Students tell regents to restore UCLA AAP funding, expand confidential survivor care and OER

A stream of student speakers used the public-comment period at the March 18 Regents meeting to press the university to reverse cuts and expand supports they say are essential for equity and student retention.

"My job as an AP peer counselor has been one of my greatest achievements at UCLA," said Carmen Tjo, a fourth-year undergraduate, who told regents that cuts to UCLA's Academic Advancement Program (AAP) have reduced staff and paused services for underserved and first-generation students and asked that funding be reinstated.

Jayen Salivar, another UCLA undergraduate, said AAP serves more than 6,000 students and "provides a sense of belonging and academic rigor" for historically underrepresented groups; he urged the regents to "prioritize the students who are working every day to uphold the UC mission." Several other student speakers echoed those requests.

Other speakers urged systemwide implementation of statutory protections and supports. "We're asking that all UCs follow the [SB1491] model to implement confidential counselors inside LGBT resource centers," Colani Phillips of Survivors and Allies said, citing a 2025 study that found many LGBT students mistakenly believe center staff are confidential. Carla Trillo, speaking for immigrant-rights student groups, asked for stronger implementation of SB98 (rapid response to immigration enforcement) and SB307 (protections for detained students' tuition and reenrollment).

Students also raised affordability through curriculum change. Genevie Koing Chauffeur, a UC Berkeley master's student, told the board that investing $4 million annually in open educational resources could produce $20.7 million in student savings. "Open educational resources are low-hanging fruit," she said.

Regents acknowledged the comments but did not debate them during the public-comment period; presenters and regents later addressed related policy and funding questions during the basic-needs item. The board did not take formal votes on these requests during the meeting.