Our Mission and History
Founded in the fall of 1995, the Asian Pacific Student Coalition (APSC) exists as an alliance of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) student groups at the University of Pennsylvania. The primary purpose of APSC is to represent the interests and causes of the AAPI community to the University administration. APSC also functions to promote and celebrate the richness of AAPI culture, facilitate communication between student groups, and provide a forum for discussion on issues of student concern.
What Do We Do?
Our activities fall into three categories:
Student Advocacy - We regularly meet with Penn administration, student government, and other organizations to advocate for the betterment of API students. Our most recent advocacy goals have been centered around increasing space for cultural groups, increasing funding, and increasing staffing support for PAACH.
Community Programming - We host a variety of events for API students ranging in size and topic. Some of our biggest events gather over 500 students to celebrate our community, while smaller events allow students to have intimate conversations. Topics range from cultural, to political, to social.
Constituent Support - We meet regularly with API clubs to exchange updates, feedback, and support. We are able to provide administrative, financial, and logistical support for various student groups to help them be as successful as possible.
How can you get involved?
We are looking for curious, motivated, and enthusiastic students to join one of our three committees this semester! Even though each committee will be headed by a different board member, you will still have the opportunity to get to interact with board and committee members and learn more about the AAPI community here at Penn.
The Marketing Committee will work with our Vice Chair of Communications in promoting APSC's campus presence and building a brand. This includes managing our social media, newsletter, and in-person activations. This is a great way to develop marketing and communication skills, while having the freedom to be creative and silly.
The Event Committee will work with our Vice Chair of Political Affairs and Vice Chair of External Affairs in organizing campus events. Some past events include a workshop series on Affirmative Action, travel to the Cherry Blossom Festival, and volunteering at a local community garden. This is a great way to meet talented individuals in the AAPI community, to learn about and discuss relevant issues, and to grow as a thinker and student.
The Social Committee will work with our Vice Chair of Constituent Affairs in organizing social events within and outside of APSC. This is a great way to get to know members of the AAPI community, bond with other constituents, and develop strong communication/event organization skills.
The Finance Committee will work with our Vice Chair of Finance to manage our own finances, help manage the Intercultural Fund, and work with constituents clubs to help them secure funding. This is a great way to learn the ins-and-outs of how student funding works at Penn and develop budgeting and money management skills.
Want to Learn More?
Even if you are not interested in joining a committee, we would love for you to attend APSC events throughout the year and to get involved with various other groups within the AAPI community. Feel free to email us at board@upennapsc.org with any questions!
Excited you're here! :)