The ASUCLA Board of Directors announced during its 10th meeting of the 2024-2025 academic year that CalFresh recipients can use their benefits at ASUCLA stores.
The board, composed of a student majority, has financial oversight over ASUCLA entities, including the Undergraduate Students Association Council, the Graduate Student Association and the ASUCLA Communications Board – which oversees UCLA Student Media. ASUCLA also has responsibility for the UCLA Store, on-campus restaurants and some UCLA trademarks. Board meetings are open to the public and normally held in Kerckhoff Hall.
Public comment:
- There was no public comment at the meeting.
Executive director/CEO remarks:
- Pouria Abbassi, the ASUCLA Executive Director and CEO, said the board has implemented CalFresh products in student stores and will allow people to use their CalFresh benefits campuswide. CalFresh provides monthly food benefits to low-income people and families. Abbassi added that the ASUCLA BOD will begin splitting sale profits halfway with the UCLA intercollegiate athletics department, as decided by the UC Board of Regents during its meeting May 13 to May 15.
- Ben Schardt, the ASUCLA Human Resources Student Supervisor, outlined how his office supports student workers and helps onboard employees into various roles and departments at UCLA. Schardt, a third-year economics and public affairs student, added that there is a need to create an easily accessible system for students to access any of the resources they may need.
BOD alumnus remarks:
- Teni Adewumi-Gunn, the former chair of the board, said working on the board helped her understand the importance of taking part in conversations to improve the UCLA student experience.
Committee reports:
- Executive Committee Chair Heeya Firdaus said the committee is planning a retreat. Firdaus added that the Finance Committee discussed the communication board’s March financial statements, the viability of UCLA’s publications and how to support the program that gains the most engagement regularly.
- Personnel Committee Chair Merhawi Tesfai said the committee discussed ways in which the board could commit resources to outreach efforts to involve more students with USAC.
Executive director’s report:
- Abbassi said ASUCLA won four American Business Awards for 2025. He added that Bruin One Access received an award, and ASUCLA was named the nonprofit organization of the year. Abbassi also said CalFresh was named best Corporate Social Responsibility and UCLA Store loss-prevention officer Felicia Gonzalez was awarded Support Staff of the Year. Abbassi added that the Undergraduate Students Association and the Graduate Student Association are preparing budget timelines for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. He said the elevators at Ackerman Union have been completely renovated and repaired and that Kerckhoff Hall’s elevator will be the next project. Abbassi said UCLA stores will begin carrying name, image and likeness items featuring former and current student athletes. He added that ASUCLA was recognized as a finalist for Operation Hat Trick Excellence in Service Awards for providing no-cost surgeries to veterans. He said that in April, the gross income for ASUCLA BOD was $9.6 million, which was $960,000 above projections and $950,000 more than last year. Abbassi added that ASUCLA BOD’s gross margin was $5.5 million – $1.1 million above last year’s and $780,000 above the projected plan.
- ASUCLA’s Finance Director Donna Baker said ASUCLA has a surplus of $9.7 million this month.
Action/discussion items:
- The board voted unanimously to approve the student-run enterprises and five-year forecast budget.
- The board voted unanimously to approve the Communications Board budget.
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