What Trustees Need to Know About AdvocacyInfluencing policy before Congress and the Administration

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What is ‘advocacy’?All actions intended to influence lawmakers’ positions• Letter-writing• Direct meetings• Phone calls• Social media contacts• Advertising campaigns• Public meetings or hearings

When is advocacy appropriate?• Enhancing and protecting community colleges• Bringing pressure to lawmakers for good of community• Establishing positive two-way relationships

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Why we advocate

• Legislators have many competing interests

• Special interests can obscure the public voice

• Sharing experiences from the inside is helpful and informative

• Democratic process provides many opportunities to engage policymakers

• Sometimes being in the room is half the battle

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What do we advocate about?• Funding and resources are primary• Majority of community college funding comes from state and local• BUT: federal student aid and workforce programs remain

significant sources of institutional operating revenue (outside of tuition)

• Legislation• Regulations, guidelines, reports, and commissions

FEDERALSTATE

LOCAL

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Federal Student Aid is like a Three-Legged Stool

• Each leg of the higher education stool represents an important part of federal assistance offered to enhance student access.

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Federal Loans – Stafford, Grad, PLUS, Perkins

Grants – Pell, SEOG

Tax Credits – AOTC, Section 127, Coverdell, SLID

Impact of Federal Student Aid on Your Campus

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Why trustees?• Set the mission of the college

• Carry out the board’s duties and responsibilities

• Lay citizen, representative from the community

• Politically connected

• Ideal representative/advocate for the college

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Areas of trustee expertise

• Academic programs• Fiscal management• Personnel• System planning• Admissions requirements• Tuition and fees• Graduation, achievement rates• Rules and regulations

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Elements of effective advocacy• Learn the basics of the legislative process• Know the issues• Create a consistent message that is clear and

relevant• Support and encourage the president’s role as

influential advocate• Attend the ACCT National Legislative Summit• Visit your Senators and Representatives in DC• Invite legislators to visit the campus• Build relationships with policymakers and staff• Continual conversation and dialogue

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The Key to Effective Advocacy:A Common Message

Simple, short, relevant, and clear

Consistent message• When advantageous, trustees and presidents should

have same message• Help legislators know they are making a positive

decision

Visibility• Backup advocacy with public and media relations

Develop long term relationships with policymakers10

The Hill Meeting

Know your legislator• Their district – major cities and economic centers other than your college• The name of the Congressional staffer you may be

meeting with• Have they visited your campus?• Representative’s educational background• Committee assignments

Know the process• Bill numbers, content, status• Necessary steps to moving policy

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Successful Meeting Tips Be on time, flexible, friendly, and brief• Arrive early and be willing to wait.

Ask for support• Gauge a member’s level of support for community college

priorities

Ask about your member’s priorities• As with any good relationship, it is give and take

Collect business cards• Remember to leave behind your business card and college

information

Send thank you note• Establish a long-term relationship

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Action ItemsFace-to-face communication is best• Be visible - Attend fundraisers, grassroots support• Invite your legislator to small social functions with

college officials• Invite your legislator to speak at graduation• Encourage use of college facilities for town

meetings/forums• Invite legislative staff to tour campus• Never hold a public event without inviting your

local public officials

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Importance of Persistence Goal: ongoing, second-nature support• Two-way relationship• “Community colleges? You bet we support them,

they are a top priority for Congress!”

Things to remember:• Representatives and Senators relate to their local

colleges• Congress must understand the role and priorities

of the community college system14

ACCT Advocacy Toolkitwww.acct.org/advocacy

• Worksheets• Op-ed template• Letter to state legislators template• State advocacy press release template• Customizable state advocacy advertisements• Glossary, Key Policies, Links and Articles for Advocacy

Capitol Connection and Latest Action in Washington (LAW) Receive email updates: publicpolicy@acct.org

• Breaking news: follow and friend us:

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Twitter.com/CCTrustees Facebook.com/CCTrustees

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Contact Information

Jee Hang LeeVice President for Public Policy and

External Relations202-775-4450jhlee@acct.org

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Thank You

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