<p>I got an email from UCLA financial aid office saying that the governor Schwarzenegger is trying to cancel the Cal Grant program effective 2009-2010 school year. I’ll hate my life if I have to take out a loan for after getting my Cal Grant taken away from me 
The body of the email is as follows:</p>
<p>Dear Grant Recipient,</p>
<p>Over 252,000 California students like you are currently receiving funds from Cal Grants. At UCLA, approximately 7,000
students receive Cal Grant Funding annually totally $46 million dollars. Last week, Governor Schwarzenegger
submitted a new proposed budget that would make a number of spending cuts, including a phased elimination of the
Cal Grant program. Students who are currently receiving Cal Grants would continue to have their awards renewed as
long as they are eligible. However, all new awards for the 2009-10 year, approximately 116,200 new awards, would be
cancelled. Over the next few years, all Cal Grants would be eliminated.</p>
<p>The Joint Legislative Budget Committee will be holding hearings on cuts to education this week and deliberating this
serious matter, and it is important they hear your voice on this very critical issue which affects college access and
your continued enrollment. YOUR HELP IS NEEDED IMMEDIATELY! Please contact the members of the Joint
Legislative Budget Committee by email or by fax using the contact information provided below. Additionally, we
strongly encourage you to send this similar communication to your specific Senate and Assembly state
representatives in your home district. Let them know how these cuts will affect you, your younger siblings, and other
California students like you who need Cal Grant assistance to help finance a college education.</p>
<p>To receive updates on this important issue and additional information regarding opportunities for you to become
involved in Bruin Advocacy, go to [UCLA</a> Government and Community Relations](<a href=“http://www.advocacy.ucla.edu%5DUCLA”>http://www.advocacy.ucla.edu). YOUR VOICE IS IMPORTANT. Below you will find four
attachments regarding specific ways you can help. Thank you for your important contribution in opposing these
proposed cuts.</p>
<p>Sincerely,</p>
<p>Ronald W. Johnson
Director of Financial Aid
UCLA</p>
<p>ATTACHMENT I: Cal Grant Elimination Template Letter</p>
<p>ATTACHMENT II: Members of the Joint Legislative Budget Conference Committee</p>
<p>ATTACHMENT III: California Legislative Representative Look-up for your home District</p>
<h2>ATTACHMENT IV: UC / Cal Grant Talking Points</h2>
<p>ATTACHMENT I</p>
<p>The Honorable (Elected State Official)</p>
<p>California State Capitol</p>
<p>Sacramento, CA 95814</p>
<p>Re: Elimination of Cal Grant Program</p>
<p>Dear (Elected State Official):</p>
<p>I am writing to express my deep concern over the recent proposal to eliminate the Cal Grant Program. As a UCLA
student and recipient of Cal Grant funds, I am truly grateful for the Cal Grant Program. This program is vital to me,
many of my friends, as well as my fellow students, and their families throughout the state.</p>
<p>The Cal Grant Program has enabled me to receive a high-quality education that will provide me with the opportunity to
compete at an equal level for the most desired jobs, despite the economic challenges I have experienced. (Please use
this section to elaborate on your personal experiences, i.e., hardships, educational goals, program major, first
generation college student, etc.)</p>
<p>Please consider the serious implications of eliminating such a valuable program to our state. The continued
investment in students will ultimately aid in California’s economic recovery, for we are California’s future inventors,
doctors, researchers, filmmakers, business owners, and employees for a highly skilled and technologically advanced
workforce.</p>
<p>The elimination of the Cal Grant program will have a detrimental effect on low and middle-income students by
drastically reducing the affordability of college, thereby limiting the opportunity for thousands of qualified and
deserving California students’access to attend a higher education institution. I am one of those students. Please allow
me the continued opportunity to pursue my dreams and be a productive California citizen.</p>
<p>Sincerely,</p>
<hr>
<p>ATTACHMENT II</p>
<p>Members of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee</p>
<p>Assemblymember Noreen Evans - Chair</p>
<p>Phone: (916) 319-2007 Fax (916) 319-2107</p>
<p>Email: <a href="mailto:Assemblymember.Evans@assembly.ca.gov">Assemblymember.Evans@assembly.ca.gov</a></p>
<p>Assemblymember Roger Niello - Vice Chair</p>
<p>Phone: (916) 319-2005 Fax: (916) 319-2105</p>
<p>Email: <a href="mailto:Assemblymember.Niello@assembly.ca.gov">Assemblymember.Niello@assembly.ca.gov</a></p>
<p>Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield</p>
<p>Phone (916) 319-2040 Fax: (916) 319-2140</p>
<p>Email: <a href="mailto:Assemblymember.Blumenfield@assembly.ca.gov">Assemblymember.Blumenfield@assembly.ca.gov</a></p>
<p>Assemblymember Brian Nestande</p>
<p>Phone: (916) 319-2064 Fax: (916) 319-2164</p>
<p>Email: <a href="mailto:Assemblymember.Nestande@assembly.ca.gov">Assemblymember.Nestande@assembly.ca.gov</a></p>
<p>Assemblymember Kevin De Leon</p>
<p>Phone: (916) 319-2045 Fax: (916) 319-2145</p>
<p>Email: <a href="mailto:Assemblymember.DeLeon@assembly.ca.gov">Assemblymember.DeLeon@assembly.ca.gov</a></p>
<p>Senator Denise Ducheny - Chair, Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee</p>
<p>Phone: (916) 651-4040 Fax: (916) 327-3522</p>
<p>Email: <a href="mailto:Senator.Ducheny@sen.ca.gov">Senator.Ducheny@sen.ca.gov</a></p>
<p>Senator Robert Dutton - Vice Chair</p>
<p>Phone: (916) 651-4031 Fax: (916) 327-2272</p>
<p>Email: <a href="mailto:Senator.Dutton@sen.ca.gov">Senator.Dutton@sen.ca.gov</a></p>
<p>Senator Mark Leno</p>
<p>Phone: (916) 651-4003 Fax: (916) 445-4722</p>
<p>Email: <a href="mailto:Senator.Leno@sen.ca.gov">Senator.Leno@sen.ca.gov</a></p>
<p>Senator Alan Lowenthal</p>
<p>Phone: (916) 651-4027 Fax: (916) 327-9113</p>
<p>Email: <a href="mailto:Senator.Lowenthal@sen.ca.gov">Senator.Lowenthal@sen.ca.gov</a></p>
<p>Senator Mimi Walters</p>
<p>Phone: (916) 651-4033 Fax: (916) 445-9754</p>
<p>Email: <a href="mailto:Senator.Walters@sen.ca.gov">Senator.Walters@sen.ca.gov</a></p>
<hr>
<p>ATTACHMENT III</p>
<p>To contact your elected California legislative representatives go to the California Legislative Information website at:
[Official</a> California Legislative Information](<a href=“http://www.leginfo.ca.gov%5DOfficial”>http://www.leginfo.ca.gov) and follow the instructions below:</p>
<li><p>Click the “Your Legislature” tab on the bottom, right hand side of the page</p></li>
<li><p>Enter your Zip Code and click “Search”</p></li>
<li><p>Your Senate and Assembly representative, along with all of their contact information including a direct link to their
website, will appear on this page.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Thank you for your participation in this “Call to Action.” If you are interested in becoming more involved in Bruin
Advocacy, check out: [UCLA</a> Government and Community Relations](<a href=“http://www.advocacy.ucla.edu%5DUCLA”>http://www.advocacy.ucla.edu)</p>
<hr>
<p>ATTACHMENT IV</p>
<p>UC Talking Points Regarding the Governor’s Proposal to Eliminate Cal Grants</p>
<p>The Governor’s proposal to eliminate the Cal Grant program would have a devastating impact on low- and
middle-income students attending UC.</p>
<p>Eliminating new awards in 2009-10 and failing to cover the 2009-10 fee increase for renewal awards would result in a
loss of about $110 million for UC undergraduates next year alone.</p>
<p>In 2009-10, funds from UC’s limited pool of institutional aid would generally backfill some or all of a student’s missing
Cal Grant, but at the expense of other UC aid recipients.</p>
<p>Consequently, the impact of the Governor’s proposal would be felt not just by UC’s 46,000 Cal Grant recipients but by
over 70,000 students who receive either a Cal Grant or a UC Grant.</p>
<p>On average, more than 70,000 students would need to work and borrow about $1,500 more in 2009-10, raising their
estimated self-help level from about $9,100 to $10,600.</p>
<p>Phasing out the entire program would have an even larger impact over time and would permanently impair UC’s ability
to be financially accessible to all admitted students, at every income level.</p>
<p>To put this in perspective, under the terms of the current program, Cal Grants are expected to provide UC student with
$350 million in assistance in 2009-10.</p>
<p>Absent any new or renewal Cal Grant funds, UC students’ self-help level in 2009-10 would have been nearly $5,000
higher (about $14,000).</p>
<p>While eliminating the Cal Grant program is only a proposal at this point, UC is deeply concerned about the potential
impact on UC students.</p>