The Undergraduate Students Association Council approved guidelines for nine of its funds and grants at its final meeting of the summer quarter Sept. 16.

USAC is the official student government representing the undergraduate student body at UCLA. Council meetings are open to all students and usually take place in person in the Bruin Viewpoint Room and on Zoom every Tuesday at 7 p.m., though the council meets biweekly and virtually over the summer. Students can find the links for the meetings on the agenda posted on the USAC website or watch a livestream on the USAC Live! channel on YouTube.

Public comment:

• There was no public comment at the meeting.

Funding:

• The council did not allocate any funding during the meeting.

Special presentations:

• Beverly Tolentino, the assistant manager for student government accounting, gave a presentation showing members of the council how to apply for requisitions – the process of requesting funding – in accordance with new SGA documents and guidelines.
• Staff from the office of the External Vice President gave a presentation on the UC Board of Regents and how council members can get involved in the policies the Regents create. Staff members said EVP Sherry Zhou’s priorities at the Sept. 16 to Sept. 17 Regents meeting included expanding religious accommodations and preventing student-initiated access and retention programs from losing funding.
• James Woolery, the office of the EVP’s director of UC relations, said the EVP office also advocated against the Trump administration’s proposed $1 billion settlement to restore UCLA’s research funding. Namrata Deepak, the office of the EVP’s internal head of staff, also raised concerns about the Cohort Tuition Model, a framework created by the UC Office of the President where newer graduating classes pay more tuition than their previous cohort of admitted students. The UC’s current financial model, which is expected to expire in 2026 and allows for tuition to be raised by up to 5% annually, will be voted on by the Regents in November, and has the potential to raise tuition by up to 7% annually instead. The final priorities included transparency on the use of UCPD military equipment, which was recently allocated at the September Regents meeting, and advocacy for investment in student initiated programs.

[Related: UC Regents approves UCLA police department request for less-than-lethal munitions]

Appointments:

• The council appointed Arman Aksu, a second-year psychology student, to the Academic Senate Legislative Assembly.

• The council appointed Tanishka Gangavelli, a first-year anthropology student, to the Drug Free Schools Committee.

• The council appointed, Madison Jones, a second-year political science and gender studies student, to the UCLA Committee on LGBTQ Affairs.

• The council appointed Tracy Le, a fourth-year political science student, to the Academic Senate Legislative Assembly.

• The council appointed Nicole Samaan, a third-year psychology student, to the Bruin Mental Health Advisory Committee.

• The council appointed Jaelyn Han, a second-year microbiology, immunology, and molecular genetics student, as the chair of the USAC Community Service Mini Fund.

• The council appointed Lori Shrikian, a third-year political science student, to the Campus Programs Committee.

• The council appointed Divine Oludimu, a third-year political science student, to the Academic Senate: Committee on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

• The council appointed Ariella Kandkhorov, a fourth-year international development studies and sociology student, to the Campus Sustainability Committee.

• The council appointed Betty Chang, a second-year applied mathematics student, to the Campus Sustainability Committee.

• The council appointed Lizbett Esquivel, a second-year applied mathematics student, to the Student Risk Education Committee.

• The council appointed Community Service Commissioner Edison Chua to the Student Risk Education Committee.

Officer reports:

• President Diego Bollo requested only executives give updates. Bollo said his updates were written but did not update his written report for the week.

• Internal Vice President Tommy Contreras said his updates would be written but did not update his written report for the week.

• Zhou said her updates would be written but did not update her written report for the week.

• General Representative Talia Davood said in her written report that she is exploring how to format a town hall with administrators for all students to attend at the beginning of fall quarter. She added that she reached out to UCLA Career Center to plan a resume and cover letter workshop for all students.

• General Representative Jayha Buhs Jackson said in her written report that she is currently planning events, including a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration and the Black History Month Culture Show.

• General Representative Brett Berndt said in his written report that he met to discuss housing programming with the executive director of USC Trojans for More Housing – a campus run initiative that advocates for housing accessibility – and the Students for Abundance, UCLA’s campus initiative to address economic and food insecurity. He added in the report that he is currently working on planning the Basic Needs Fest.

• Academic Affairs Commissioner Cristopher Espino said in his written report that he met with Monroe Gorden, the vice chancellor of student affairs.

• Campus Events Commissioner Daniel Leal said in his written report that he is currently working on scheduling speaker and film events for fall quarter.

• Community Service Commissioner Edison Chua did not update his written report.

• Cultural Affairs Commissioner Divine Trewick said in her written report that she planned and finalized contracts, logos, graphics and sponsors for both Bruin Bash and the Enormous Activities Fair.

• Facilities Commissioner Joy Huang did not update her written report.

• Financial Supports Commissioner Nico Morrone said in his written report that he was working on the EAF board and is reviewing applications for his office.

• Student Wellness Commissioner Hannah Yip said in her written report that she hosted a UCSHIP workshop with Transfer Student Representative Hyerim Yoon and the Ashe Center’s Health Education and Resource Team on Sept. 12. She added that her office has continued to table at New Student Orientations with the Semel Healthy Campus Initiative Center.

• Yoon said in her written report that she is finalizing her office’s “Accessibility Tour” of UCLA for disabled students. She also wrote that she is continuing to work with Afrikan Student Union and GR2 regarding the Black Transfer welcome event.

• International Student Representative Keya Tanna said in her written report that she met with the Indian Student Union to explore potential collaborations for fall programming and integration with Global Bites, an initiative that brings cultural dishes to dining halls.

Agenda items:

• The council unanimously approved the CAC Arts Restoring Communities fund guidelines and applications for the 2025-2026 academic year. The guidelines would institute one funding period per quarter where organizations can apply for up to $2,500.

• The council unanimously approved the contingency programming guidelines and applications for the 2025-2026 academic year. The guidelines clarify funding rules on the application and how funding is allocated.

• The council unanimously approved the Community Service Transportation fund guidelines and applications for the 2025-2026 academic year. The guidelines and application remained the same from the previous academic year.

• The council unanimously approved the Supplemental Fund for Service guidelines and applications for 2025-2026 academic year. The new guidelines have been broadened from covering only transportation to include funding for community service-related events.

• The council unanimously approved the Student Wellness Commission programming fund guidelines and applications for 2025-2026 academic year. The guidelines for the fund have remained the same from the previous academic year.

• The council unanimously approved the EVP Bruin Advocacy Grant guidelines and applications for 2025-2026 academic year. The new guidelines dissolved the GROWS mini-grant – the Grassroots Organizers for Working Students grant – back into the larger fund but otherwise remained the same.

• The council unanimously approved the Community Service mini fund guidelines and applications for 2025-2026 academic year. The guidelines and application remained the same from the previous academic year.

• The council unanimously approved the Green Initiative funding guidelines and application for the 2025-2026 academic year. The guidelines and application remained the same from the previous academic year.

• The council unanimously approved the Board of Directors funding guidelines and application for the 2025-2026 academic year. The guidelines and application remained the same from the previous academic year.