The ASUI Student Activity Fee committee only has four departments left to audit this fall, and thus far, they are incredibly pleased with the process.
Samantha Perez, ASUI president, has been sitting in on the department presentations to the committee.
“I think it’s a really important process that will really benefit students,” Perez said. “Students deserve to know where their money goes.”
Each year students pay a fee known as the Student Activity Fee, however many students do not actually know where or to whom their money is going.
This year each student paid approximately $530 for the Student Activity Fee. When multiplied by the student population, there is about $9 million in funding that is divided among 25 departments. Those departments include ASUI, athletics, the Student Recreation Center, the Women’s Center and the Office of Multicultural Affairs. Each of those departments receives a portion of the money that comes from the Student Activity Fee.
“It’s how students get to use the SRC whenever they want without having to pay, or get into Vandal games for free,” Perez said. “At the Kibbie Dome we have 40 percent of the seats set aside for students. That’s the highest in the nation.”
Within the 25 departments, there are a number of sub-departments that receive their share of the Student Activity Fee.
“For example, ASUI receives $97 per student, but that is a blanket amount. ASUI really only receives about $40 of that. The rest is divided among organizations like Student Media, the Volunteer Center, Outdoor Programs, etc.” Perez said. “It’s a blanket fee, but a portion goes to a lot of different places to benefit the student body.”
Perez said the purpose of the audit is to make sure the money is being used for its original purpose, that it is benefiting students, and to see if the departments still need funding.
“Our intent was never to cut or eliminate funding. That’s the last thing we want to do. It’s simply to see where the money is going and what it’s used for,” Perez said.
Once the audit is complete, a presentation of the fee breakdown and open forum will take place. The date is still undecided. Perez said the purpose of the event will be for students to see exactly where their money is going and to give their input. The Idaho State Board of Education will also be watching for an overview of the funding breakdown.
“We’re the only school in Idaho that does this,” Perez said. “It will bring attention to the University of Idaho because we’re holding our school accountable and it shows that students care.”
Once the audit is complete, the information will be used in the spring when departments have the opportunity to come forward and ask for an increase in funding. The elected student representatives will have a better understanding of the fee breakdown, and will be able to more accurately determine if a department needs an increase their funding. Likewise, it also allows the Student Activity Fee Committee to determine if funding would be better allocated somewhere else.
“It’s a really necessary system of checks and balances,” Perez said. “It’s a lot of money and a confusing process that doesn’t get checked on, but it’s important for students to know and that’s why we’re doing it.”