Legislative Advocacy 101

Objectives To teach Financial Aid professionals HOW to effectively develop and disseminate an advocacy message. To increase campus and community AWARENESS of advocacy issues and opportunities.

Overarching Goals To foster awareness about legislative advocacy among Financial Aid professionals and the aid community. WHILE Empowering Financial Aid professionals to be active advocates for student aid issues, both now and in the future.

What is Advocacy? “Act of pleading for, supporting or recommending…” – Websters Dictionary. From the Latin advocare: “to call to one’s aid”

What is Advocacy to US? “To assist educational institutions, foundations, government agencies and private and community organizations to promote and develop effective programs of student financial aid.” – NYSFAAA Constitution “ to work with SUNY System Administration, public policymakers, and campus administrators in serving the best interests of applicants, the University, and the public.” – SUNYFAP Constitution

The Three “A’s” of Advocacy Awareness –Your own, students, colleagues, legislators. Advancement –By getting involved, you can help advance a movement or effect a policy change. Action –Make contacts, write letters, call or visit your elected officials, support an organization.

Why Should WE Be Advocates? Students and the needy do not always advocate for themselves We have a unique position to see problems and understand their implications The problems matter We have “respect” and “credibility” – this needs to earned and cultivated

Why Should We Be LEGISLATIVE Advocates? You may “hate” politics, but you can’t ignore the consequences of politics … especially for those who don’t speak for themselves.

Examples of Leg. Advocacy Mandate that Pell Grant funding be left in tact Increase TAP maximum award if SUNY Tuition goes over $5000 Reinstitute Graduate TAP Keep Campus based programs Eliminate Burdensome regulations Fill in the ____________________

The Legislative “Process” Sloooooooooow … Varies for different Legislative bodies Know when your voice will be heard –Proposal of a bill –Public Hearings on the issue –Lobbying individual legislators And Intervene!

How does a Bill become a Law? w/Bill_Becomes_Law.cfm (video)

How a Bill Becomes a Law

Who are your Representatives?

How to Choose your “Hot” Topic?

Leverage your Expertise Become the campus advocacy person Know the campus government relations person Know the elected officials and their staff Use the media Use students Data rules No action on your part = stop complaining

Formal Approach Institution’s Government Relations Office – they work with elected officials on a whole spectrum of issues. They maintain a more over arching relationship with elected officials. However – your Governmental Relations office needs to be in touch with you – the local expert on aid issues

Aid Professional Approach Financial Aid professionals advocate lawmakers directly Propose advocacy message to be approved by government relations person and possibly president Coordinate with assiciations Advocate the lawmaker

Contacting Elected Officials In- person visits – most effective – likely to meet staffer – first 5 minutes are crucial. – convenient, always copy staffer and state,regional, national associations Phone – calls do work – it’s old school but it works Fax – This works too!

Preparing for the Visit Do Your Homework! Prepare a one-page “leave-behind “ document that contains – -Specifics about your school/students -Summary of the issue -Specific recommendation - Your Contact information

Day of the Visit Do’s: Arrive on time Clearly state who you are representing Show gratitude Listen first, then speak Be concise Ask for support Focus on students Do Not: Engage in political discussion Offer suggestions on cutting other programs to pay for student aid Answer a question you do not know the answer to – get back to them

After The Visit Follow up with a Thank you note Follow up with additional information as needed Encourage an on-going relationship – invite the member to campus Visit them in the home-district office

Summary Tips Effective Advocacy It’s easy to be an advocate. Keep it local Keep it personal Understand your member’s position Keep it factual Know the issue

Questions?

The End