All Politics Are Local Outreach, Engagement & Building Relationships in Your Community

1. All Politics Are Local Outreach, Engagement & Building Relationships in Your Community ILASFAA Conference April 2014 Rebecca Novak DeVry Education GroupMark Szymanoski, DeVry Education Group

2. Why Does Engagement Matter? • The majority of student aid is the product of and exists within some sort of political environment • National politics • State politics • Institutional politics • Understanding the basic concepts and structures can help you anticipate change and possibly influence the process • Cultivate relationships before they’re needed

3. Mobilizing the Grassroots…Build, Organize, Implement • All politics are local. • Elected officials are focused on their constituents. • What elected officials do or don’t do is often a function of who has their attention.

4. Taking Action…. • Identify the issue • Why is it important? • Who is affected? • Identify the influencers • Who can help make changes? • What is the best way to introduce yourself and develop a relationship? • Why is it important? • What is the end goal?

5. Build • Grassroots Organizing Means: • Participating and organizing “Hill Days” that include students, alumni, faculty and campus leadership, etc. • Fact sheets, testimonial materials • Other pertinent and salient information • Participating in district office meetings • Hosting joint financial aid seminars • Hosting elected officials at your campus • Engaging elected officials as guest speakers

6. Build (continued)… • Assisting elected officials with town hall and community events • Finding other unique touch points including quarterly newsletters and recognition events • Sign up for elected/appointed officials monthly newsletters • Regularly check elected/appointed officials websites for events and opportunities • Regularly check local papers for activities involving campus elected officials • Finding opportunities to network, such as K-20 councils, educational partnership events, Chamber meetings, etc.

7. Organize • Identify the appropriate member(s) to engage. • Your delegation, committee chairs, appropriators, conference committee members, regulator? • Identify your “leader” or campaign spokesperson • Identify your “constituents” • Students, faculty, alumni, institutional support staff, etc.

8. Organize (continued)… • Most individuals won’t take action unless approached more than once with compelling facts. • Assume that potential participants aren’t fluent on the issue. • Find an angle that motivates people. Call should be: • Accurate • Well crafted (written/spoken) • Persuasive

9. Organize (continued)… • Provide a wealth of knowledge in a condensed format. • Explain why engagement is important and needed • Clearly identify what specific action you want • Communicate • Website (student portal, “Action Center”) • Social media (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn) • Calls / emails (current students, alumni) • Campaign signage / collateral • Via staff/faculty during scheduled classes

10. Implement • Actions/expectations should be specific: • Phone Tree (scripted vs. free form): Includes calling members explaining position “for” or “against” a particular measure or to thank them. • Letter Writing Campaign (original vs. form): Includes asking the grassroots participants to write letters to elected or appointed officials explaining a position “for” or “against” a particular measure or to thank them.

11. Implement (continued)… • Face-to-Face Meetings (champions): Includes organizing the grassroots to engage with elected officials and/or their staff in person at the state capital, at a district office location, town hall meeting, community function, etc. • Provide participants with specific tasks and the resources needed to accomplish those tasks. • Mobilize X number of students/faculty/alumni • Participate in X number of editorial board meetings

12. Members Appreciate the Basics • Stay Student Focused • Speak to your students. Talk abut the students at your campus, who they are and what is important to them. • For Campus Tours: • Highlight the best features of your campus by showing lawmakers and their staff your classrooms, labs and any other campus features that will “wow” them. • Find opportunities to stay in touch (graduation speaker, special guest for class etc…) • For District Office Visits: • Extend invitation to tour the local campus. • Find opportunities to stay in touch (graduation speaker, special guest for class etc…) • Follow up with a personalized thank you.

13. Do Your Homework • Understand both sides of the issue; know your facts. • Know where you stand in terms of negotiation and compromise. • Be prepared to be counter-lobbied. • Research your opposition and elected officials’ position on the issue. • “Electeds” include the members that represent you, your campus, your students, alumni, etc.; House/Senate leadership; jurisdictional committees; appropriators; regulators; etc.

14. You are the Expert ― Share your knowledge! • Pick your topic & voice your opinion • Get to know your legislators & be in contact with them – phone, email, and visits • Join committees and organizations • Respond to request from association to write your legislator • Invite legislators to your campus • Write an article for the association newsletter • Get your students, alumni and faculty involved!

15. Other Influences on Financial Aid Policy • Illinois Student Assistance Commission • Hearings • Requests for comments • Illinois Board of Higher Education • Special interest groups • State Attorney General • College president or lobbyist • Students and Alumni!!

16. Grassroots Lobbying: When do I need to register with the Secretary of State? • Does a person or entity need to register for lobbying with the Secretary of State if participating in the production of a Grass-Roots Communication? • No, the definition of ‘lobbying’ in Section 560.100 of the Code specifically excludes grass-roots communications. There is, however, a small caveat to this rule for persons who are being paid to perform ‘contractual’ grass-roots services. The contractor must register if there is contact with officials involving more than just ‘routine communication’ about the grass-roots endeavor (see Section 560.210 of the Code). • What is a Grass Roots ‘Communication’? • Grass Roots Communications only include certain types of correspondence. Section 560.100 of the Code, defines ‘grass roots lobbying communication’ to generally include any correspondence sent (i) to a segment of the general public to encourage correspondence with an official or (ii) to an official by any segment of the general public, in support or opposition to governmental action.Example: Postcards asking recipients to write their State Official to support or oppose an issue. Additional information can be found at: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/sos_ig21.pdf

17. Engagement Resources • Who represents me? • US House of Representatives: www.house.gov • US Senate: www.senate.gov • Illinois State Legislature: www.ilga.gov • Outside resources: • Congress.org: www.congress.org • NASFAA: http://www.nasfaa.org/Advocacy/Legislation/Your_Legislative_Contacts.aspx • List of Higher Education Organizations: • http://www.ihep.org/Resources/organizations.cfm

18. Thank you! QuestionsorComments?