By Harry Mok

Student Regent-Designate Jesse Cheng (left) and Student Regent Jesse Bernal bring a unique perspective to UC policy-making.

Though University of California Student Regent D'Artagnan Scorza's term on the Board of Rents has ended, he can be assured that his successors will keep working on the issues he focused on: access, affordability and diversity.

Jesse Bernal took over from Scorza and Jesse Cheng was installed as student-regent designate for 2010-11 at July's UC Board of Regents meeting. Both share Scorza's priorities for their terms as regents.

Scorza, who's pursuing a doctorate in education at UCLA, enjoyed his time as a regent and believes student input is valuable.

"There is so much change at the university," Scorza said. "It's so critical to have the voice and perspective of students on the board. It's how regents get to know the impact of their policies."

His advice for the new student regents:

"Understand that their voice is valuable, what to say and when to say it," Scorza said. "The opportunity to interject and to lead conversations is a critical component of being student regent. We're there and bring a perspective that informs decision-making at the highest policy level of the university."

Scorza is finishing his second year in the education doctoral program at UCLA and received his bachelor's degree in religion studies from UCLA in 2007. After the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, Scorza left UCLA and joined the U.S. Navy and served in Iraq, where he was responsible for personnel, records and communications management activities. He returned to UCLA in April 2006.

Now that he's not a regent, Scorza plans to focus on school and the two nonprofit organizations he works with in Los Angeles, the Social Justice Learning Institute, which works with schools to reform classroom practices and assist students, and Novo Worldwide, which raises awareness around issues related to genocide in Africa and education in developing nations.

Bernal and Cheng join the Board of Regents amid UC budget cuts due to an estimated $813 million decrease in support from the state general fund over the next two years. Bernal realizes the challenges ahead, and said he's ready for them.

"The unfortunate thing is that with the budget situation, any sort of lofty or costly goals are limited," said Bernal, a UC Santa Barbara doctoral student in education. "But I'm looking forward to continuing the work of the previous student regents."

Bernal wants to spend his time on the board working to ensure affordability for all students and access to UC for underrepresented groups.

"Affordability is big one even though I think UC is a bargain," he said.

Other areas of interest for Bernal are student retention and support services.

"UC is well intended in its efforts, but when the state cuts the budget, it's usually these services that are the first to go," he said. "I want to work on ensuring that they're protected."

Bernal is a first-generation college student and received his bachelor's degree from Westmont College in Santa Barbara. He is currently special programs manager in the UC Santa Barbara summer sessions office, where he coordinates academic arrangements for the Early Start Program, a high school outreach program, and the Freshman Summer Start Program, a bridge program for incoming UC Santa Barbara first-year students.

His areas of emphasis for his doctoral studies are underrepresented students in higher education, first-year student experience, student development and retention. He has served as university affairs chair and board member of the UC Student Association and external vice president for statewide affairs for the UC Santa Barbara Graduate Students Association.

Bernal is scheduled to finish his degree next year and wants to pursue a career in K-12 education administration.

"College decisions are made earlier and earlier now," Bernal said. "Being able to influence that process at the beginning is where I want to put my efforts."

As the student regent-designate, Cheng will participate in all deliberations, but not vote until July 2010, when his one-year term would begin. Affordability and access are his priorities as a regent.

"I want to make sure the California public knows that (a UC education) is the best vehicle for your family and your children to attain the American dream," Cheng said. "I want to make sure the California public really fully realizes that and protects that and invests in that for the future."

Cheng is a third-year Asian American studies major at UC Irvine, where he has served as external chair for the Asian Pacific Student Association and executive vice president-elect for the Associated Students of UC Irvine. He also has served as Academic Senate representative for the Council on Educational Policy and as the chair of the Student Fee Advisory Committee.

Cheng said he chose Asian American studies because it is a major closely associated with public service.

"You become Asian American studies major because you're passionate about giving back to the community that raised you," Cheng said. "For me, I feel like I'm giving back to people who made me what I am."

He plans a career in politics after graduating. As for what office he'd run for, he hasn't quite thought that far ahead. "I'm still trying to grapple with this student regent thing," he said.