Student exercising at new UTSA Recreation Center
UTSA student fee referendum set for
Feb. 3-6
(Jan. 27, 2003)--Students at the University of Texas at San Antonio will vote on a referendum to support four fees crucial to providing current and expanded services to students.
Set for Feb. 3-6, the referendum is necessary for UTSA to meet student services needs at the rapidly growing 1604 and Downtown campuses, where enrollment now exceeds 22,000 students.
The Feb. 3-6 referendum asks students to approve an additional $75-per-semester fee. Fee increases totalling $18 have already been approved for Fall 2003.
If each of the four measures is adopted, a student enrolled in 12 credit hours would pay approximately $93 in additional fees per semester beginning Fall 2003, as compared to Spring 2002. All fee increases would be included in calculating UTSA financial aid awards.
Voting for the referendum will take place electronically via the Web (using
their Banner ID) on February 3-6. Students can vote on-line on one ballot
for each individual fee increase.
"As we spend more time in the classroom and studying at UTSA, it helps
all students if important services are expanded and made more readily available,”
said Jenny Lutz, a senior majoring in psychology. "This election
is crucial for student programming."
According to recent university figures, nearly 70 percent of UTSA's undergraduates are enrolled full time.
"The four fees are essential to support student services, as the university continues to be one of the fastest growing institutions in the state of Texas," said Melissa Killen, president of the Student Government Association.
The first proposal includes splitting the current student services fee shared by the UTSA Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and various campus student services areas into two separate fees. The separate fee structure is a more traditional method to fund athletics at a NCAA Division I institution.
Athletics now shares 34 percent of the $17 per credit hour student services fee, which is insufficient to support a viable Division I program. The proposed fee split would create a separate athletics fee of $7 per student credit hour with a cap of $84. With student input, UTSA will use the funds to expand athletics programs at the university.
The new student services fee would be adjusted to $12.50 with a cap of $150, allowing UTSA to expand academic support and advising programs for students.
"Due to increased enrollment, UTSA's services and programs for students have been stretched beyond capacity," said Rosalie Ambrosino, vice president for student affairs. "A representative group of students will prioritize how this funding will be spent if the referendum passes."
The second part of the student referendum includes an increase in the campus recreation fee. The current fee is $5 per semester hour with a cap of $30. If approved in the referendum, the fee would increase to $9 with a cap of $54.
The original fee was set almost nine years ago, and is insufficient to maintain the current campus recreation program in the just-completed 64,000 square-foot facility. Additional funds would assist staff to add more programming and services, such as additional club sports teams, fitness classes, intramural sports activities and special events.
The third portion of the student referendum includes a proposal to expand the University Center (UC). The original building was completed in 1986 with 97,000 square feet added in 1996. Despite the increase, the UC cannot keep up with current demands for use of space, turning away more than 100 reservation requests each month.
"The University Center student fee also provides financial support for student leadership development opportunities and campus-wide programs, but the funding level is quite low compared with other institutions of comparable size," Ambrosino said.
With student support for this referendum, a $25 million expansion project will be completed by 2007. Although plans are still in development, Phase III will be a student-driven project that addresses the need for a 10,000 square foot ballroom, additional meeting rooms, larger student organization workspace and an expanded food court to provide more variety and faster service for students.
The new expansion will not be included in the University Center fee until the building opens, so students will not have to pay for a facility that they may not use during their tenure at UTSA.
The fourth part of the student referendum includes a transportation fee planned to help alleviate parking problems. This would be done by providing UTSA students with improved shuttle service to and from the 1604 Campus, on the 1604 Campus, and between the Downtown and 1604 campuses.
A student oversight committee will be established to determine the scope
of services to be provided. "Expanded service will reduce students' stress
resulting from circling crowded lots to find a parking space," said Ambrosino.
If all four areas of the referendum pass, students carrying 12 or more credit
hours in the fall would pay an additional $93 in fees, with the exact amount
depending on the amount of the transportation fee (see chart below).
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Proposed fee increases for Fall 2003*
|
Fee |
Current fees |
Fall 2003 fees without referendum |
Proposed fee increase with passed referendum |
|
Athletics (now combined with Student Services Fee) |
$5.78/cr hr; maximum $61.20 |
$6.36/cr. hr; maximum $67.32 |
$7.00/cr hr; maximum $84 |
|
Student Services |
$11.22/cr hr; maximum $118.80 |
$12.34/cr hr; maximum $130.68 |
$12.50/cr hr; maximum $150 |
|
Campus Recreation |
$5/cr hr; maximum $30 |
$5/cr. hr; maximum $30 |
$9/cr hr; maximum $54 |
|
Transportation |
No fee |
No fee |
$15 fee/student (maximum) |
|
TOTAL |
$210 |
$228 |
$303 ($75 over already-approved Fall 2003 fees) |
* The proposed University Center fee increase will not be added until Phase III of the University Center is built; completion is planned for 2007.
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Referendum rallies
Information: (210) 458-4597
|
Date |
Time |
Location |
|
Wednesday, Jan. 29 |
Noon |
Sombrilla Plaza, 1604 Campus |
|
|
11 a.m. |
Frio Street Building Commons, Downtown Campus |
|
|
5 p.m. |
University Center Galleria, 1604 Campus |
|
|
7 p.m. |
University Center window lounge |
|
Thursday, Jan. 30 |
Noon |
Sombrilla Plaza |
|
|
2 p.m. |
University Center window lounge |
|
|
4:45 p.m. |
University Center Galleria |
|
|
8 p.m. |
Recreation Center, 1604 Campus |
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© The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2003