UC Students Lobby for Stronger Student Voice on UC Board of Regents

Proposed constitutional amendment would add a second voting student regent to the governing body

Mar. 28, 2026 at 7:34pm

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A group of UC students have been advocating for a constitutional amendment that would add a second voting student regent to the University of California's governing Board of Regents. The students, who participated in the UC Student Association's annual lobbying day, say the change would give students a stronger voice on issues like tuition, housing, and basic needs. The bill, introduced by Assemblymember Jessica Caloza, would create one seat for an undergraduate student and one for a graduate student.

Why it matters

For years, UC students have pushed for more representation on the 26-member Board of Regents, which sets policy for the entire UC system. Currently, only one student regent has a vote, while the Cal State and California Community College systems already have two voting student seats on their governing boards.

The details

The students' lobbying efforts this year focused on key bills to boost student basic needs access, including streamlining CalFresh applications and reforming the California Environmental Quality Act to make it easier to build student housing. They also advocated for the Student Regent Empowerment Amendment, which would add a second voting student regent to the UC Board of Regents.

  • The UC Student Association's annual lobbying day took place on March 9, 2026.
  • Assemblymember Jessica Caloza introduced the Student Regent Empowerment Amendment on the Assembly floor during the lobbying day.

The players

Jessica Caloza

A Los Angeles Democrat who authored the bill to add a second voting student regent to the UC Board of Regents.

Evelin Chavez

A UC Santa Cruz student who advocated for the amendment during the lobbying sessions.

Samantha Zavala

A third-year public policy major at UC Riverside and vice chair of the UCweVote campaign, who has been leading the effort to make the change.

Candice Phan

A third-year student at UC Davis and the student association's government relations chair.

Emily Giron

A third-year sociology major at UC Santa Barbara who lobbied for the first time.

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What they’re saying

“It's time to put students first. On this 26-member body, the UC Board of Regents, the student voice and the student experience cannot be an afterthought.”

— Jessica Caloza, Assemblymember

“It feels at first scary to step into the spotlight as a student who was, at the time, broke, burdened, tired, hungry — to think that I had a voice at the table, that my voice mattered. It was UCSA who empowered me, who educated me to say that not only are students powerful, but together, students are unstoppable.”

— Jessica Caloza, Assemblymember

“Let's go. The leaders of tomorrow, we are counting on you.”

— Josh Lowenthal, Assemblymember

What’s next

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The takeaway

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