2008 Woodie Awards
Students Meet to Establish Statewide Student Senate
Legislative liaison Kelly Marques attended the summit on behalf of the college
Emily Rios
Issue date: 10/26/05 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Student government leaders are in the process of establishing a statewide student senate to represent the 2.5 million community college students in California.
ASCC legislative liaison Kelly Marques recently attended a groundbreaking event in the effort on behalf of Citrus College.
On Oct. 7-8, the Student Body Government Presidential Summit was held in Los Angeles to begin discussions on the establishment of a student senate.
In September when he visited the Citrus College campus, Chancellor Mark Drummond talked about the lack of student input in the state policy-making process.
According to the California community colleges website, the board of governors adopted section 50002 of Title V of the California Code of Regulations to ensure student participation in policy making.
Section 50002 states that a student senate for the California Community Colleges has been established in conjunction with local associated student organizations so that the community college students of California may have a formal and effective means for participation in the formation of state policies that have or may have a significant impact on students.
"Students are the ultimate consumers of products," said Dr. Arnold Rollin, Dean of Students and ASCC advisor. "How do you know what students think if they are not there? They are the ultimate constituents."
Representatives from approximately 78 of the 109 California community colleges, which are broken up into 10 regions, participated in October summit, the first step of implementing the senate.
Several presentations were made during the summit. Scott Lay, Vice President and General Counsel for the Community College League of California, served as the keynote speaker and gave a speech about effective student government leadership.
"Having an effective statewide student senate is a critical part of student representation," Marques said. "The conference gave me the opportunity to meet student leaders from Region VIII. The conference was a valuable learning experience and an excellent forum to discuss the creation of a statewide student senate."
The creation of the statewide student senate is a response to the 2.5 million community college students who are currently being inadequately represented on the state level, Marques said.
"It is always important that students have a voice," ASCC president Sharon Montes said. "If the chancellor's office actually take student's opinions into consideration, then I think the student senate is a great idea."
The summit was the first step in a long process of establishing the senate.
According to Rollin, the process is off to a good start.
"It is like starting the United States over with a new Constitution," he said.
ASCC legislative liaison Kelly Marques recently attended a groundbreaking event in the effort on behalf of Citrus College.
On Oct. 7-8, the Student Body Government Presidential Summit was held in Los Angeles to begin discussions on the establishment of a student senate.
In September when he visited the Citrus College campus, Chancellor Mark Drummond talked about the lack of student input in the state policy-making process.
According to the California community colleges website, the board of governors adopted section 50002 of Title V of the California Code of Regulations to ensure student participation in policy making.
Section 50002 states that a student senate for the California Community Colleges has been established in conjunction with local associated student organizations so that the community college students of California may have a formal and effective means for participation in the formation of state policies that have or may have a significant impact on students.
"Students are the ultimate consumers of products," said Dr. Arnold Rollin, Dean of Students and ASCC advisor. "How do you know what students think if they are not there? They are the ultimate constituents."
Representatives from approximately 78 of the 109 California community colleges, which are broken up into 10 regions, participated in October summit, the first step of implementing the senate.
Several presentations were made during the summit. Scott Lay, Vice President and General Counsel for the Community College League of California, served as the keynote speaker and gave a speech about effective student government leadership.
"Having an effective statewide student senate is a critical part of student representation," Marques said. "The conference gave me the opportunity to meet student leaders from Region VIII. The conference was a valuable learning experience and an excellent forum to discuss the creation of a statewide student senate."
The creation of the statewide student senate is a response to the 2.5 million community college students who are currently being inadequately represented on the state level, Marques said.
"It is always important that students have a voice," ASCC president Sharon Montes said. "If the chancellor's office actually take student's opinions into consideration, then I think the student senate is a great idea."
The summit was the first step in a long process of establishing the senate.
According to Rollin, the process is off to a good start.
"It is like starting the United States over with a new Constitution," he said.