United States Student Association
The United States Student Association is America's oldest and largest national student association. USSA acts as lobbying group for students and the affordability and accessibility of higher education in Washington, DC. UW-L Student Association sends delegations to USSA's two national conferences each year. These conferences serve as a way to develop leadership skills and a great opportunity to network with students from across the country.
National Student Congress
Each July, USSA holds the National Student Congress. At this week-long conference, delegations from member schools gather to set USSA's agenda for the year. During the week, students attend sessions that cover topics such as publicity and public relations, how to expand your student organization, and how to successfully execute a campaign. The conference culminates in the plenary, where action agenda items and administrative resolutions are presented, debated and voted on by the membership. In 2009, Congress was held at the University of Colorado at Boulder, but in the recent past has been held in places like Pittsburgh and Madison.
"I think that USSA has great hopes for
improving higher education in
-Micah Brown, UW-L Class of 2012
"I always feel like I get so much closer to my fellow delegates on these trips. There’s always boatloads of inside jokes, and plus it’s a great time to have important conversations about upcoming projects and getting another educated opinion on Senate issues. Just having a friendly and funny bunch of students with similar interests is a surefire way to have a good trip!" -Andi Turtenwald, UW-L Class of 2012
University of Colorado at Boulder, July 2009.
UW-L's National Student Congress delegation at
the plenary in Boulder, Colorado, July 2009.
Top row from left: Ryan Shervey, Jenn O'Neill, Zac Rockefeller,
Erik Kahl. Bottom row: Micah Brown, Andi Turtenwald.
Legislative Conference
USSA's Legislative Conference, or Leg Con, is held every March in Washington, DC. Students gather in the nation's capital to learn how to effectively lobby legislators on issues relating to higher education. On National Student Lobby Day, students join together to march to the Capital and lobby legislators. UW-L students have directly lobbied Congressman Ron Kind, Senator Russ Feingold and Senator Herb Kohl on issues such as the renewal of the Higher Education Act and increasing funding to financial aid.
"I strongly believe my delegation was the
best possible combination of individuals that could have been
combined on the UW-La Crosse campus. The group bonded so great
and we will always be able to look back on this experience. We
were able to maintain a serious composure when needed, and when
we laughed, we laughed until we were in tears. The delegation
taught me to be more outgoing and to not judge a book by its
cover."
-Rob Rydeski, UW-L Class of 2012
"When people ask me how it was, all I can do is say it was the
best trip I have ever been on. The sessions at the conference
were informative, the people there were always friendly and
approachable, I saw and experienced historical and monumental
sites in D.C., and I got to know our own delegation much
better."
-Andi Turtenwald, UW-L Class of 2012
The Leg Con delegation in March 2009 in front
of the White House in Washington, DC.
Top row: John O'Hare, Jacque Smith, Missy Ruplinger, Jeremy
Gragert.
Bottom row: Andi Turtenwald, Jenn O'Neill, Rob Rydeski.
A view of the Smithsonian Castle and the blooming cherry blossoms during Leg Con, March 2009.
If you have questions about USSA conferences, please contact Jenn O'Neill, Legislative Issues Director, oneill.jenn@students.uwlax.edu.