Thank you, Chair Clark, and good morning Trustees, Chancellor Garcia, University Presidents, and everyone here today. My name is Iese Esera and I serve as the President of the Cal State Student Association.

CSSA represents nearly half a million students in the CSU and serves as the official voice of CSU students to the California State Legislature and the CSU Board of Trustees. It is an honor to provide this report on their behalf.

As we come to terms with the outcome of the national election, many in our community may feel disappointment and apprehension about the direction our country is headed. This is a challenging time, and we recognize the concerns about what this outcome may mean for the civil rights, freedoms, and protections that matter so deeply to so many of us.

The Cal State Student Association has always stood—and will continue to stand—for equity, inclusivity, freedom, and justice. We are unwavering in our commitment to these values, especially in moments of uncertainty. We know that safeguarding these principles is not limited to any one election; it’s a continuous effort fueled by our actions, advocacy, and solidarity with each other.

While the path forward may be difficult, we are not alone. As students and a CSU community, we will work together to champion the rights and liberties we believe in. We must continue to speak up, engage in our communities, and remain a source of support and fortitude for one another.

Together, we will continue building a future that reflects our highest ideals. While the fight for true visibility on a national scale continues, I encourage you all to prioritize your mental and physical well-being. At the same time, let’s recognize the positive outcomes of elections that align with CSSA’s goals and mission. These include important wins, such as several states voting to protect women’s health and well-being, and removing exclusionary language from the California state constitution.

However, I want this message to be clear to those who may doubt the collective power and resilience of the students in the largest and most diverse university system in the United States: Students will not be backed into a corner of fear and hostility as our rights and freedoms remain in jeopardy. Students in the CSU and across this state will remain the nation’s model for bright, determined, and civically engaged members of society – uplifting the rich history of student voices.

Since our last meeting, CSSA has convened two plenary sessions where members deliberated on pressing issues that will shape our efforts in the upcoming year, with a strong emphasis on enhancing student support, identifying student success, and sharing campus specific perspectives.

CSU Monterey Bay hosted our October plenary, and I would like to extend my gratitude to AS President Villareal and University President Quinones for welcoming CSSA to their stunning campus. While our primary focus was driving discussion on student success, a standout moment was an opening leadership development session led by Deputy Vice Chancellor Perez – we always love when DVC Perez extends her wisdom, perspective, and expertise to CSSA and we are so lucky she was able to join us.

These discussions were highly productive, and they exemplify what makes the CSU community so impactful—fostering inclusive student engagement. This principle is not only foundational to our values but is also a cornerstone of our 2024-2025 Policy Agenda, which the Board officially adopted during this plenary.

This agenda will serve as our roadmap for the next year as we continue engaging with partners within and beyond the CSU to identify innovative and effective ways to support our students – while also enhancing our current efforts to compliment and amplify our mission

Additionally, this past weekend, we convened our November plenary session, which was held virtually. We engaged in vital conversations on Title IX, and even held a listening session with our consultant colleagues from SOVA who noted the student perspective for the CSU’s Strategic Plan – a plan that I have the honor of helping create and guide, in my capacity as CSSA President this year.

Looking ahead, we are excited to gather for our January plenary session, which will take place at my home campus—San Francisco State University. Go Gators!

CSSA is thrilled to announce that the process for selecting the 2025/2027 CSU Student Trustee is underway and the application is live and being accepted through the end of January 2025. We strongly encourage interested students to take advantage of this incredible opportunity to serve on this board. Please visit our website, @ calstatestudents.org. for the application materials

I want to extend my gratitude to Sacramento State’s ASI President, Nataly Andrade-Dominguez, who has been elected to chair the Student Trustee Search Committee. Her leadership will ensure a thorough and thoughtful search for the next Student Trustee. Serving as the CSU Student Trustee is both a privilege and a profound responsibility, offering students a chance to contribute directly to decisions that shape the future of our university system. And as the organization tasked with providing nominees to the Governor for appointment, we take this process very seriously and we look forward to seeing the passion and vision that applicants will bring to this process and the CSU.

I would also like to extend my deepest thanks to Deputy Vice Chancellor Perez and Director Tran Martin for including CSSA and CSU student leaders in the inaugural Affordability Summit and the Graduation Initiative 2025 Symposium. The summit was an insightful and impactful gathering that highlighted the complexities and challenges surrounding affordability in higher education. It provided a valuable platform for collaboration and discussion, ensuring that student voices remain at the center of these critical conversations. While we understand that there are no real magic wands to solve these issues overnight, we deeply appreciate the dedication, effort, and strategic work being undertaken to make an affordable education a reality for all students. Your commitment to this goal inspires hope and reinforces the collective drive to ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed – but if the data we heard and saw from the year of engagement tells us anything – it is that there is much work to be done – and we all must lean in.

I am also so happy to say that this legislative session was an incredibly successful one for CSSA and the students we serve. Of the 14 bills we co-sponsored or supported, 13 were signed into law by the Governor. Nine of these bills focused on addressing sex discrimination and enhancing Title IX protections within the CSU system—demonstrating our commitment to creating a safer and more equitable environment for all students.

The remaining bills tackled critical issues such as improving the transfer process, addressing food insecurity, and providing additional support for student parents and students with disabilities. These accomplishments reflect the collective effort of CSSA, the CSU, and our many partners to prioritize student success and well-being in California – which seems to be more urgent now, than ever.

As we look ahead to the upcoming session, we are eager to continue working with the CSU to advocate for policies that address the needs of our students. Together, we will build on this momentum to ensure that every student in the CSU has access to the resources and opportunities they need to not just attend a campus in the CSU, but to thrive in the CSU.

Finally, I had the privilege of starting my campus visits strong, with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Cal State San Bernardino’s Palm Desert Campus. These two campuses in particular have provided CSSA with a deep understanding of what it takes to uplift a flagship institution like Cal Poly while recognizing the deeply important work happening at one of the CSU’s satellite campuses. I look forward to centering the perspectives I gained from these two campuses as my team and I contribute to the possible Cal Poly and Cal Maritime Integration. I thank ASI President Sprigins and ASI President Farjardo and his team at the Palm Desert Campus,  for their hospitality and appreciation for the important work ahead.

As we reflect on our progress and look to the challenges ahead, I am reminded of the honor and responsibility we share in representing the students in the most impactful four year university system in the Nation. Together, we are a voice and a force for change, driving the policies and initiatives that will ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed in the CSU.

Thank you for your time, your partnership, and your unwavering commitment to the success of CSU students. I look forward to continuing this work together with our shared mission and values as we keep the success and wellbeing in our sights as our North Star.

Chair Clark that concludes my report, thank you.

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