Bill created from Tier II tuition postponed
The ASUSU executive council postponed making a decision about a bill that would allot $30,000 to student clubs and organizations at their Wednesday meeting.
The ASUSU discretionary fund for clubs and organizations would create a fund from Tier II tuition money that could disperse up to $30,000 to student clubs and organizations annually.
Tier II tuition comes from students’ tuition rather than state and federal funding. The state dictates how Tier I tuition is spent, but Tier II funds are spent at the student leaders’ and university president’s discretion.
The bill was postponed due to concerns about additional hours and responsibilities for the ASUSU executive council and advisers, and to clarify whether this fund would be available to distance education students and students at regional campuses.
According to the bill, a member of ASUSU must co-sponsor an event held by any student clubs or organizations and an adviser must be present for liability reasons. The advisers expressed concern that this bill would add more hours to their already full-time positions.
Kevin Webb, an ASUSU adviser, said he supports what the bill aims to accomplish but wants the council to discuss it further.
“We need to fine-tune the purposes of the fund so the advisers don’t have to stay on campus longer,” said Kaho Fiefia, ASUSU diversity vice president and one of the bill’s sponsors.
Rachael Anderson, ASUSU extension representative, said she wanted to know if students at regional campuses or in the distance education program would be able to apply for these funds and if money for the fund would come from their tuition as well. Tyler Tolson, ASUSU president and the bill’s other sponsor, said he did not have an answer to the first question at that time. Keenan Neuhring, ASUSU administrative assistant, said they would need to look into whether or not students’ tuition at regional campuses contributes to the same tier II tuition fund as the main campus.
Tolson also said this fund’s affect on ASUSU’s budget and increase in tuition would be minuscule.
“It amounts to about a dollar per student,” Neuhring said, “assuming that regional campuses pay into the same Tier II tuition pot that we do at the main campus.”
The diversities and organizations council currently has $10,000 annually to give to over 100 clubs and other student organizations. Fiefia said this year the council has not been able to give any organizations the full amount they requested. He also said funds have dwindled to the point that “if every active club asked for money we could give them 10 cents.”
While clubs and organizations on campus can request funds from other sources, like the Capital and Support Fund – which is primarily for structural projects – the discretionary fund would be solely for clubs and organizations.
Fiefia said USU does not emphasize student clubs and organizations as much as some other universities in the state do.
“(The fund) will provide greater opportunity for students to put on events and for students to attend those events,” Tolson said.
He said he is confident the bill will pass, they just need to “work out the kinks.”
The bill will likely be reconsidered next week.
ASUSU executive council also decided to include a clause informing students where they can find budget information on the ASUSU website.
This decision was made in response to a concern voiced by a student.
“We need better transparency,” said Brent Crosby, ASUSU executive vice president.
The council decided against posting all of their budget information online because there is “just so much information and we would constantly be updating it,” said Student Advocate Daniel Ricks. “It would be a logistical nightmare.”
Their website will include the contact information for Lynne Singleton, ASUSU executive secretary, who will be able to answer budget questions.
ASUSU executive council also decided to allow candidates to use coupons in this year’s ASUSU elections campaigns and that the coupon amounts will not be included in the candidates’ audits.
Candidates will be required to audit the amount they spend on paper and printing for the coupons but will not be required to audit the dollar amounts for the coupons. Candidates for executive positions are allowed to spend $400 on their campaigns and candidates for senate positions are allowed to spend $200.
– rouchelle.brockman@aggiemail.usu.edu