On April 22, 2026, the Associated Students of the University of California, Riverside (ASUCR) meeting began at 7 p.m. and adjourned at 8:35 p.m.
During public forum, Chief Justice Vaneet Pani noted the upcoming hearings for the 2026-27 ASUCR elections.
State of the Association (SOTA) reports were delivered by Office of the President, Office of the Executive Vice President, Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (VP of DEI), Vice President of External Affairs (VPEA) and Office of the Non-Traditional Student Director.
In their SOTA reports, President Leila Haidar and Executive Vice President Mia Tu’ifua both noted restructuring and organizational changes to their offices. Additionally, in regards to the initiatives under the VP of DEI’s office, Chicano Student Programs student employee Nayeli Dominguez noted, “If you don’t know who’s representing you, then there’s a problem there.”
In her SOTA report, VPEA Briana Trujillo acknowledged mistakes in the VPEA office and wanted future members to learn from those mistakes, noted upcoming university affairs dates and provided updates on the Legislative Advocacy and Civic Engagement Committees.
Finally, Non-Traditional Student Director Nina Haywood delivered a SOTA report highlighting the office’s focus on connecting non-traditional students to student services, initiatives to help student parents transition to childcare programs as they enter college and updates on ASUCR’s Committee on Preparatory Education.
VPEA Trujillo presented an update on the Student Regents Empowerment Amendment (ACA 18), a letter which advocates for increasing student representation among the University of California Regents from one to two voting members. The presented letter was approved by the Senate 12-0-1.
During committee reports, the Senate unanimously approved resolution SR-S26-004, which would move the Elections Committee to the Judicial Branch. The resolution was presented by Elections Director Diya Baskaran, Chief Justice Vaneet Pani and Associate Justice Nathan Johnson, and it aimed to address historical issues with ASUCR elections. Associate Justice Johnson noted that the change would add another check and balance to the association, ensuring that the Elections Director acts in a fair and just manner.
A Green Campus Action Plan Grant 0020, which would provide $60,000 for the R’Bus project, was approved 12-0-0. Vice President of Sustainability Anahita Hooshyari far noted the recent end of UCR’s Campus Safety Escort Services and raised the R’Bus as a viable alternative. Tentatively, the R’Bus would operate Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. once established.
Minutes for Finance Budget Hearing #17 were also approved 11-0-1.
During public comment, VPEA Trujillo highlighted Earth Day programming and upcoming events.
Senator reports by BCOE Senator Sarah Zohary and CHASS Senator An Nguyen highlighted the need for ASUCR to urge the university to improve anonymous sexual assault reporting and an open Student Life role.
Concluding announcements included reminders from President Pro Tempore regarding UCR’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Symposium and legislation submission deadlines, SPP Senator Pia Prashanth regarding an upcoming career fair event and SOE Senator Dulce Ruiz Hernandez regarding the upcoming May 4 SOE Career Readiness Town Hall.
