SFSU -- 2004 Student Fee Referendum

Student Fee Referendum 2004

Malcolm X Plaza in front of the Student Center.

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Update: About 8,500 students cast ballots on March 2 and 3 for the student advisory referendum on the Local Mandatory Student Fee Proposal. View the results.

The number of students who voted represents about 30 percent of the student population. The nearly 8,500 ballots cast is four times larger than the number of students who typically vote in Associated Students elections.

The purpose of the student fee referendum is to give students the choice to continue receiving the same level of student services, programs, and facilities from year to year. Students will be able to vote on each of the four proposals individually.

The four entities requesting the increase in student fees are: Academic Affairs, Athletics, Career Center, and Student Health Services.

Academic Instructional Fee
Athletics and Intramurals Fee
Career Center Fee
Student Health/Counseling and Psychological Services Fee

Academic Instructional Fee

Fall 2004, $75/fall and spring; $35/summer

Purpose:
California's current budget crisis has negatively affected SFSU's ability to serve the instructional needs of its students. Based on the preliminary 2004 - 05 SFSU budget, Academic Affairs will suffer a permanent reduction of $3,036,040. In addition, SFSU is projecting a 2004 - 05 campus-wide budget shortfall of $2,887,400. If the shortfall is not covered outside of Academic Affairs, the university anticipates canceling 575 class sections for 2004 - 05.

For the past 2 years, the Academic Affairs Operating Expenditure budget has not kept pace with inflation. This has made it extremely difficult for Academic Affairs to maintain the high quality of its Library services and student computer labs.

For the current year and foreseeable future, the university has deferred much needed classroom renovations and maintenance, because the university's classroom renovation budget has been eliminated. Also, for the past 2 years, the university has deferred planned audio-visual enhancements to its classrooms, because of a 50 percent reduction in Academic Affairs' Audio Visual budget.

Academic Affairs is requesting a mandatory student fee increase, which would allow it to restore classes and student services, and maintain and renovate classrooms.

Services provided:
Restore services earmarked for cancellation, e.g., course sections, classroom renovation and maintenance, classroom audio-visual enhancement, instructional equipment and library materials.

Based on the requested student fee amount of $75/semester ($35/summer), full restoration of services will not occur until 2007/08 academic year.

Statement in favor of the Academic Instructional Fee
The Academic Instructional Fee will protect your education and allow you to continue to progress toward graduation.

Without the fee, class offerings will be reduced by 575 sections. You will be unable to get into some classes, and will find that others are more crowded. Your educational experience will suffer and your time to graduation will be prolonged. The overall cost of your education will also increase, as each additional semester will cost you $811, which is far more than the $75/semester cost of Academic Instructional Fee.

If the Academic Instructional Fee is approved, Academic Affairs will be able to retain the 575 course sections and will be able to maintain a good, up-to-date learning environment by renovating aging classrooms and improving classroom instructional technology.

Vote yes.

Rebuttal to the statement in favor of the Academic Instructional Fee
The CSU system says its purpose is to provide an affordable and high quality education. This fee adjustment is just another in a series of fees that are being shifted to students. As the mandatory fees increase, more and more students face the possibility of not being able to afford to go to San Francisco State. The effect will be to diminish the diversity of our campus population and limit attendance to only those who can afford a higher priced education.

Additionally, this fee only restores services earmarked for cancellation in the 2004/05 budget. Even if this fee is approved, there is no guarantee that there will be sufficient classes to fully serve the needs of the campus.

Vote no.

Statement against the Academic Instructional Fee
If the proposed Academic Instructional Fee is approved, the annual registration fee for California resident undergraduate students at San Francisco State will increase by $150 (6.1%) from $2,480 to $2,630. For a California resident graduate student, fees will increase from $2,690 to $2,840 (5.6%).

Unlike the CSU system-wide fee increases implemented in Spring 2003 (10%) and Fall 2003 (30%), no monies will be set aside for financial aid. Although the fee will become part of the students' financial aid needs package, student access to an affordable education may still be compromised. For example, the State University Grant program does not cover the added fee, though it may be considered for loans and other forms of financial aid.

The CSU Chancellor's Office is presently opposed to new mandatory (Category I) fees. Consequently, even if the referendum is approved by our campus, the Chancellor may not approve it.

Historically, California's governors and legislators have never restored funding that has been cut from the CSU system, even in times of economic boom. Consequently, the Academic Instructional Fee is likely to be permanent.

Vote no.

Rebuttal to the statement against the Academic Instructional Fee
I am willing to pay an additional $150/year for 575 sections. The fee increases the availability of much needed classes, thereby allowing me to graduate on time and within budget. Delaying my graduation will postpone the start of my professional career, ultimately costing me more with each additional semester's registration fee and lost earned income.

Vote yes.

Athletics and Intramurals Fee

$32/semester for Athletics and $1/semester for Intramurals for 2004 - 05. A subsequent increase of $2/semester for Athletics per year through 2007 - 08 followed by an increase of $1/semester in 2008 - 09

Purpose:

To give the students the choice to continue the planned level of athletics programs and improved intramural programs and facilities.

To maintain and stabilize the planned levels of support to intramurals and athletic programs.

To meet the CSU elective collective bargaining contracts.

To ensure compliance with the Title IX and Cal-NOW Gender Equity Decree.

To continue to provide student employment opportunities within the athletic and intramural programs.

Services provided:

Allow SFSU to maintain NCAA and CCAA memberships.

Maintain and stabilize our on campus sports medicine programs.

Preserve academic support, NCAA life skills, and community outreach programs.

Sustain on-campus employment for students

Maintain and enhance student intramural programs.

Maintain the operational resources required for SFSU to compete at the NCAA Division II level.

Provide students, faculty, staff, and friends the opportunity to share in the common experience of pride, vitality, and cohesiveness that results from a dynamic athletics program.

Statement in favor of the Athletics Fee Adjustment
The Athletics Fee Adjustment is necessary to sustain programs and services for SFSU sports and intramurals. The adjustment will replace funding that is currently being provided from the University's General Fund (state) revenue, but that will be eliminated next year as part of SFSU's ongoing efforts to balance its budget. Without this General Fund revenue support, Athletics and intramurals cannot continue to provide the same level and scope of programming. We will be forced to eliminate one-half of our teams, staff and student-athletes, lessening the diversity and sense of community that they bring to our campus.

Voting yes for this fee adjustment will mean that Athletics can maintain NCAA and CCAA membership and can continue to be a national leader in compliance with gender equity requirements that assure women students of equal opportunities to compete. The fee adjustment also will enable us to maintain and stabilize the resources required to compete at the NCAA Division II level; maintain health and safety programs; preserve community and outreach programs; maintain existing employment opportunities for SFSU students and expand intramural participation opportunities.

Vote yes to provide students, faculty, staff, and friends the opportunity to share in the common experience of pride, vitality, and cohesiveness that will result from a dynamic athletics program.

Vote yes.

Rebuttal to the statement in favor of the Athletics Fee Adjustment
I don't have anything against athletics or intramurals, but I'm having a tough time coming up with enough money to go to school now. It's a question of how I pay for necessities like rent, food, tuition, and books versus funding programs that have been paid for by the University in the past.

Vote no.

Statement against the Athletics Fee Adjustment
The CSU system says its purpose is to provide an affordable and high quality education. This fee adjustment is just another in a series of fees that are being shifted to students. As the mandatory fees increase, more and more students face the possibility of not being able to afford to go to San Francisco State. The effect will be to diminish the diversity of our campus population and limit attendance to only those who can afford a higher priced education.

There are only 400 student athletes on campus and intramurals only attract a small percentage of the campus population. It is unfair to ask the general campus population to fund a department that is only utilized by a small fraction of the campus population.

Vote no.

Rebuttal to the statement against the Athletics Fee Adjustment
Athletics and intramurals have not received a student fee adjustment since 1992. This adjustment is reasonable. It is less than students at our competitor schools like Sonoma or Chico pay for their athletics and intramural programs. This adjustment in fees will be calculated by the Office of Student Financial Aid as part of the cost of attendance, and therefore should not affect low income students or diversity. In fact, passing this fee will help the University and the sports and intramural programs maintain our current demographics.

Athletics and intramurals serve more than the competitive participants do. These programs reach out to and involve a wider university and regional community. They provide opportunities for all students, and ensure the existence of excellent educational facilities, recreational activities and instructional programs.

Vote yes.

Career Center Fee

$14/semester for 2004 - 05; $15/semester for 2005 - 06 and 2006 - 07; $16/semester for 2007 - 08 and 2008 - 09.

Purpose:

To maintain its current level of programming and service to students, faculty, staff, and employers.

Provide support for new programs and services to students.

Continue to provide salaries and benefits comparable to those of other CSU career services offices.

Services provided:
The Category I fee will allow the Career Center to maintain all current programs and services at quality levels including:

Providing career counseling in the Career Center and satellite offices located in various colleges.

Offering drop-in hours at One-Stop to provide career services to students attending night classes.

Paying the site license for an on-line computer based software (eChoices) that offers students comprehensive career planning.

Maintaining career related resources in the career library.

Supporting and expanding the number of workshops offered.

Maintaining and upgrading computers.

Paying the license fee for InterviewTRAK powered by MonsterTRAK.

Printing brochures and events calendars to promote programs and services available to students.

Providing continuing career services to students for 6 months after graduation.

Statement in favor of the Career Center Fee
Students attend college primarily to find a better job that will put them in a higher economic bracket when they graduate. In 2002 - 03, more than 16,000 students (out of roughly 26,000 students) took advantage of a variety of career services to help them reach that goal. The Career Center works closely with students, student organizations, faculty/staff, and employers, working with all to provide a variety of career services. In addition, career services are available to alumni without charge during a grace period of 6 months after graduation.

Because of budget cuts, the Career Center is losing its General Fund (state) support. The proposed Career Center fee will maintain the current level of programs and career services for students and recent alumni. If the fee is passed, you will continue to have professional career counselors guide and assist you in deciding on a major or career path, understanding your different career options, and conducting a search for employment (part time/full time) or internships.

Many employers, both on- and off-campus come to SFSU at different times of the year to recruit students or post jobs. In today's job market, the services provided by the Career Center have never been more critical. Certain academic fields require career services to maintain their professional accreditation. Without access to career services, those programs would jeopardize their professional accreditation, which would affect students interested in attending graduate or professional schools after graduation. If you want professional assistance that would increase your chances of becoming employed after you graduate, vote for the fee increase.

Vote yes.

Rebuttal to the statement in favor of the Career Center Fee
We should not have to pay for non-essential services such as the Career Center. Many students find jobs on their own through newspaper ads and on the Internet. We should not pay for the Career Center to help us do something we can do ourselves. Since the Career Center is not utilized by all students, it should be funded by a user fee. Major and career advising is already provided by academic advisors and this program is an overlap of services already provided by the University.

Vote no.

Statement against the Career Center Fee
This is a state institution; the University should pay for career services.

If the Career Center provides an essential service, we expect the University to continue funding it from the General Fund and current student fees. If it isn't important enough for the University to fund it, then we should not be asked to fund it with a separate mandatory fee.

Students are already over-burdened by fee increases. Our fees have increased by 40 percent in the last year; the parking fee has increased, and on-campus housing costs are scheduled to go up in the next year. These escalating fees and charges will put a university education out of reach of low-income students.

The Career Center services are inadequate. Job postings are minimal, programs and events are scheduled at inconvenient times, and a limited number of employers recruit on campus. We are tired of paying additional fees for services that should be funded by the University and do not adequately meet all students' needs.

Vote no.

Rebuttal to the statement against the Career Center Fee
The Career Center offers services at various times, including evening hours, to meet the needs, interests, and schedules of students and alumni. All programs and services are advertised on the Web and in print, and are displayed publicly throughout the campus during the school year.

Without a career center, students will have to compete for jobs with students from universities that have that added level of support from the career center. Students value the importance of the services provided by the career center, and we understand that the services are essential to our successful career development.

A yes vote means you want the Career Center to continue providing services to help you stand out from the rest of the crowd as you compete for internships and employment opportunities in a competitive job market.

Whether the University feels these services are important or not, students are looking for better employment opportunities. We must not compromise our chances of advancement under any circumstances. We have the opportunity to do something for ourselves to maintain a competitive edge.

Vote yes.

Student Health/Counseling and Psychological Services Fee

$16/semester for 2004 - 05 and a subsequent yearly increase of $3/semester from 2005 - 06 through 2008 - 09. For a total increase of $28/semester over five years.

Purpose:

To fund the inclusion of the Counseling and Psychological Services (C&PS) unit, whose mission is to enhance the psychological well-being of the campus community and thereby facilitate the retention and successful educational experience of students.

Support the continued operation of the Student Health Services (SHS) so that it may continue to meet the basic healthcare needs of the student population.

Services provided:

Maintenance of the current level of professional staffing and the filling of recent vacancies, thereby avoiding the need to reduce or curtail services.
Will allow C&PS unit to provide time limited individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, preventative education programs, training workshops in life skills, consultation and advocacy.
Provides counseling, retreats, and seminars to deal with natural disasters, State and National disruption (9/11), Post-traumatic stress, student deaths, suicide, sexual assault and stalking, and psychiatric disabilities (ADA)
Provide limited first-response emergency care, immunizations, women's health, optometry, health education, insurance counseling and treatment of communicative disease and STD's in conjunction with our Pharmacy, Lab, and X-ray services.

Statement in favor of the Student Health Services Fee Increase
The services provided by Counseling and Psychological Services are essential to all students on our campus. Your yes vote will ensure that these services continue uninterrupted.

The Counseling and Psychological Services Center (CPSC) assists students who have personal problems, emotional or social difficulties, relationship conflicts, anxiety or depression, sexual orientation issues, concerns about academic progress, and many other issues. Its professionally licensed counselors and faculty also serve the general campus in times of crisis, disaster, and death on campus. During any emergency, the CPSC has always been there for us.

Community resources for mental health in San Francisco and surrounding communities have been reduced so seriously as to be practically non-existent. We cannot eliminate the only campus resource we have that provides psychological counseling and general support for students.

The CPSC has programs relating to alcohol and drug use, smoking, and other mental health issues, as well as workshops dealing with grief and loss, anger management, HIV/AIDS and more. A YES vote today ensures that there will be someone on campus to help students when they most need it.

Vote yes.

Rebuttal to the statement in favor of the Student Health Services Fee Increase
Not all students utilize the services provided by the Counseling and Psychological Services Center. Those students who feel the need for such services should be asked to pay for the services they receive. Do we really want to pay for programs related to alcohol, drug use, smoking, mental health issues, etc.?

Vote no.

Statement against the Student Health Services Fee Increase
It is important to understand Student Health Services (SHS) is in need of this increased fee because the Counseling and Psychological Center (CPSC) was moved under its budget from the University's General Funds by the SFSU Administration. SHS has already received an $18 fee increase in the last year for its operations.

CPSC has not been a priority for the University as a result of budget cuts and students should not have to maintain what the University has been forced to marginalize. Since only a fraction of students utilize this service it is unfair to ask the general population to fund a service they do not all use. Instead, those students who utilize the CPSC should pay this fee if it is truly a priority to them.

Vote no.

Rebuttal to the statement against the Student Health Services Fee Increase
To place SHS or CPSC on a user fee basis would make the services too expensive for any individual student. Regardless of whether or not all students utilize every service provided by SHS/CPSC, sharing the costs of all services makes each service affordable and available for all students. Let's vote to support the need of all SFSU students.

Vote yes.

Projected Fee Increase per semester over the next five years:

Department
2004 - 05
($)

2005 - 06
($)

2006 - 07
($)

2007 - 08
($)

2008 - 09
($)

Academic Affairs
75

75

75

75

75

Athletics
33

35

37

39

40

Career Center
14

15

15

16

16

Health Services
14

15

15

16

16

Total/semester
138

144

149

155

159

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Last modified March 8, 2004.