Cal State Fullerton President Ronald Rochon led a delegation in Washington, D.C., last week to advocate for the university’s federal priorities, including fully funding and preserving Pell Grants, as well as protecting and renewing research funds and reinforcing the value of a California State University degree.

The effort was part of the CSU’s annual advocacy week, dubbed “Hill Week,” during which Chancellor Mildred García and several other CSU presidents meet with congressional members, national education organization leaders and members of the media to discuss critical funding issues for university students to complete their degrees and for faculty members to launch research that can shape the region or revolutionize their fields. Rochon’s conversations focused on CSUF’s impact — driving student success and preparing graduates for jobs in growing industries that are fueling Southern California’s economy.

The timing was critical as Congress is just beginning to discuss budget proposals, which can determine the future of some higher education programs, including Pell Grant and financial aid, as well as the amount and type of research that the federal government will support.

Rochon emphasized that CSUF, as part of the nation’s largest public four-year university system, is focused on preparing students with in-demand skills that align with modern workforce needs.

Campus projects like the ECS Innovation Hub are addressing critical workforce needs in Orange County and across the nation for highly-skilled, technical talent trained on modern systems and equipment.

“We are focused on expanding access, improving graduation rates, closing equity gaps and preparing students for today’s workforce,” Rochon said. “The demand is clear — Cal State Fullerton received nearly 80,000 applications and enrolled over 11,000 new students last fall. With that comes the responsibility of ensuring students are supported from the day they arrive for classes through graduation and into their careers.”

The delegation also pushed for the preservation of Pell Grants. A recent Congressional Budget Office report indicated that the national program for college affordability is facing a $16.9 billion shortfall unless Congress takes action.

For this academic year, CSUF has 23,603 students who have received Pell Grants — more than half the university’s undergraduates, according to the CSUF Office of Financial Aid. The average grant is just over $5,800.

More than 400,000 students in the CSU system benefit from Pell Grants.

“Pell is one of Congress’ most effective degree-completion tools,” said Haneefah Syed, Associated Students Inc. president. “It reduces borrowing, supports full-time enrollment, and enables students to graduate into high-demand fields like engineering, health care, education and public service — fueling regional economies where CSU graduates overwhelmingly remain.”

CSUF also advocated for preserving federal grants, which drive academic programs and hands-on learning opportunities to prepare students for the evolving workforce.

Cal State Fullerton secured $35 million in extramural grants and contracts during the 2024-25 fiscal year, marking the third-highest total in university history.

With more than 135 grants and contracts across multiple colleges and administrative divisions, the university, categorized as an R2 institution, received more than half of its awards from federal agencies that included the U.S. Department of Education, NASA, the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Justice and the National Institutes of Health.

Courtesy CSUF