2014-2015
ANNUAL
PRIORITIES
ASSOCIATED STUDENTS, INC.
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FRESNO
WELCOME!
As the 2014-2015 Executive Team, we are pleased to present
our five annual priorities for the upcoming academic year.
We have made the decision to focus on five main issues that
will help us serve students to the best of our ability. We have
prioritized these five ideals based on how much time and
effort we feel will be necessary to improve each area. We
hope that by distributing our annual priorities to those that
constantly interact with ASI, we can help you understand
how to better assist student representatives. Each priority
and goal listed is of extreme importance to us this academic
year and we cannot wait to celebrate our success with you
when they are accomplished.
-The ASI Executive Team
MOSES R. MENCHACA
PRESIDENT
ANTHONY FARNESI
VICE PRESIDENT OF
FINANCE
ABIGAIL HUDSON
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
KIRANJIT DHANJAN
VICE PRESIDENT OF
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
ASI STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
The purpose of the Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) at California State University,
Fresno is to provide a means for responsible and effective participation in the
governance of the campus and quality of the educational experience by:
“
Stimulating the
Investing in and
educational, social, providing services and
physical and cultural programs to meet the
wellbeing of
needs of students and
University community.
the campus.
“
Providing an official
voice through which
Assisting in the
student opinions are
protection of the
expressed through the rights and interests of
shared governance of
the student body.
the University.
MISSION
As the recognized student body government organization at California State
University, Fresno, Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) provides a means for effective
student participation in the governance of the University; fosters awareness of
student opinions on campus issues; assists in the protection of student rights,
and provides programs and services to meet the needs of the students and
campus community.
ASI CORE VALUES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
INTEGRITY- ASI VALUES ORGANIZATIONAL INTEGRITY AND DEMONSTRATES IT
THROUGH TRANSPARENCY AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
DIVERSITY- ASI VALUES ALL COMPONENTS TO THE DIVERSITY OF OUR STUDENT
POPULATION, INCLUDING POLITICAL, MULTI-ETHNIC, AND OTHER FORMS OF
DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.
COMMITMENT- ASI VALUES ITS ABILITY TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON COMMITMENTS
TO THE STUDENT BODY AND FINDS INNOVATIVE WAYS TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS
THEIR NEEDS.
SELFLESSNESS- ASI VALUES THE SELFLESSNESS OF OUR MEMBERS AND
VOLUNTEERS, AND THEIR CHOICE TO SERVE THE FRESNO STATE COMMUNITY.
EFFICIENCY- ASI VALUES THE EFFICIENCY WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION AND
OUR ABILITY TO COLLABORATE, COMMUNICATE, AND BE EFFECTIVE ON AND OFF
CAMPUS.
ASI AUXILIARY
[
Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) at California State University, Fresno is a 501(c)3
nonprofit corporation and the recognized student body auxiliary organization
at Fresno State. Auxiliary organizations exist because the state recognized the
need for certain activities at the campuses and the CSU, but determined that
these activities would be best performed by one or more nonprofit organizations
having a legally separate relationship with their respective campus or the CSU.
ASI provides support to a variety of programs aimed at meeting the needs of the
students of the University. ASI serves as a vehicle for participation in the governance
of the University. ASI also serves, as an auxiliary organization, as the fiscal agent for
student club and organization accounts and student-related programs and activities.
[
The operations and activities of asi are integrated with campus operations and
policies established by the president and shall be overseen by the campus chief
financial officer or designee so to ensure compliance.
-First Amended Operating Agreement between California State University and
ASI (2012-2017)
“ASI is the official student
government representing
the voice of Fresno State
students.”
“ASI works to represent
students at the local, state
and national level and
provides services to excel in
academics and co-curricular
activities.”
$
ASI: THE OFFICIAL STUDENT VOICE
CSU Board of Trustees Resolution:
Student Participation in Policy Making (2001)
The resolution outlines opportunity for students to have
an impact on the development of university policies and
procedures that have or will have an effect on current
and future students is vital to the wellbeing and life of
a university. This opportunity includes participation by
students in developing recommendations to the Board of
Trustees, the Chancellor, and/or the Campus Presidents.
Chancellor Coded Memo:
Local Responsibility for Student Participation in Policy Development (2009)
The letter identifies associated student body organizations established at
each university to serve as the official representative body of the students
of that campus. The presidents will provide these officially recognized
associated student body organizations an opportunity to offer opinions and
make recommendations about campus policy and procedures that have or
will have an effect upon students. It also specifies that the nomination of
student representatives to serve on campus-wide governance committees,
campus-wide task forces, or other campus-wide advisory groups will be made
by the appropriate officially recognized associated student body organization.
Appointments are made by the University President.
Chancellor Executive Order:
Student Representation on Auxiliary Governing Boards (2011)
During the course of the recent review of auxiliary
organizations in the California State University an issue was
raised regarding the process by which student representatives
are selected for positions on auxiliary governing boards.
Following from that policy statement, the Auxiliary Review
Committee proposed that a university’s officially recognized
student body organization be responsible for nominating
potential student board members to the campus president.
ANNUAL PRIORITIES 2014-2015
ASI WORKS HARD TO MEET THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF
FRESNO STATE STUDENTS. HERE ARE FIVE PRIORITIES WE
WILL BE FOCUSING ON DURING THIS ACADEMIC YEAR.
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
SHARED GOVERNANCE: Provide trained
and committed student to campus
committees and the decision making
processes.
COMMUNICATIONS/MARKETING: Enhance
the way ASI communicates to, and on behalf
of, Fresno State students.
FINANCIAL SERVICES: Simplifying and
expanding financial services ASI offers to
students and clubs.
PROGRAMMING: Better align programs
to be more congruent with organizational
mission and purpose.
COMMUNITY REVITALIZATIONS: Increasing
campus participation in community
revitalization efforts.
ANNUAL PRIORITY I
SHARED GOVERNANCE
Associated Students, Inc. is governed by a student senate which is comprised of only
students and elected by the student body of Fresno state. Student representation
and advocacy is their primary focus and passion. Student senate is committed to
providing student with the opportunity to be fully involved in the governance of the
University and the development of an exciting campus life. ASI promotes advocacy
through several avenues including staffing committees and interactions with CSU
administration and faculty. ASI has a goal to uphold the rights of students. ASI does
so by lobbying for student issues at the California State University system and
state legislature level. This year ASI is committed to provide trained and committed
student to campus committees and the decision making processes.
PURPOSE:
The ASI Senate Office strives to represent, educate, and advocate for Fresno State
students. We will accomplish this by providing development and oversight of ASI
programs and implementing policies that serve the best interests of Fresno State
students. We will effectively serve as the voice of and resource to Fresno State
students.
ACTIONS:
1. INCREASE STUDENT REPRESENTATION
GOAL: Increase the number of student representatives on campus committees.
REALITY: Low participation; no accountability; little incentive; limited
marketing.
OPTIONS: Recognition, training, utilizing reporting structures.
WAY FORWARD: Have all student representatives participate in a shared
governance orientation. Design a plan for recognition of committee participants.
Include hours of service into the President’s Award for Service.
2. IDENTIFY STUDENT NEEDS THROUGH DATA COLLECTION
GOAL: Access and measure campus climate for needs and identify gaps
in services with the goal in mind to use the data collected for policy
recommendations.
REALITY: No formal assessment to understand the campus climate for diversity.
OPTIONS: Utilize national benchmarking assessments on campus to better
understand the climate of the university.
WAY FORWARD: ASI will be conducting Campus Climate and Diversity
assessment through Educational Benchmarking Institute (EBI) in spring 2015.
ANNUAL PRIORITY II
COMMUNICATIONS/MARKETING
The ASI Communications department provides media relations, marketing, radio programming
and graphics support for ASI internal programs and services in order to provide the Fresno
State community with timely, relevant, and engaging information about campus life. We are
committed to establishing and maintaining the ASI brand by continually gauging the Fresno
State community’s pulse in order to ensure that ASI programs, services, and communication
appropriately match what students desire. This year, ASI will enhance the way we communicate
to, and on behalf of, Fresno State students.
PURPOSE:
ASI Marketing strives to provide timely and relevant information to the Fresno State community
regarding ASI programs and services through the use of efficient and pertinent communication
vehicles. We foster an informed and active campus community knowledgeable of the many
opportunities and benefits connected with their association with ASI.
•DOG DISH RADIO PROGRAM
•BULLDOG BLOG
•ADCAMP KIOSKS
ACTIONS:
1. STOP MARKETING TO NO ONE
GOAL: Be effective with marketing.
REALITY: Sometimes when information is disseminated it does not reach the
intended audience.
OPTIONS: Make messaging consistent across multiple platforms.
WAY FORWARD: Promote integration of communication conduits to provide
complimentary information. (E.g. Ensure radio and social media have congruent
messaging but catered for the medium.)
2. PERSONALIZE THE ASI IMAGE THROUGH STUDENT PHOTOS AND MARKETING
GOAL: Increase constituent outreach and representative awareness.
REALITY: Outreach is not done enough and many students do not know who
their representatives are.
OPTIONS: Student representatives can become more visible through a variety
of ways including intentional marketing and attending events designed for
constituent interactions.
WAY FORWARD: ASI will market existing student representatives through a
“Meet Your Senator” campaign.
3. UTILIZE ONLINE EVENT CALENDARING SOFTWARE
GOAL: Increase student awareness of ASI Sponsored events, programs and services.
REALITY: No cohesive calendaring system is being utilized for student events.
OPTIONS: Explore online calendaring systems.
WAY FORWARD: Work with IT to find opportunities to increase visibility of on
campus events, particularly those funded by ASI.
ANNUAL PRIORITY III
FINANCIAL SERVICES
ASI Financial Services provides numerous services to the campus community which includes
financial services for clubs and organizations, student health insurance, activity sponsorships,
research grants and scholarships. This year, ASI will be looking for ways of simplifying financial
process and expanding services offered.
PURPOSE:
ASI Financial Services strives to provide first-rate customer service by providing our customers
with accurate and timely financial information and efficient processing of financial transactions.
We foster an informed campus community respectful of compliance through training and
assistance in navigating the many rules and regulations required of Fresno State.
•CLUB ACCOUNTING
•ASI SPONSORED ACTIVITIES
•SCHOLARSHIPS
•EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH GRANTS (RGRANTS)
ACTIONS:
1. SIMPLIFY BANKING PROCESSES FOR CLUBS
GOAL: Make banking for clubs more accessible, faster and efficient.
REALITY: Currently banking through ASI may seem bulky and slow. Student
clubs have considered a hassle accessing their own funds.
OPTIONS: New software providing club access to account statements and
mobile deposits.
WAY FORWARD: Vice President of Finance will research other campuses and
learn better processes. ASI will work to identify and propose creative, yet
realistic, solutions.
2. CRITICALLY REVIEW GRANT APPLICATIONS AND PRECESSES
GOAL: More critical review of Sponsored Activity Grants to reflect ASI’s mission
and support for students.
REALITY: Diligence may have been sacrificed to accommodate timeliness of
notification.
OPTIONS: Reviewers should critically assess applications.
WAY FORWARD: ASI will update and standardize forms and evaluate the
protocol for review.
3. PROVICE QUALITY SERVICES ON A LIMITED BUDGET
GOAL: Capitalize ways to efficiently manage and spend student fees to
maximize the benefit for student members.
REALITY: Often, not all of ASI’s budget is spent, particularly due to grants
distributed not being fully executed by students and organizations.
OPTIONS: Partner with more organizations on their events, market scholarships
to students.
WAY FORWARD: Explore ways to encourage clubs to spend the grants applied
for and work with other campus organizations to provide students more services.
ANNUAL PRIORITY IV
PROGRAMMING
The Programming Department of Associated Students, Inc. exists to provide quality programs,
services, and leadership opportunities that encourage personal growth, promote civic
responsibility, embrace differences, and connect students to the campus and the community
to promote shared governance. This year, ASI will work to better align programs to be more
congruent with our organizational mission and purpose.
• THIRSTY THURSDAYS
• READERSHIP PROGRAM
• STUDENT TAILGATES
• HOMECOMING
• ASI LAPTOP LOAN PROGRAM
• T-SHIRT EXCHANGE
ACTIONS:
1. EVALUATE AND MODIFY PROGRAMS TO FIT WITHIN ASI’S PURPOSE
GOAL: Align programs to serve ASI’s mission and purpose.
REALITY: Some programs seem to lack clarity of connection to the
organizational mission.
OPTIONS: Program with a purpose.
WAY FORWARD: Justify how all programs compliment the mission and purpose
of the organization. Make modifications as needed.
2. COLLABORATE WITH CAMPUS ENTITIES
GOAL: Collaborate to identify redundancies and increase investment through
programming.
REALITY: Not enough collaboration on campus programs.
OPTIONS: Put down pride of event ownership and focus on larger goals.
WAY FORWARD: Explore new partnerships with campus entities that challenge
student opinions and knowledge; allow opportunities to advocate for
student issues and promote shared governance; revitalize the neighborhoods
surrounding campus; entertain students and promote school pride; and support
student clubs and organizations.
ANNUAL PRIORITY V
COMMUNITY
REVITALIZATION
“Community Revitalization,” a student movement in its fourth year, was initially a grass-roots
effort to promote safety-through-service activities in the neighborhoods surrounding campus.
In a low income area plagued with high crime rates, students continue to work with community
partners to spearhead projects including building a playground, opening a food pantry location,
and creating a sustainable volunteer model that would ensure lasting commitment. Focusing
on civic-engagement has optimized the “Revitalize” movement’s success and sustainability
due to a combination of devout student leaders and a college environment focused on civicengagement. This year, ASI will try to increase campus participation in community revitalization
efforts.
PURPOSE:
ASI acts as a weaver, connecting students, faculty and community organizations together for the
common purpose of making the environment near campus, where so many students live, a safer
place for all.
ACTIONS:
1. APPROACH FOOD INSECURITY ON CAMPUS
GOAL: To reduce food insecurity among the students and Fresno State community.
REALITY: A solution hasn’t been established. An estimated 30% of Fresno State
students don’t know when their next meal will be.
OPTIONS: On campus food bank, subsidized farmers market, and Fresno State
community garden.
WAY FORWARD: ASI will work with campus departments to ensure the student
voice is represented in establishing and maintaining viable remedies including
subsidized meal options and low cost healthy meals.
2. ENCOURAGE NEW FACULTY INVOLVEMENT
GOAL: Increase student service in the community near Fresno State through
volunteer hours and meaningful experiences.
REALITY: Lack of faculty participation and low awareness of co-curricular
opportunities.
OPTIONS: Providing incentives and recognition for participation in Community
Revitalization efforts.
WAY FORWARD: Engage faculty through personal meetings and classroom
involvement; increase recognition and visibility of student led projects. Explore and
share best practices.
3. PROMOTE SAFETY & COMMUNITY BEAUTIFICATION
GOAL: Increase safety, reduce crime and encourage community beautification.
REALITY: Many students live in the communities surrounding campus… and it is not
always a ‘community’ problem but rather students responsible for the situation.
OPTIONS: Collaboration by bringing more student groups and Greek chapters. Hand
out pepper spray and increase personal awareness.
WAY FORWARD: Encourage personal responsibility through workshops, giveaways
and educational events.
ASSOCIATED STUDENTS, INC.
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FRESNO
Students Serving Students
Business Office: USU Room 317
Programs Office: USU 316
Mail Stop SU 32
5280 N. Jackson Ave.
Fresno, CA 93740-8023
Phone: 559.278.2656
Fax: 559.278.2720
ASI.csufresno.edu