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Advocacy

Advocacy & Government Relations

AICCU advances the interests of California’s independent, nonprofit colleges and universities (ICCU) in public policy matters, while encouraging legislation at the state and federal levels that support the mission of our institutions, current and future students and their families, and recognize the ICCU as vital partners in higher education policy.



Advocacy and Government Relations

AICCU Government Relations represents the Association and its member institutions before the legislative and executive branches of the state and federal governments, and is responsible for advancing the Association's legislative agenda. The Association's Policy and Advocacy Priorities for the 2023-24 Legislative Session are reviewed and approved by membership. Positions on policy issues, budget, and legislation are reported in the AICCU Week in Review and to the AICCU Government Relations Council (GRC).

GRC is comprised of one to two campus representatives, appointed by the president, from each member institution to serve as a point of contact on government relations and policy matters.

 

For more information please contact Alex Graves, Vice President for Government Relations.


2025 AICCU Legislative Letters

Key California legislative committees monitored by AICCU include:


 

Federal Relations

AICCU is active on the federal policymaking and regulatory level. The association closely tracks legislative, budget, and regulatory actions related to the Higher Education Act, federal student aid, Title IX, online distance education, and more. Our priority has been the passage of a coronavirus relief package that includes strong support for higher education broadly, and for the independent sector, specifically.


AICCU engages with members of Congress and other public officials. We organize an annual advocacy day in Washington, D.C. for campus leaders to meet with California’s senators and House delegation. In addition to members of Congress, we AICCU advocated to the U.S. Department of Education, the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Reserve.


In order to further strengthen and broaden the association’s impact on Capitol Hill, AICCU engages with national higher education associations on issues of importance to our member institutions and the students they serve. AICCU is a member of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the American Council on Education, and the Council of Independent Colleges. Association staff leverages the knowledge and experience of our partners to maximize our reach and influence on the federal level.


For more information please contact Tom Vu, Vice President for Policy


2025 AICCU Federal Letters

2024 AICCU Federal Letters
2023 AICCU Federal Letters
2022 AICCU Federal Letters

2021 AICCU Federal Letters


AICCU Partners

 

California State Resources

The California Legislature website provides information about the State Senate and State Assembly, including member profiles and committee information. The legislative calendar, bill and legislative member information, California law, and related publications are available at this website.

The California State Government site provides information for state agencies.

The Department of Finance serves as the governor’s chief fiscal policy advisor. Current and previous budgets, including budget summaries, are available at this website.

The California Board of Registered Nursing protects and advocates for the health and safety of the public by ensuring the highest quality registered nurses in the state. 

The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing oversees the licensing and credentialing of professional educators.

The California Cradle-to-Career Data System sets out the requirements for the development of a statewide data infrastructure. 

The California Department of Education oversees the state's K-12 public school system.

The California Student Aid Commission administers financial aid to California resident students pursuing higher education.

The Bureau for Private and Post-Secondary protects students through the oversight of California's private, postsecondary educational institutions.

The Legislative Analyst Office (LAO) is known for its fiscal and programmatic expertise and nonpartisan analyses of the state budget.

 


Federal Resources