What is External Affairs at ASI ?
ASI External Affairs connects students at CSUSB with the decisions, leaders, and policies that shape their college experience. By advocating at the local, state, and federal levels, External Affairs ensures that student voices are represented where it matters most. Through partnerships, civic engagement efforts, and involvement in statewide initiatives like the California State Student Association (CSSA) and Lobby Corps, this branch works to turn student concerns into real policy change and increased support for the CSU community.
Meet Ashley Smith — your Director of External Affairs. Ashley serves as your advocate beyond campus, working to elevate student voices in spaces like CSSA and leading efforts such as Lobby Corps to engage students directly in the legislative process. From building relationships with elected officials to organizing advocacy campaigns and voter engagement initiatives, Ashley is dedicated to ensuring that your needs, concerns, and ideas are heard and acted upon.
Ask your questions : asi-dea@csusb.edu
What is CSSA?
The California State Student Association (CSSA) is the official statewide student government organization
representing all 23 California State University campuses. It serves as the collective voice of over 460,000
CSU students before the California State Legislature, the Governor's office, the CSU Board of Trustees,
and the CSU Chancellor's Office.
CSSA was established to ensure that student perspectives are heard at the highest levels of educational
policy and decision-making in California. Through CSSA, student leaders from every CSU campus come
together to develop unified positions on issues that affect student life, affordability, and academic success
across the entire system.
What Does CSSA Advocate For?
CSSA focuses on issues that directly impact the day-to-day lives of CSU students. Current and ongoing
advocacy priorities include:
• Affordable tuition and opposition to fee increases
• Expansion of Cal Grant and financial aid eligibility
• Addressing student housing insecurity and the affordability crisis
• Mental health resource funding on CSU campuses
• Food insecurity support programs and basic needs services
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education policy
• Transparency in CSU administrative spending and governance
• Support for undocumented, veteran, and non-traditional students
How CSSA Works
CSSA operates through a board made up of student representatives from each of the 23 CSU campuses. The
board meets regularly throughout the academic year to debate, vote on, and adopt official positions and
resolutions on statewide policy issues. These positions are then communicated directly to lawmakers, the
CSU Chancellor, and the Board of Trustees.
Each CSU campus ASI appoints delegates to represent their student body at CSSA. At CSUSB, our ASI
representatives attend CSSA meetings, vote on resolutions, and bring information back to our campus
community about decisions that affect all CSU students.