Introduction

The A.S. Business Services Committee advises Legislative Council (which will become the A.S. Senate in 2012/13) on all policies pertaining to A.S. businesses and services, including A.S. Recycling, Publications, Bike Shop, Cashiers and Ticket Office, Food Bank, and any new services developed by the committee and approved by the Legislative Council/Senate. The committee works to improve current A.S. businesses and services and drafts, reviews, and implements proposals for new ones. It can also advise other campus groups regarding sustainable business practices.

The committee conducts a yearly evaluation of all A.S. businesses and services. It reviews existing contracts and oversees the bidding process for the legal services provided by the Legal Resource Center. During the Winter quarter, the committee assists A.S. businesses in presenting their respective budgets to Finance Board as part of the annual budget hearings process.

Community Financial Fund

This year the Business Services Committee assisted with the implementation of the UCSB Community Financial Fund. The Community Financial Fund assists students by providing more access to grants and low interest student loans year-round. It helps supplement the current Associated Students emergency loans.  The Fund is the result of a lock-in students voted to introduce in Spring 2011. It funds a credit builder program, regular financial literacy workshops, and general financial guidance for students. It includes a new requirement for recipients of AS short-term emergency loans, who must now attend a financial management workshop. These regularly offered workshops familiarize students with the student loan industry, credit building tools, and money management techniques. The workshops are one hour and are open to all UCSB students.

The Community Financial Fund gets information out to students in various ways, including a regularly updated Facebook page. This page includes information ranging from campus financial aid updates to proposed federal legislation, such as the Student Loan Forgiveness Act of 2012 (H.R. 4170) introduced in the House of Representatives this year.