|
STUDENT FEE PHILOSOPHY | No. 6-8 | Rev. 5-7-92 |
| Date 4-20-77 | |||
OLD VERSION
I. DEFINITION AND ORGANIZATION:
A. Student fees are mandatory monies collected from all students in
addition to tuition. Under the Utah State Board of Regents Tuition and
Fee Policy, all general student fees are subject to Board of Regents
approval.
B. A student fee allocation committee shall make recommendations about the level and distribution of student fees and the designation of services and activities to receive student fee support. These recommendations are subject to the approval of the Studetn Senate, the WSU President, and the Board of Trustees. This committee will be co-chaired by the Vice President for Student Services and the WSUSA President. Additional members of the committee are selected as outlined in WSUSA policies and procedures.
C. Specific committee policies and procedures are described in the student fee allocation committee section of the WSUSA Policy and Procedures Manual Article II, Section 3: A, 3; Article III, Section 4: B, 2 B.
II. PHILOSOPHY:
The object of student fees is to provide support for: (1) student services
and activities, (2) approved capital construction and major renovations, and
(3) programs determined to be essential for the enrichment and broadening of
opportunities within the university and the surrounding community.
Student fee funding will be directed to designated student-oriented
activities which, by state or university policy, can be financed only
partially, if at all, from state appropriations, tuition, or other funds
available to the university. Areas supported by student fees should attempt
to generate revenue or additional funding to supplement budgets.
Areas funded by students fees must demonstrate that programs (a) benefit
students, (b) benefit overall community, (c) enhance the image of WSU, (d)
provide opportunities for students to develop new skills, competencies, or
appreciations not available elsewhere in the university, or (e) provide
quality services necessary on campus. Fee allocations may also be impacted
temporarily by student initiated, system-wide higher education priorities
such as library or computer fees. Expenditures of student fees will be in
compliance with applicable federal, state, and university rules, regulations,
laws, policies, and procedures.
III. ALLOCATION CRITERIA:
The following criteria will be used by the Allocation Committee in
determining the distribution of Student Fee monies. A program or activity is
not expected to meet all criteria.
A. Student Benefit
1. Subject to fiscal realities and regulations, decisions will be
based on the ultimate principle that the recommendations contribute
to the general welfare of the student body.
2. Student involvement and representation in the student fee determination and allocation process is appropriate and necessary. Areas funded by student fees are encouraged to include students in the budget development process for that area.
3. Serious consideration will be given to programs (a) relating to the academic interests and/or needs of students; (b) supporting educational, social, recreational, and cultural needs of students; and/or (c) enhancing student health or welfare.
4. Relevance of the organization or activity to any or all of the following: (a) the university educational mission, (b) social issues, (c) human needs, and/or (d) community concerns will be considered.
5. Consideration will be given to providing initial funding for the encouragement of new, worthwhile programs.
B. Fiscal
1. All entities receiving funding from student fees will be asked to develop alternative funding sources (i.e., revenue, grants, etc.). Without seriously reducing program effectiveness, all fee
recipient areas are encouraged to become self-supporting to the
extent of covering operational expenses, allocated overhead, and
long-range refurbishment. A percentage of profits, if any, will be
returned based on percentage of budget.
2. Programs or projects with long-term cost implications will be
evaluated for current and future costs and benefits.
3. In evaluating budget proposals, the history of an organization's adherence to past budgets, availability of accurate accounting records or expenses, and cost effectiveness of past programs will be considered.
4. Needs analyses, implementation strategies, promotional plans, and/or program effectiveness evaluations will be requested as support material with budget requests.
5. Initiation, continuation, expansion, and termination of a service or activity will be justified by projected student interest and/or current student participation figures.
C. Capital Expenditures
Consideration for capital expenditures will follow the same guidelines
listed above for operating expenditures with the additional points:
1. No consideration will be given to funding requests for capital expenditures outside of Student Services and/or fee recipient areas.
2. All capital construction, major renovation, or remodeling projects in fee recipient areas which will (a) significantly alter current function, (b) have costs greater than $10,000, or (c) carry long-term operational cost implications must be evaluated by the allocation committee.
D. Restrictions
1. Funding will not normally be provided for direct instructional costs.
2. No funding may be allocated to any political party, partisan cause, sect, or religious denomination. Related ARO organizations will be evaluated under ARO criteria.
3. Direct benefits to individuals (i.e., salaries, board and room,
etc.) will not be funded unless their services are essential to a
program which is funded by student fees.
4. No state, federal, or local laws or policies shall be violated. Requests must conform to all Weber State University Student Association Bylaws and Policies and be in accord with university, Board of Trustees, and State Board of Regents policies.
IV. REFERENCES:
1. Utah Code Annotated, Section 53-34-1, 53-48-10-2, 10-4.
2. Utah State Board of Regents - Tuition and Fee Policy,
Section 3-1, 2, 3.
3. Weber State University Policy Nos. 5-5 and 6-17.
4. WSU Student Association Constitution, Article I,
Section 4, Article II, Section 3.
5. WSUSA - Student Fee Allocation Committee
Policies and Procedures