Whereas the University of California, Irvine seeks to “achieve the University of California’s goal of academic excellence,” according to the UCI’s Center for Educational Partnerships, and

Whereas many campus clubs and organizations have student-run academic programs that seek to further this goal, and

Whereas these programs have proven to be successful in enriching the academic experience at UC Irvine and developing leadership in UC Irvine students, as documented in the annual accountability SAPEP (Student Academic Preparation and Educational Partnerships) report submitted to the UC Office of the President and on file at UC Irvine’s Center for Educational Partnerships, and

Whereas the SAPEP report is a rigorous accountability tool that measures the performance of these programs, and UCI consistently proves the effectiveness of their programs in fostering the learning communities that support ongoing professional and intellectual development, and

Whereas these programs promote community involvement, create job opportunities, and promotes a college-going culture and gives UC Irvine students the experience needed for successful future careers after graduation, and

Whereas many campus organizations have SIAP programs making them an essential part of campus life at UC Irvine, and

Whereas SIAP programs, while promoting University-wide goals and being extremely important in helping achieve the mission of cultural and academic diversity at the University, has still faced excessive cuts in budgetary funding by the state, and

Whereas SIAP funding has not been stable, nor is there a consistent source of funding for these programs from year to year, and

Whereas most UC campuses, including UCLA, Berkeley, Santa Cruz, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Davis have all submitted and passed student-run fee initiatives to financially support these programs, and

Whereas college retention has not been a priority of the University, and student clubs and organizations have created programs to fill the void and do not have the adequate financial resources to maintain, much less expand, these programs, and

Whereas other UC campuses have established successful retention centers that focus on the academic careers of their students, and a Retention Center would be a much needed resource on campus for UC Irvine students to maintain academic success at the University level, and

Whereas a Retention Center would bring together both successful and struggling UC Irvine students to create a home and a place for interaction and learning for all UC Irvine students, and

Whereas a Retention Center would ease the process and complexity of applying and attending graduate or professional schools for many UC Irvine undergraduates, and

Whereas a Retention Center will increase the academic success and reduce stress for UC Irvine students, and

Whereas not every academic unit has established programs that encourage student retention, and

Whereas the P.O.W.E.R. Referendum would address both the issues of SIAP and the Retention Center by creating the POWER Center,

Therefore let it be resolved that the attached initiative be placed on the ASUCI Spring 2008 election ballot.  (See attached for ballot language and guidelines)