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California State University,
Fresno President John D. Welty announced today that he will approve a
Campus Fee Advisory Committee recommendation to increase the
Instructionally Related Activity (IRA) fee by $52 per semester. Twenty
dollars of the fee will be allocated to IRA academic projects and $32 to
the Intercollegiate Athletics program beginning with the 2008-09
academic year.
Welty said the higher fee will allow Fresno State to continue important
funding for academic-related student activities and provide additional
revenue to help operate a fiscally sound, competitive Division I
athletics program offering equitable opportunities to male and female
student-athletes.
The current IRA fee of $10 per semester defrays costs for such
activities as concerts and music festivals, the Marching Band,
conferences, judging contests, student travel and theatre and clubs.
There is no current IRA funding for athletics, but students pay $7 per
semester as part of the Student Body Fee.
Welty said he regrets the need to increase student fees, but believes it
is necessary.
“Fans of Fresno State from throughout our Valley have provided the major
support for the Athletics program in the past, so students have been
spared large fees to support the program,” Welty said. “I believe it is
fair and equitable to expect that students pay a reasonable amount for
this program, since this is the most prevalent model followed by other
Division I universities.”
At Fresno State’s peer institutions, average student fees for athletics
are considerably higher than at Fresno State’s current $7. A report
earlier this year from the President’s Commission on Athletics Finances
found the average at the comparison institutions is $59 per semester.
Student fee are $23 per semester at Washington State, $56 at the
University of Utah, $65 at San Jose State and $90 at San Diego State.
Vice President for Student Affairs Paul Oliaro, chair of the advisory
committee, said the panel understands the financial burden this increase
places on many Fresno State students. He said in a memo to the
president, “The committee also recognizes that many Fresno State
students are dependent on financial aid. However, we also believe that
the impact of this increase on the most needy students will be somewhat
mitigated by an increase in financial aid.”
Federal Pell Grant funding to full-need students will increase by $421
for the 2008-09 academic year. Approximately 48 percent of Fresno State
students receive Pell Grants and will qualify for all or part of the
increase. “Thus, our most-needy students will qualify for additional aid
to offset this increase,” Oliaro said.
Earlier this year, the Student Fee Advisory Committee was consulted
about a fee increase and recommended that a student referendum be held.
The committee noted that the IRA fee had not been increased since its
inception and that in 2007-08, requests totaled nearly $1.36 million,
However, funds available and awarded for academic uses this year with
the current $10 fee were $419,595. The Student Senate voted 7-1 to
endorse the initiative.
A nonbinding referendum April 8-10 asked students to vote on whether the
IRA fee be increased by $70 per semester -- $20 for academic uses and
$50 dedicated to the athletics program. Of 1,189 students who cast
ballots on the question – about 7 percent of students – 777 opposed the
fee increase and 412 favored it.
Earlier this year, a specially appointed President’s Commission on
Athletics Finances also recommended to Welty that student fees be
increased as part of a wide-ranging strategy to strengthen financial
operations and fundraising in support of Bulldog intercollegiate
athletics.
Athletics Director Thomas Boeh said he recognizes this is an important
new investment students will be making and stated, “I look forward to
continuing our interaction with ASI regarding development and status of
our athletics program.”
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