ASI Civic Engagement Actin Plan 2018 I. Executive Summary Assciated Students, Inc. serve as an auxiliary nn-prfit rganizatin t Cal State LA. We are charged t prvide student representatin and avenues fr student vice. We believe that an effective student gvernment, like us, is the first step and first interactin students have with a civic life. We encurage students t vte in schl electins, t vice their pinins and interests, find slutins t pressing student issues, advcate n behalf f all Cal State LA students, participate in activism, endure service-learning, prmte a welcming and inclusive campus envirnment. Our ASI Legislative Affairs and Advcacy Cmmittee tk initiative and decided t create this ASI Civic Engagement Actin Plan. The ASI LAAC is cnsisted f student representatives that are elected and appinted t advcate n behalf f students, research and analyze higher educatin plicy, and prmte civic learning and demcratic engagement at Cal State LA. We wrk tirelessly t prmte the educatin f students fr engaged citizenship thrugh demcratic participatin in their cmmunities, respect and appreciatin f diversity, applied learning and scial respnsibility. The CLDE fcus area supprts discurse, educatinal prgramming, advcacy, and prfessinal develpment t help students gain the knwledge, skills, and abilities t make a difference in their cmmunities. Cal State LA has a strategic pririty t graduate civic-minded students equipped fr and cmmitted t engagement, service, and the public gd. We stand strng with ur university and lk frward t helping accmplish that gal. This actin plan will be active frm January 1, 2018 and will end n December 31, 2018. Officially Apprved by ASI Bard f Directrs n:
II. Leadership Legislative Affairs and Advcacy Cmmittee and ASI Lbby Crps Internal Marcs Mntes will chair the cmmittee, ASI VP fr External Affairs and Advancement Yessenia Villacrta, ASI Civic Engagement Officer Jshua Salazar, ASI Diversity and Inclusin Officer Marcus Rdriguez, ASI Directr f Gvernment Affairs and Leadership Prgrams (Prfessinal Staff) External Dr. Michael Willard, Directr f Service Learning at Cal State LA Luz Brjn, Directr f Civic Engagement and Internships The campus is mving t create a Civic Learning and Demcratic Engagement Steering cmmittee. We hpe this cmmittee, nce cnvened, can help crdinate campus wide effrts Student cmmittee members are either elected by the Cal State LA student bdy r will be appinted by LAAC r invited by A.S.I VP fr External Affairs and Advancement. Inclusivity: The cmmittee will seek t recruit members wh are underrepresented in the plitical realm t amplify their vices. Civic engagement is abut mre than vter registratin. There are many avenues t influence the plitical prcess and have a psitive influence in ne's cmmunity. Stakehlders, members frm the fllwing ffices will cmprise the cmmittee: VP fr Student Life Pat Brwn Institute Vice Prvst f Diversity and Engage Learning Center fr Engagement, Service and Public Gd Assciated Students, Inc. Center fr Student Invlvement Faculty Representatives LA Cunty Registrar s Office The cmmittee shall meet n a designated day and time, t be established by the membership, nce every mnth.
III. Cmmitment 1. Cal State LA currently demnstrates its cmmitment t imprving civic learning and demcratic engagement thrugh its requirement fr civic learning curses and its cllabratins with PBI. ASI demnstrates its cmmitment thrugh its varius effrts t help students engage civically, such as NVRD Vter Registratin Drive, CHESS, hsting gvernmental fficer events and debates, and the All-In-Challenge. These effrts culd be further imprved with the cllabratin f the university t prmte these events, including the public endrsement f the University President. With better crdinatin between all civic engagement stakehlders n campus, ur cmmitment can becme mre visible. a. Currently, majr events are cmmunicated via campus wide emails. ASI events specifically are prmted thrugh the website, app, and scial media. b. If events are cmmunicated utside the institutin, it is dne thrugh scial media r third-party stakehlders therwise invlved in the event (such as district candidates participating in the debate). 2. Frtunately, Cal State LA has taken initial steps t incrprate civic learning and demcratic engagement by requiring each student t take a civic learning curse. Mst recently, effrts have increased t make these curses mre easily available fr transfer students. Because f these increased and sustained effrts, this methd des seem cnsistent, sustainable, and systematic. Hwever, there is still rm t grw beynd the classrm t supprt ASI s effrts. 3. Cal State LA s cmmitment is reflected thrugh its visin statement: a. We are dedicated t delivering cutting-edge academic prgrams that prepare students t be innvative leaders in bth their prfessinal and civic lives and t serving the public gd thrugh initiatives that engage lcal, reginal, and glbal cmmunities in mutually beneficial partnerships. Additinally, ne f Cal State LA s strategic pririty areas, Engagement, Service, and the Public Gd currently aim t cnnect the educatinal envirnment t civic engagement and service learning. Their verall gal is t Graduate civic-minded students equipped fr and cmmitted t engagement, service, and the public gd. This same philsphy is als in the university s values. http://www.calstatela.edu/sites/default/files/grups/cal%20state%20la%27s%20strat egic%20plan/hmepage/calstatla-strategic-plan_11x17.pdf? ASI s cmmitment is demnstrated thrugh its cntinued allcatin f civic engagement events and pprtunities fr students. It is als demnstrated thrugh its visin statement, ignite ptential and empwer student vices t demnstrate the participatry value f student invlvement. Further cmmitment is als demnstrated in the missin statement:
Assciated Students, Inc. has prmted the establishment f, and prvided the means fr, effective avenues f student input int the gvernance f the campus; prvided an fficial vice thrugh which student pinin culd be expressed; prvided an pprtunity where students culd gain experience and training in respnsible plitical participatin and civic leadership; assisted in the prtectin f the rights and interests f individual students; and stimulated the educatinal, scial, physical and cultural well-being f the university cmmunity. 4. Upper Divisin, GE, civic learning utcmes specify that upn cmpletin f the curse students will be able t: 1. Demnstrate understanding f the cnnectin between academic learning/ disciplinary knwledge and civic participatin. 2. Demnstrate understanding f their impact n their respective physical, scial and cultural envirnments and hw such envirnments impact them. 3. Demnstrate knwledge f ways t make change in lcal and glbal cmmunities. 4. Demnstrate the ability t cllabrate in rder t develp and implement an apprach t a civic issue. http://www.calstatela.edu/sites/default/files/grups/center%20fr%20engagement%2 C%20Service%2C%20and%20the%20Public%20Gd/Mind_Matters/submitting_a_cur se_prpsal_fr_upper_divisin_ge_civic_learning_pdf.pdf 5. First time freshmen are required t cmplete a ttal f tw curses certified as Civic Learning/Cmmunity Engagement. Students will cmplete 3 units f (cl) in their IHE curse. The ther 3 units f (cl) must be cmpleted by chsing a curse in the Upper Divisin GE Requirements that cntains the Civic Learning/Cmmunity Engagement (cl) cmpnent. All Cal State L.A. students must cmplete a ttal f nine units frm the Upper Divisin GE Requirements. At least ne f thse curses (3 units) must cntain a Civic Learning/Cmmunity Engagement (cl) cmpnent. http://www.calstatela.edu/academicadvisement/general-educatin-and-universityrequirements 6. Service learning pprtunities are ffered thrughut campus t cmpliment the civic learning curses that ften require students t g ut and vlunteer. Fr example, ASI s Lbby Crps/Legislative Affairs branch trains and prepares students fr the pprtunity t advcate n the behalf f Cal State LA students. Further cllabratin with CSSA allws fr advcacy fr the entire CSU.
IV. Landscape Civic learning and demcratic engagement verall campus learning utcmes Increase f 47% vter enrllment amng 18-21-year-lds frm 2012 t 2016 Abut 8% increase in wmen vter enrllment and vted cmpared t 2012 Plitical climate and demcratic engagement n campus in cmparisn t that f peer institutins Cal State LA 2016 vting rate 56.4% vs 2016 vting rate fr ALL institutins 50.4% Awarded ALL IN Campus Demcracy Challenge fr having a student vting rate between 50% and 59% Hw is civic learning and demcratic engagement present in the curriculum? Mandatry upper divisin general educatin curse in the Civil Learning/Cmmunity Curses are listed under the fllwing: Natural Sciences and Quantitative Reasning Arts and Humanities Scial Science What internal barriers prevent the institutin frm being successful? Being in a cmmuter schl where infrmatin might nt be readily available Part-time vting data had a 10.7% increase frm 2012 t 2016 as ppsed t full-time rate f change f 7.6% Maintain relative numbers cmmunicatin is t be filter accrding t ensure the cmmuter schl maintains chesiveness Lack f institutinalized effrts What external barriers prevent the institutin frm being successful? Lack f prximity t plling lcatin as in persn, electin day numbers tk a dive f abut 7% The ability t accmmdate different ways f early vting withut data being recrded as enrllment increases, the number f mail vting methd increases, and Cal State LA being a cmmuter schl. What resurces are available t help the institutin be successful? The mandatry upper divisin curses in Civic Learning The ability t register t vte as financial aid is being filled ut The ability t register t vte thrugh the Cal State LA website prtal What additinal resurces are needed t help the institutin be successful? The sense f cmmunity amng the clleges within the University Raising awareness and prcedure abut vting by mail since there was a 28.6% increase frm 2012 t 2016
Advising the imprtance f exercising the vte thrugh campus pen frums t the firstyear class since enrllment numbers seem t be relatively high V. Gals Purpse: T increase civic learning and demcratic engagement at Cal State LA, by fcusing n registering, educating and mbilizing students t vte. Lng Term Gals Fr presidential electins current Cal State LA student vting rate is 56.4%, it has risen by 10% frm 2012. We aspire t increase it t 75% by 2020. Midterm electins are ften verlked, we want t push fr mre cnsistency in this area and increase it t 25% student vting rate in the 2018 Midterm electins. Create a Vter Educatin and Mbilizatin Center n campus by 2022. Create a fund t spnsr independent service prjects f Cal State LA students Shrt term Gals Hst cnsistent twnhalls/frums, at least ne per semester (Fall 2018 and Spring 2018) t infrm the Cal State LA cmmunity abut relevant issues affecting ur educatin Outreach t mre campus departments/areas t include mre representatives frm different Cal State LA areas t create a mre diverse civic engagement. Send campus wide emails and hld events that will infrm students abut upcming electins and issues f interest Use the ASI Lbby Crps, the student advcate arm f ASI, t be ambassadrs f civic engagement acrss campus. They will be respnsible fr grassrts strategies t prmte civic engagement and plitical participatin Advcate t strengthen the cmpnent f Civic Learning in the General Educatin Curriculum
VI. Strategies 1. What is the wrk? What are the plan activities? Students are asking the campus t create a Civic Learning and Demcratic Engagement Steering cmmittee. The Purpse f cmmittee: Unify all relevant campus stakehlders that are interested in increasing vter participatin and civic engagement. Adhere t recmmendatins inserted in the Vter Registratin & Engagement MOU signed by the Califrnia Secretary f State Alex Padilla, CSU Chancellr White, and CSSA President Lpez t increase vter participatin at CSU campuses, including: implementing a cmprehensive civic engagement plan; creating pprtunities t register students t vte during resident mve-in days, new student and transfer rientatins, welcme week, and in high-traffic areas; identifying and implementing plicy changes t prmte vter engagement; and prmting vter registratin thrugh students registratin prtals and campus wide emails. Create a multi-year Civic Engagement Plan that leads t the 2018 Primary and the 2020 General Electins and creates a culture f engagement and plitical participatin. Develp a campus mdel that allws fr ther CSUs t mirrr ur effrts and prmte best practices t ther clleges and universities. Identify pprtunities fr the University t imprve ur effrts thrugh external partnerships and identify special designatins r recgnitins fr ur civic engagement effrts. Create an annual cmmunicatin plan that determines hw many campus wide emails will be sent thrughut the year, schedules the frequency f them, and n what key dates i. campus wide emails will be used t remind students abut deadlines t register t vte, upcming electins, and events ii. In additin t emails, press releases, p-eds, and ther frms f cmmunicatin will be used Cntinue hsting a Natinal Vter Registratin Day Annually Hst an Open Deliberatin event fr students t prmte dialgue and cmmunity Ty & Fd drive Plitical debates (lcal & state) such as Assembly District 51 Special Electin Debate i. Pssible US Senate Debate ii. Pssible Gubernatrial Debate
Pilting Mind Matters twn halls, require ASI Legislative Affairs and Advcacy Cmmittee t participate Event during the Spring semester t decrease plitical apathy Prmte pst-graduatin public service pprtunities such as, the CA Capitl Fellws Prgram Supprting faculty s initiative t prmte civic entrepreneurship Onging partnerships with CALPIRG, Campus Vte Prject, YVte Pledge cards t cllect infrmatin frm students such as address and issues they care abut that make them mre likely t vte. In additin, students wuld indicate what time f the day they wuld vte, where they wuld vte, wh they wuld g t vte with. Add a buttn t the student prtal and ASI website t remind students t vte and linked t the CA Secretary f State website Cntinue t fund the ASI Alternative Break Prgram Vter Registratin and GOTV campaigns (i.e.. Tabling events, classrm presentatins) Create jin effrts with student clubs and rganizatins t fster civic engagement amng students i. Create a special designatin fr student rganizatins that are civically engaged and prmte these effrts t their membership and the student bdy Student activism has been supprted via an fficial reslutin and jin-effrts t ppse tuitin increases Hst mre frums and twnhalls such as Demcracy In Actin frums and invite elected fficials t attend Cal State LA t cnverse with students abut pressing issues Califrnia Higher Educatin Student Summit: students travel t the state capitl t participate in a higher educatin plicy cnference fllwed by legislative visits t talk t elected fficials abut higher educatin funding and imprtant student issues Find prfessinal develpment pprtunities fr students like the Civic Learning and Demcratic Engagement cnference rganized by AASCU and NASPA 2. Wh will d the wrk? Wh is respnsible fr implementing each planned activity? ASI Civic Engagement Officer Legislative Affairs and Advcacy Cmmittee Other ffices n campus that are invlved Center fr Engagement, Service and the Public Gd EPIC Faculty 3. Wh is the wrk fr? Wh is the audience fr each activity? Our wrk is fr all Cal State LA students and the surrunding cmmunity t Cal State LA The audience is the University (students & staff) and the cmmunity 4. Where will the wrk happen? Where will each activity ccur n campus? Wrk will happen in the ASI ffice and ther respective ffices invlved with event Occurrence Student unin plaza and theater, Campus main walkway 5. When will the wrk happen? When will each activity ccur n campus? Wrk will happen during service and/r specific duty hurs in junctin with varying ffices n campus that are invlved
When NVRD: Fall semester, T&F Drive: year-rund, Debates: year-rund 6. What is the purpse f the wrk? Why is each activity being implemented and what is the gal fr each activity? Purpse t fster a cmmunity f civically engaged students prmte activism and plitical knwledge amngst students (Debates) create a cmmunity that helps ne anther/ gives back (Ty & Fd drive) VII. Reprting Hw will the Plan be shared? The plan shuld be shared bth internally and externally. Internally, the plan will be distributed t all ASI members. A presentatin will be made t the ASI Bard f Directrs, ASI Shared Gvernance Cuncil, and ASI Legislative Affairs and Advcacy Cmmittee Externally, we culd share the plan at the Academic Senate, email t all faculty f Cal State LA, ASI Cllege Representatives share it with the Deans f their cllege s that clleges and faculty can push students t engage with any pprtunities created by the civic engagement plan. Will the plan be made public? If s, hw? The Plan will be shared with students via ur website thrugh a standing page and via ur scial media ASI will hst a frum t near the end f the academic year (April) t infrm students abut the prgress f civic engagement at Cal State LA Will the data be used t infrm the plan made public? If s, hw? As we fcus n being transparent, the data alng with the plan shuld be available t the public because the students and faculty shuld be able t tell whether the plan is prducing results. The data shuld be presented nce there has been enugh data cllected t shw whether there has been an increase r decrease in civic engagement. The results shuld be disbursed at BOD, SGC, the Academic Senate and t any ther stakehlder invlved.
VIII. Evaluatin OUTCOMES: Students will be able t: access humanitarian values (e.g. use scial justice rhetric, understand persnal and scial respnsibility, and serve as psitive scial change agents); explre the dimensins f difference in cmmunities; engage with the lcal cmmunity in appreciatin f civic duty; and intentinally gain knwledge abut new cultures and the natural wrld. Students will build a campus culture that fsters: civic eths, civic literacy and skill building, civic inquiry, civic actin, and civic agency As part f ur educatinal assessment we will be dcumenting and using empirical data n the knwledge, skill, attitudes, and beliefs t refine prgrams and imprve student learning. Results will be shared via an annual ASI Civic Engagement Actin Reprt and published n the ASI media platfrms at the cnclusin f the Spring Semester. ASSESSMENT METHODS: Direct Assessment: Student presentatins (e.g. in-class, Academic Senate, campus-wide cmmittees, ASI Bard f Directrs) Indirect Assessment: Student self-reflectin essays (i.e. ASI Student Leader State f Affairs) Frmative Assessment: Small Grup Analysis (e.g. Open Deliberatin prgrams, Mind Matters Twn Halls) Summative Assessment: Student pst-participatin experience fcus grup (e.g. Lbby Crps, Legislative Affairs and Advcacy Cmmittee) Value-Added Assessment: Entrance/Exit Interviews (e.g. ASI Student Leader transitin cnversatins)