Fee hike proposed for HSU students
Times-Standard 3/6/07
At a press conference on the HSU campus Monday morning, President Rollin Richmond said he is proposing a student fee boost of $202. If approved, the fee will go into effect for the fall 2007 semester.
Richmond said the increase is based in part on the recommendations of the University Budget Committee. That group is designed to find ways that HSU can balance its budget.
”No one likes to pay more money for a service they've been getting in the past,” Richmond said. “Budget reductions are always painful, but it is an opportunity to look very hard at what you're doing.”
With the increase, HSU's campus fees would be the third highest in the California State University system, behind Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Sonoma State. Richmond said the cost of attending HSU, however, would still be similar to the other CSUs.
Student fees for last fall semester at HSU were $1,589. With the fee increase, they would rise almost 13 percent to $1,791.
Richmond said the increase would fall under the instructionally related activity fee (currently $48), and the money would pay for three things. The JackPass, giving HSU students free public transportation in Humboldt County, would get $15. The Humboldt Energy Independence Fund, designed to make HSU energy independent, would receive $10. The remaining $177 would go to athletics.
Richmond said using money from student fees would free up some of the university's general fund, roughly $2.2 million. That money in turn could be used to prevent cuts to other areas of campus.
According to the University Budget Committee, the campus faces a total deficit of $5.5 million.
Before Richmond's proposed fee increase goes into effect, CSU rules require him to get input from the campus. Last Friday, the Student Fee Advisory Committee began the process. Richmond said he will also discuss the increase with Associated Students, the Instructionally Related Activities Committee, the Intercollegiate Athletic Advisory Committee, the Academic Senate, and an ad hoc student committee.
”I want to hear that input from students,” Richmond said.
Jared Zito, a second-year math major, said he wouldn't mind a fee increase, but doesn't like that the money would fund athletics.
”They're running [HSU] like a business,” Zito said. “Their view of athletics is too narrow.” Sports clubs, for example, don't get enough funding, he said, adding that he would rather see the entire CSU system rework the way they fund athletics.
Erin Delsigne, a second-year journalism major who used to be a rower, said her opinion of the proposed fee is mixed.
”Being an ex-athlete, it's a good thing that they get funding,” she said. “But the quality of education here has gone down. If you're going to take the quality away, then our fees should be cheaper.”
Richmond said he plans to have a university budget proposal by the beginning of April, and a final decision on the student fee increase will be included then.