President Ronald Rochon Leads Delegation to DC for Hill Week

By Lynn Juliano

Cal State Fullerton President Ronald Rochon and a university delegation traveled to Washington, D.C., April 8-11 to advocate for CSUF’s top federal priorities. This effort was part of an annual California State University advocacy week in the nation’s capital.

Their conversations centered on the need to preserve Pell Grants, increase aid to Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), and to find a bipartisan pathway to citizenship and support Dreamers. The delegation also emphasized the incredible scale, impact and return on degree investment of the CSU — the largest and most consequential university system in the nation.

“When we invest in students, we’re investing in the future of our communities and our nation,” said Rochon. “A CSU degree changes the trajectory of lives — for graduates and their families for generations to come.

“We simply cannot afford federal cuts to higher education — not when the stakes are this high. Every dollar invested in our students pays dividends in a stronger economy, a more skilled workforce, and a more just and equitable society.”

The delegation pushed for the preservation of Pell Grants. Nearly half of CSUF students — approximately 22,000 — and a total of 207,000 students across the CSU system rely on this critical funding.

“The Pell Grant is the foundation of federal student aid,” said Megan Hannoun, chief governmental officer for Associated Students Inc. at CSUF. “If Pell were altered or reduced, students would scramble to find financial solutions to finish their degrees. We request that the California congressional delegation challenge any cuts to this program.”

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

At Cal State Fullerton, the number of grants and contracts has surged by 110% since 2018, with nearly $58 million in external funding secured in 2023-24.

Courtesy CSUF