News
University segregated fees become more visible; annual budgets approaching
The Pointer
jglod170@uwsp.edu
In the past year, some University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point students may have noticed an additional charge on their student account other than their tuition cost. This cost is being charged under the guise of “Sprg09 Campus Seg Fees,” but what exactly this over $500 per semester charge may be puzzling to some students.
This is an amount of money that is called the university segregated fees, which consists of several components all going towards non-academic student programs. Though the amount may seem new to the billing system, students have paid it for years as just a part of tuition; only recently has it been separated to create more understanding as to what students are actually paying for.
For full-time students, the 08-09 university segregated fee is $1,111.50, having increased by $100.50 in the last budget process. Included in this fee is funding for the University Centers, the Health Enhancement Center, Health Services, Municipal Services, Student Government Association and Text Rental. From here, the money goes towards student organizations, programs, services and more, which all aim to benefit the student body.
Taking a closer look at the university segregated fees, one item is left almost solely in students’ hands. The money funded through the SGA is deciphered and distributed by the SGA Finance Committee and Budget Director. University segregated fees are basically divided into two different requesting periods, one being subsidies and the other being student organization annual budgets.
“Subsidies are granted to about nine departments right now,” said David Davila, SGA budget director. “These departments request funds so that they may continue to offer various services to students. Student Involvement and Employment Office is a great example of a subsidy. Their services are providing employment and volunteer opportunities to students, providing student organizations with risk management, mailboxes and other wonderful services. The departments are constantly working for the student body and we fund them accordingly.”
Annual budgets differ from subsidies, as departments are not the ones requesting funding but student organizations are.
“An annual budget is comprised of line items in different categories,” said Davila. “Those categories include salaries, supplies, goods for resale, maintenance and equipment, capital, travel and revenue. Student organizations ask SGA to fund various line items falling under these several categories. The organizations can then fulfill their purposes with these funds.”
The hearings for annual budgets by the SGA Finance Committee will take place on Feb. 14, in the Dreyfus University Center 223 and Feb. 28 in College of Professional Studies 209. Students are welcome to attend the open meetings as well as following meetings as annual budgets come up for approval before the SGA Senate.
