Gator Advocate

WRITE TO YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS AND ASK FOR THEIR SUPPORT

WHY PARTICIPATE?

Participating in state-level advocacy for the California State University (CSU) system is essential to protecting affordable, high-quality education at SF State. The CSU is currently facing a proposed $375 million budget cut—a severe reduction that would directly impact students, faculty, and essential campus services.

When you speak up, you help prevent cuts that could reduce course offerings, increase class sizes, and delay graduation for thousands of students. Your voice has the power to influence state budget decisions and ensure our lawmakers invest in public higher education.

We need your help to make sure this cut does not move forward. Together, we can defend CSU funding and preserve educational opportunity for all Californians.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE?

 

 

WRITE TO YOUR FEDERAL LEGISLATORS AND ASK FOR THEIR SUPPORT

WHY PARTICIPATE?

Participating in federal advocacy for California State University (CSU) is essential for ensuring SF State remains an accessible institution for all. When you participate in advocacy, you influence decisions that directly affect our students' access to education. Your voice has the power to shape legislation, resulting in enhanced experiences and opportunities for our community members.

Together, we can push for legislation that benefits our exceptional student body, such as increasing Pell Grants and backing the DREAM Act. Your engagement in federal advocacy plays a vital role. We are counting on you to be changemakers with us.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE?

  • Find Your Own California Legislators by visiting Find your Legislator at: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member
  • Click on your members.
  • Click “contact.”
  • Use the sample letters.
  • Fill out the online form with your information and cut and past the sample letter, below, into the message section.

PELL Grant

Federal Pell Grants are awarded to undergraduate students with exceptional financial need. These grants allow over 6 million students yearly to attend college. With inflation, the value of the Pell Grant is not nearly as high as it once was. The CSU asks the federal government to double the amount awarded to each student in the Pell Grant.

Dear (Add member’s title and name),

I am writing as a proud alumnus of San Francisco State University to express my strong support for fully funding the Pell Grant program and addressing its projected shortfall.

At SF State, about half of the student body is Pell-eligible. These grants are fundamental to boosting enrollment, supporting retention, and reducing student loan burdens. Without Pell, thousands of students would be unable to pursue a bachelor’s degree or complete their education in a timely manner.

The Pell Grant is the cornerstone of federal student aid, supporting more than 207,000 students across the California State University system in 2023–24. It is both an access and a completion tool—critical not only for opening the door to higher education but also for helping students persist through graduation and enter the workforce prepared to contribute to their communities.

Unfortunately, the Pell Grant program is facing a projected $10.3 billion shortfall in Fiscal Year 2026. Without congressional action to fill this gap, students and institutions will face devastating cuts.

I urge you to fully fund the Pell Grant program to ensure students from low-income backgrounds are not denied the opportunity to pursue higher education and build a better future.

(Insert name here)

Supporting Dreamers

Legislation that supports Dreamers—undocumented individuals who arrived in the United States as children—is essential to ensuring their protection, stability, and opportunity. Dreamers are an extremely valued part of the SF State community.

Dear (Add member’s title and name),

I am writing to you to encourage your continued support for Dreamers—students who arrived in the U.S. as minors and are pursuing higher education despite their undocumented status.

At San Francisco State University, Dreamers are an incredibly and high-achieving valued part of the community. In fact, 92% of students supported by the Continue the Dream for Academic Excellence Scholarship Fund, an SF State program that helps students pursue higher education regardless of immigration status, have graduated or are actively working toward their degrees.

These Dreamers are our friends, neighbors, colleagues, and future leaders. I stand with San Francisco State University in its commitment to advocating for a clear pathway to citizenship, expanded educational access, and permanent protections that ensure Dreamers can thrive.

Now more than ever, we need compassionate and bipartisan efforts to safeguard the rights and futures of these individuals. Supporting Dreamers is not only the right thing to do—it is essential to the strength and promise of our communities and our country.

Thank you for your leadership and your commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of these deserving students.

(Insert name here)