There are many ways to be involved!
Graduate and professional students can be involved in systemwide decision-making spaces: participating as a StAR, being involved in committees as student observer, or making a public comment.
Apply to be a Student Advocate to the Regents
Make a public comment at the Regents meetings
Apply to be a Student Observer to Regental Committees (2026-2027)
Apply to be a Graduate Representative at UC Systemwide Committees (2026-2027)
Systemwide Committee Application (2026-2027)
Apply to serve as a Student Representative on a Systemwide Committee!
As the official voice of the UC graduate and professional students, UCGPC will nominate students to sit on UC systemwide committees. Systemwide committees confront issues in admissions policy, budget prioritization, and technology investments. Graduate and professional students must be represented in these committees.
Systemwide committee meetings will have different locations, times, and frequency. Most committee meetings are held at the UCOP offices in Oakland, CA, although many committees meet via video conference calls. The UC Office of the President covers travel for students to UCOP offices.
Student Advocates to the Regents
Student Advocates to the Regents (StARs) are funded to travel to the Regents meetings to provide public comment on pressing student issues. StARs are allowed 'backstage' privileges to speak with the Regents informally and engage in student advocacy.
StAR Travel Information
The next board meetings are listed here: https://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/meetings/
If interested, please complete an application. This is an opportunity for Graduate and Professional UC students. If you are not selected for the next board meeting , we may consider your application for future opportunities (please let us know in the application if you would be interested in attending other upcoming board meetings). If you are a UC undergrad apply here.
Visit this page to learn more about the UC Regents, past meeting minutes, and scheduled meetings: https://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/index.html
Travel logistics:
StARs will be reimbursed for incurred travel expenses subject to caps. Email us to learn more.
Requirements:
You must be a UC student and able to travel and attend ALL days of the meetings.
Student Representation Matters in Decision-Making at the University of California
Student Observers (2026-2027)
To provide students with a direct voice in the consideration of matters before the Board of Regents, a Student Observer may address each of four Standing Committees on open session agenda items at meetings of those committees. There shall be one Student Observer per committee.
The Student Observer shall be seated at the presenter’s table for the duration of the Committee’s consideration of the item and shall address the Committee members on the agenda item(s) at the time of the Committee Chair’s choosing. The Student Observer shall have up to five minutes to address the Committee. Unless the Student Observer is a member of the Student Advocates to the Regents (StAR) program on the day of the committee meeting, the Student Observer shall sit in the seating area reserved for the public when not addressing the committee.
Students apply to be Student Observers via an application form on UCSA’s and UCGPC’s websites. Any changes to the application form shall be made in consultation with the Office of the Secretary and Chief of Staff. UCSA and UCGPC shall nominate at least three students in good standing to the Secretary and Chief of Staff for each Standing Committee selected. Each Committee Chair shall appoint the Student Observer to that committee. Each student appointed shall serve the committee for the duration of the academic year; no substitution of Student Observers shall be permitted. If a vacancy occurs, UCSA and UCGPC may solicit applications for a new Student Observer using the process outlined above.
The Secretary and Chief of Staff will notify the Student Observers of all upcoming committee meetings. The Student Observer may request audiovisual assistance and equipment for the presentations through the Secretary and Chief of Staff no later than one week prior to the scheduled meeting.
Requirements: A candidate must currently be graduate or professional student at one of the University’s ten campuses. At the time of application, the candidate must be in good academic and disciplinary standing and remain in good standing throughout their appointment as a representative. Applicants should be able to attend all committee meetings and participate in student representative conference calls as scheduled.
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University of California
Graduate and Professional Council
981 Mission Street, #31, San Francisco, CA 94103
info@ucgpc501c3.org
© 2025 UCGPC
