REQUEST FOR ACTION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 
 
All requests may be typed and submitted to the Executive Vice President no later 5:00 p.m. Thursday in order to be included in the agenda for the following Tuesday. The Executive Vice President reserves the right to delay the Request for Action to a later Council session if the Executive Vice President feels the agenda for the next schedule meeting is full.
 
Item Number: 20 Legislation Number (B: Bill, R: Resolution): R48-19
Author:   Summer Ko   Second:  Arman Liwanag
Synopsis: Support for the Student Outreach and Retention Center and the Creation of a SOAR ad-hoc committee
Date of Presentation:
 

Whereas, the Student Outreach and Retention Center (SOAR) is the only student initiated center at the University of California, Irvine that focuses on providing resources for students to seek information, funding, and training on outreach and retention programs aimed at ensuring student success,

Whereas, SOAR is home to the Student Initiated Academic Preparation (SIAP) funds and is a vital financial and learning resource for the development and implementation of numerous high school outreach programs,

Whereas, SOAR provides leadership development experiences for students through opportunities such as the Ambassador program, student coordinator positions, and internships,

Whereas, SOAR hosts a plethora of workshops and programs, such as high school outreach workshops, SIAP workshops, PB&J study jams, Cup of SOAR, meditation classes, and study abroad workshops,

Whereas, SOAR is a space where all students can study, hold club meetings, and host workshops,

Whereas, the SOAR student advocate committee has been created and its members include leaders from across campus, including the Asian Pacific Student Association, Kababayan, Sigma Kappa Fraternity, UC Irvine Housing, and 100 Black Women,

Whereas, SOAR received temporary funding from UC Irvine’s Provost two years ago,

Whereas, SOAR is currently being run on soft funds,

Whereas, after this year, the temporary funding provided by the Provost will run out and SOAR will be closed if no revenue streams are established,

Whereas, if SOAR is closed, the UCI student organizations will have to develop their high school outreach programs on their own, as the learning and development resources will no longer exist,

Whereas, this means that UCI student organizations will face more challenges as they will no longer be able to receive help and guidance from SOAR,

Whereas, if SOAR is closed, a student outreach and retention space will not exist at the University of California, Irvine,

Whereas, SOAR, to be a permanent center on campus, needs stable and permanent funding,

Whereas, the Associated Students of the University of California, Irvine 2012-2013 Executive Cabinet's mission is to improve the quality of student life by:

  • Empowering the students with the knowledge & resources to be agents of their own University.
  • Standing in solidarity with the students’ best interests.
  • Advocating to protect the students’ needs.
  • Strengthening and amplifying the students’ voices.
  • Providing an accessible outlet for a diverse student body to communicate their needs.
  • Protecting the affordability, accessibility & diversity of our University
  • Working to align administration interest with the students concerns
  • Boosting UC Irvine pride with opportunities for meaningful connections,


Let it be resolved that the Associated Students of the University of California, Irvine supports and endorses the Student Outreach And Retention Center as its contributions to improving student life at the University of California, Irvine are invaluable to the student body and the student experience,

Let it further be resolved that a SOAR ad-hoc committee, chaired by Summer Ko and co-chaired by Arman Liwanag, be created to work directly with SOAR staff to promote the resources and opportunities that it provides to the students of UC Irvine,

Let it finally be resolved that this committee is called the “Student Outreach and Retention Committee.”

 
 
Referred to: Committee on:
Vote Required: FINAL VOTE:  YEA:  NAY:  ABS: 
 
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE ON THE DATE OF  HAS TAKEN ACTION ON THIS LEGISLATION.    
   
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Executive Vice President, ASUCI      Verification of Executive Cabinet