SQE Internships offer a unique opportunity for students at CSU campuses to learn about the issues currently facing public higher education and the techniques and strategies for organizing students and other communities around these issues. In-person and virtual educational sessions taught by experienced labor and community organizers are offered for Interns to learn about the history of community organization in general and at CSU, the use of various outreach techniques such as on-campus tabling, petitions, creating flyers, classroom presentations, collaborating with faculty, organizing demonstrations and teach ins. In this educational endeavor Interns also work closely in person with the faculty advisors at each of the CSU campuses for mentorship, both in small groups and one-on-one.
As an important part of the STUDENTS FOR QUALITY EDUCATION internships, students also have opportunities for practical hands-on participation in community organization effort. This allows Interns to learn through active practical experience in SQE’s community outreach campaigns, informing students and the public about the critical issues impacting students today with respect to public higher education, including tuition increases, campus safety and policing, quality of life and faculty compensation.
STUDENTS FOR QUALITY EDUCATION (SQE) also offers informational meetings, teach-ins, and workshops in connection with its specific campaigns. STUDENTS FOR QUALITY EDUCATION (SQE) prepares and distributes written materials with information, news and commentary on each of its campaigns, including petitions, flyers, press releases, social media and its website. In addition, STUDENTS FOR QUALITY EDUCATION’s (SQE) on-campus tabling activities and demonstrations allow its Interns and members to inform students and others about these campaigns.
One or more STUDENTS FOR QUALITY EDUCATION Internships are available on each of the CSU campuses each academic year. Course credit is available for some internship projects.
No prior community organization experience is required.
Students for Quality Education (SQE) was formed in 2007-2008 by students in the California State University system to build the student movement for educational rights in public higher education. We were assisted in our efforts by the California Faculty Association and operate under its auspices.
History
Our movement for educational justice in the CSU is not new. Students in the 1960s fought to open up the University for working families and immigrant students. They demanded high quality and relevant education, and badly needed student services such as the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP). From this movement the CSU grew to become the People’s University, open to all who met the basic requirements for entrance.
Continuing that fire, SQE is organizing to stop attacks from happening on CSU campuses around the state. We are committed to fighting for a free, accessible, quality CSU for all. By free we also mean free from debt, discrimination, and fear.
Time, Place, Manner (TPM) Accusations Reporting Form
If you are a CSU student and have been accused of violating the Time, Place, and Manner (TPM) policy on your campus by your administration, please complete this online form and share your experience with us.
SQE Disorientation Guide
A Disorientation Guide on California State University
Multiple SQE chapters came to the Sacramento State campus to support CFA members in protesting Chancellor Castro’ visit to the campus.
SQE Long Beach chapter demonstrated at the CSU Board of Trustees for them to hear our demands
SQE Chico state chapter took action during the No Harm Disarm Campaign
SQE statewide lobbying for AB1460
SQE statewide lobbying for AB1460
Action on April 4th, 2018 to stop tuition increase
Action on April 4th, 2018 to stop tuition increase
Campaign
View PDF of preface here
Defund the police and invest in affirming, life-giving resources & spending for Black people, Indigenous people, all people of color, and all people disproportionately harmed by policing & the carceral system.
We demand an implementation of a student, faculty, and staff curated process of accountability for racial harassment and retaliation outside of University Police. Students, faculty, and staff have faced racial harassment from many, including Campus Police who have faced no sort of proper accountability process due to lack of proper policy.
Fund Black Student Resource Centers in collaboration with Black/Africana Studies faculty and students on every campus. Fund specialized resource centers for different marginalized groups on campus outside of multicultural centers.
Hire more mental health counselors in proportion to the student body to be reflective of the American Psychological Association student ratio guidelines – 1 counselor to every 1k to 1.5k students on campus. 3. Integrate trained mental health crisis intervention teams on each campus that are unaffiliated with policing. Set a student and faculty run, mutual aid based, program for the emergency/blue lights.
*** Free Higher Education (information after kickoff)
TBD
Students for Quality Education (SQE) was formed during the 2007-08 school year by students in the California State University (CSU) system to build the student movement for educational rights in public higher education. We were assisted in our efforts by California Faculty Association leaders as we continue this movement fighting for the educational justice students deserve. Members of SQE today are focusing on many issues like abolishing the police on CSU campuses and advocating for more mental health resources on these campuses.
Tim Sampson started the intern Program to combat critical issues students faced on campus on a statewide level. SQE allows interns an opportunity to gain skills in organizing, leadership, and activism. Working closely with the CFA and with other students on their campus, SQE interns can mobilize support for ongoing issues on CSU campuses. The student internship program was created to help preserve the mission of the CSU as “the People’s University” where students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds can receive a high quality education at an affordable cost with full assistance throughout their journey.
SQE works with CFA to sponsor California assembly and senate bills. Each April SQE interns work with CFA members to meet with California assembly members to speak and inform them of any bills SQE and CFA have (co)sponsored. SQE’s most notable success thus far has been AB1460 which requires Ethnic Studies be taught in high school and in the CSU system. SQE’s current sponsored bill is AB1997 which would introduce emergency response programs to assist and alleviate campus mental health crises on CSU campuses. These teams would be separate from UPD and would employ trained mental health specialists. In addition, the bill requires the creation of a stakeholders workgroup which would evaluate and report on types of alternatives to the existing emergency response programs on campus as well as create a report that would be presented to the Legislature. The bill has already gone past its initial committee and will be heard again in August of 2022. Information on AB1997’s progress can be found here.
SQE partners up with a variety of student organizations, faculty, and staff on each campus. It is important for our campus communities to get acquainted with one another to not only discuss the campus environment but to also build a trusting bond where students, faculty, and staff feel welcomed. Through coalition building SQE has been able to receive an endless amount of support that has led for bills to be passed, traction to happen on campus, and the formation of new opportunities. To name a few of the organizations we have worked with is Black Student Union, Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlan, La F.U.E.R.Z.A, Black Lives Matter-LA, etc.
Meet Your SQE Coordinators
Ade Gutierrez-Diaz
Northern California Student Organizing Coordinator
To apply, please fill out the online application and attach a resume and two references. Must be a current student to apply.
The purpose of the CFA Internship Program is to:
Increase student awareness of the campus-community labor issues and their impact on the university.
Develop an ongoing partnership with the student community in the CSU around issues CFA identifies as relevant to the University.
Promote student awareness of social justice issues and labor history.
CFA believes that the interests of faculty and students are intertwined and that opportunities to promote this mutual awareness are critical to the future of the CSU. As a leading advocate for the future of the California’s state university system, CFA has been instrumental in demanding accountability from an increasingly business-oriented university administration and has fought for expanded access, affordability, and quality education for California’s working families.
CFA recognizes its responsibility to continue its work in support of the future of the university. CFA’s intern program creates the opportunity for students to work alongside faculty activists and leaders in order to learn organizing, strategic planning, and leadership skills. Our internship program is designed to provide students with hands-on and formalized training in a variety of areas including:
Strategic campaign planning and coordination
Lobbying and political organizing
Building an organization
Effective communications
Whether on your campus, in your community, or at the state capitol, you can make a difference. If you are interested in working with CFA and learning how to fight back and win on issues important to faculty and students, this internship is for you!
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