Proposed Union Fee
The University of Arizona Student Unions are recognized nationally for their innovative programs, services and award winning facilities. Over the past several years, some 200 schools from throughout the United States have visited the University of Arizona and both the Student Union Memorial Center and Park Student Union to study and learn more about these outstanding student programs and facilities.
In order to remain among the top Union operations in the country, as well as to enhance student friendly programs and services, the Arizona Student Unions need to continue to be strategic and fiscally responsible. As part of this strategy, the Union’s management proposed a mandatory meal plan to the campus by talking to the various groups who have the most vested interest. The groups included ASUA, RHA, Greek Life, and the Marshall Foundation. RHA and Greek Life indicated that they would be more willing to support a $20 per semester student fee which would be inclusive of all students than a mandatory meal plan which would only affect certain groups. Each of these groups independently introduced their support for a student fee in letters addressed to the University President. Collectively, these groups represent over 8,000 students.
The primary goals of a student fee are to enhance existing and create new student programs, student services, and endowing building renewal and enhancement. The philosophy that drives these goals is to continue to offer students and the UA campus the best student friendly Unions, programs and services in the country.
You can vote at ASUA’s website.
Advantages
A student fee would provide the ability to enhance student programs and activities, provide dollars for improving student services, and allocate dollars for building renewal.
The two most significant advantages to a fee are (1) the generation of dollars more quickly and beyond what might be achieved through a meal plan, and (2) a fee will provide a continuous funding source for student programs and services that would be immune to budget cuts.
Disadvantages
Without generating new dollars through a student fee, maintaining current programs and services becomes more difficult. Expense reducing decisions such as: cutting back operating hours; implementing user fees for areas such as computer labs and meeting rooms; charging registration fees for student organizations; increasing prices for food and retail items; and, limiting expansion of future services around campus will be enacted by the Arizona Student Unions.
Fee Structure
Implementation
The Union fee—once approved through a student referendum and subsequently by the University and the Arizona Board of Regents—is proposed to start in the Fall of 2007.
Collection Structure
To ease the financial burden on current students, the student fee will be phased-in for each academic year as follows:
- 2007 - 2008: $10 per semester
- 2008 - 2009: $15 per semester
- 2009 - 2010 and all subsequent years: $20 per semester
Referendum Question: Up for Vote on April 11-12
I support the proposed student fee of $20 per student, per semester, to begin in Fall of 2007 and phased in as follows:
Academic year 07/08 $10 per semester
Academic year 08/09 $15 per semester
Academic year 09/10 $20 per semester, and all subsequent years thereafter
