USSA has made a lot of great progress fighting for access and affordablity to higher education.  Read the newsletter to find out information about what USSA has been up to since our Legislative Conference, and what you can do now as a student.

Students did great work in Missouri and were able, through a strong statewide coalition, to make sure Ward Connerly did not get enough signatures to push a ballot initiative attacking equal opportunity programs.  This is a great mini victory in a long campaign to preserve key recruitment and retention programs in the state.  For more information please click here.
Although this is one step in ensuring equal opportunities for people of color and women, we still have a major up hill battle.  Colorado, Nebraska, and Arizona are still on the list of Connerly's "Super Tuesday for Equality".  We are doing major work in some of these states to develop strong statewide student networks to have broad voter education, registration, and turn out campaigns.  If you would like more information about the other ballot initiatives or want to be involved email or call the Student of Color Campus Diversity Project Director, Scott Lu.

Last week the Senate passed another short-term extension of the Higher Education Act (HEA) and the House is slated to vote on theirs as early as today, May 5th.  It has been nearly 10 years since the HEA was fully reauthorized.  Both the House and Senate have passed their versions of the bill, but conference committee negotiations have stalled because of a provision in the bill that would penalize states financially if they cut back their commitment to higher education.  We are also fighting to ensure that the aid elimination penalty is repealed.  Currently, students who have been convicted of drug related crimes while receiving financial aid are ineligible for receiving additional aid. 
The HEA is the single most important piece of legislation pertaining to higher education and includes federal student loan and grant programs and critical access programs such as GEAR UP & TRIO that assist low-income, first generation students to pursue and succeed in college.  As Congress completes the reauthorization process this summer, we'll be sure to keep you updated.

This is an incredible moment for young Americans. Already this year, young voters are taking action at the polls – doubling, tripling and quadrupling turnout in early primary states - building on the historic turnout of 2004 & 2006. The Presidents Commitment to Civic Engagement seeks to build on the momentum of young voters in recent years and put the power of institutions of higher education behind them.
Representing the diversity of higher education, the signatories of the Presidents Commitment to Civic Engagement have each committed, with the weight of their institutions behind them, to promote efforts to increase student voting and civic participation on campus.

Click here for more information on the Presidents Commitment to Civic Engagement, and see how you can get your campus to sign on.

 Come EAT and GROW with us!

Bring USSA's GrassRoots Organizing Weekend or Electoral Action Training to your campus!

Perfect for learning the basics of building student power - strategy, planning, leadership development, volunteer recruitment, electoral engagement, and direct action organizing - the EAT and the GROW empowers students to make change on the campus, state, and federal level.

61st Annual National Student Congress

As a national student run and led organization, the power of USSA lies within our membership.  Every year, students across the country come together at USSA's National Student Congress to elect it's leadership and national priorities for the coming year.
You are invited to USSA's 61th Annual National Student Congress, at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, from August 2-6.

Click here for information on registration.