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UCSD AS Legislation Updates

During the Fall Quarter of 2024, UCSD Associated Students (AS) saw nine bills come before its senate. In this article, The Triton will give a brief overview of each bill. Coverage of AS bills will be ongoing from this point on, and this article will be updated as the Senate meets on bills.

Resolution on the Implementation of Expanded Basic Needs Data Collection in Existing Quarterly Financial Aid Surveys On Campus

On November 11, 2024, AS met in regards to new data released by the UCSD Basic Needs Hub which found that UCSD is first in housing insecurity and second in food insecurity in the entire University of California system. The data found that between the 2021-2022 academic year and the 2023-2024 academic year student use of the Basic Needs Hub increased by 180% due to increased awareness of the resources it provides. 

In the 2022 University of California Undergraduate Experience Survey (UCUES) Data Tables, 42% of UCSD students reported that they experienced food insecurity. According to UCUES data from the same year, 44% of BIPOC and 45% of LGBTQ+ students are experiencing low or very low food security. According to internal Basic Needs data, 41% of students who use the Basic Needs Hub are first-generation college students.  

The bill, sponsored by Senator Nicholas Tappin, argues that “including basic needs questions in the mandates (sic) financial aid surveys will help streamline and consolidate data collection efforts for the Basic Needs Hub and provide greater data for the advocacy efforts undertaken by the Associated Students of UC San Diego.” It further argues that expanding such data would allow the UCSD Basic Needs staff to better analyze and respond to the needs of the UCSD student body. 

The AS Senate resolved to implore the UCSD Office of Financial Aid to “take substantive steps towards including questions, pertaining to basic needs insecurity and data collection” in the required Financial Aid Surveys for each class at the start of every quarter.

Bill Status: As of November 13, 2024, the bill was postponed by the Senate indefinitely.

Academic Assistance Grant

This bill, sponsored by Senator Jacqueline Chang, and co-sponsored by several other members of the senate including Executive Vice President Hoang, Vice President of Academic Affairs Yalamarty, and Chief Financial Officer Hoang, was in regards to paid third-party websites which students across various departments must pay for to access and complete their homework assignments. According to the AS bill, these sites include Kudos, Achievements, and Pearson and can range from $20 to $100. 

In the spring of 2024, Senator Chang conducted a survey of one hundred students regarding paid third-party websites. The study found that the average cost of third-party sites per student is $84.74. Furthermore, they found that 88% of students surveyed were interested in financial aid for paid third-party sites. 

The Senate resolved to set aside $7,457.12 to determine appropriate funds to aid students who have to pay for third-party sites for their classes. It was resolved that a sum of $7,400 would be issued after AS passed its Executive Budget. 

Bill Status: Approved

In Support of the UC Ethnic Studies A-G/H requirement

Discharged to the Senate on November 6, 2024, and sponsored by Senator Ashlyn Bautista, this bill is in regard to a letter written by the UC Students Association(UCSA), an association of UC students whose stated mission is “to advocate on behalf of current and future [UC] students for the accessibility, affordability, and quality of the University of California system.” 

The letter, which the UCSA claims represents the interests of 285,000 students, was sent to the Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools (BOARS), which “oversees all matters relating to the admissions of undergraduate students” and “regulates the policies and practices used in the admissions process that directly relates to the educational mission of the University and the welfare of students. The committee also recommends and directs efforts to improve the admissions process.”

Resolution On The Recent Administrative Reduction In The Hours At Geisel Library

This bill, discharged to the Senate on October 23, 2024, and sponsored by Senator Nicholas Tappin, is in regard to the reduction of operating hours of Geisel Library due to budget cuts to state funding of the UC System. AS stated that the decision to open Price Center for twenty-four hours to accommodate for the change to Geisel’s Hours was insufficient. Going on to state, that the security, service, and availability of Price Center are not equal to that of Geisel Library. 

AS stated that “a handful of Senators within the Associated Students of UC San Diego formally submitted an audit request of the allotment of student fees for Geisel Library, including other university services and departments.” According to AS, “the UC San Diego Department of Policy and Records Administration failed to deliver the relevant budgetary materials.”

According to a survey of 1,386 students conducted by AS, “99.9% (1,384 of 1,386) of all respondents indicated that they have used Geisel Library since they started at UC San Diego;” and

“82.8% of respondents (1,148 out of 1,386) stated that they have used Geisel Library past 10 PM on 

multiple occasions since they first started their degree at UC San Diego.” Furthermore, of those surveyed “65.9% of respondents (754 out of 1,386) stated that they have used Geisel Library past 10 PM between 11 to more than 20 times since they started their degree at UC San Diego[.]”

AS stated, “Associated Students of UC San Diego stands opposed to the recent hour changes to Geisel Library.” They claimed the cuts to Geisel’s operating hours put undue strain on students with heavy course loads or those who have busy extracurricular lives involving jobs or athletics requiring them to study late at night rather than during the day. They called upon the Office of the Chancellor to revisit its decision to reduce operating hours and reinstate twenty-four-hour access to study spaces in Geisel or elsewhere. 

Bill Status: Approved. 

2024-2025 ASUCSD Executive Budget

On October 23, 2024, the AS Finance Committee met to determine their Executive Budget, which decides how AS funds will be allocated. A budget summary can be found attached below. 

2024-2025 AS Revenue (Estimated based on 97,708 Annual Average Enrollment x $90.42 (includes 5.1% CPI Increase))$ 8,834,339.00
Referendums, Return to Aid, and Locked In Fees$ 3,326,238.00
Career Employees$ `1,352,538.00
Mandated Reserves Contribution (5% of Expendable Funds)$ 207,778.15
General Operations (Expendable Funds)$ 30,000.00
Office Operations (Expendable Funds)$ 792,155.27
Senate Operations (Expendable Funds)$ –
Student Employee Payroll & Stipends (Expendable Funds)$ 599,924.82
2024-2025 Remaining Funds (AS Revenue Minus Referendums, Return to Aid, Employees, Expendable Funds)$ 2,733,482.91

Bill Status: Approved

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