Bera (left) and Jay Obernolte. (Photo courtesy Kea Taylor/Imagine Photography)

During Hill Week, the CSU hosted an alumni reception, at which it presented two California congressmen with the inaugural Chancellor's Public Leadership Award. United States Representatives Ami Bera and Jay Obernolte were honored for their work in revamping the California Public Higher Education Caucus this Congress. Obernolte and Bera serve as co-chairs of this 29-member group of lawmakers, which works to improve the quality, affordability and accessibility of California's public higher education system.

Chancellor García praised Obernolte for his “steadfast commitment to California's continued vitality, leadership and global impact" and for his leadership in the artificial intelligence space. Obernolte, a computer engineer by training, is the only member of Congress with a graduate-level degree in AI.

García then thanked Bera, the son of immigrants who put himself through college and medical school with scholarships and loans, for understanding the need to support high-quality, affordable and accessible public higher education in California. “Having relied on federal student loans to put himself through medical school, he knows how critically important that affordability piece is—​so that doors of opportunity remain open for low-income students, students of color and first-generation students," she said.

Obernolte and Bera each received an award that had been designed and created by students at the Cal State San Bernardino and Sacramento State makerspaces, respectively.

See social media posts f​rom Hill Week​, keep up ​with the latest news from the CSU's Office of Federal Relations at the Federal Updates page, and sign up to receive the CSU's Federal Focus newsletter here. To share your thoughts with legislators on the CSU's top priorities, visit CSU Voices.

For more information, contact the CSU's Office of Federal Relations at [email protected].