Independent California Colleges Advocate Program

About ICCAP

The Independent California Colleges Advocate Program (ICCAP) is the signature student advocacy program for students attending independent nonprofit colleges in California. ICCAP is a six-month program in which participants represent over 350,000 students across 80+ independent member institutions. Activities will primarily be online, with one in-person event in Sacramento. Students are strongly encouraged to attend AICCU’s Day in the Capitol on February 25, 2025. They will have the opportunity to attend meetings with multiple legislators throughout the day. AICCU covers expenses associated with the event programming and participating institutions arrange travel accommodations at no cost to students.

ICCAP provides students with monthly training and education on the policy and budget processes, connects them through virtual webinars with guest speakers from the advocacy and higher education community, and creates opportunities to engage in advocacy activities with support from AICCU staff. The program aims to develop the leadership, communication, and advocacy skills of participants and deepen their knowledge of how policymaking affects their education. Students learn to advocate effectively in the public sphere, which amplify the student voice to broaden policymakers’ understanding of our sector and its contributions to California.

The application is open to students of any major enrolled at any AICCU member institution in an undergraduate or graduate program during the current academic year. Successful participants who complete the program may serve in two consecutive cohorts.

More Information

For questions about ICCAP, please contact Alex Graves at alex.graves@aiccu.edu.