Enrollment drop could mean fee hikes

Due to decreases in enrollment at Utah State University, students may be paying for several unavoidable increases in fees during the 2005-06 academic school year.

Of the different university entities that receive money from fees, students may see increases in athletics, building, Student Health and Wellness Center, music and theater and bus fees.

Members of the Student Fee Board heard proposals from each entity Tuesday whether to increase or keep fees the same. However, almost every entity is trying to offset the deficits from decreases in enrollment this academic year.

“The bottom line is I didn’t anticipate as much of a decline in enrollment,” said Tiffany Evans, director of Student Involvement and Leadership Center who is in charge of the student activity fee. “We will not be asking for an increase; we will be able to handle this internally.”

However, some areas of the university were not as fortunate. Clint Moffitt, associate vice president for finance, said they have no choice but to propose a $3.50 increase per semester for building fees for students with 10 or more credits.

“I wish we could say we’re going down and not increasing anything, but that’s not happening,” Moffitt said.

The university is required to maintain coverage of a bond for the Spectrum, but decreased enrollment has offset that.

There may also be a $1 increase for the music and theater fee to help fund the Aggie marching band.

“We are anticipating an increase of some sort,” said Felicia Horsley, ASUSU HASS senator. “We felt if it was a small fee that would be only a portion of what the band is in need of.”

Although there may have been an increase for the computer fee, Spencer Watts, Academic Senate president, said there will be other changes made to compensate for lack of funding.

The athletics department is also looking to receive a $5 increase per semester. But it is unsure whether the Student Health and Wellness Center fee as well as the bus fee will be increased and by how much.

Those proposing fee increases will present their reasoning for the increase in late January and the Student Fee Board will vote on the increases in February. Students with questions about the fee increases can contact the Student Fee Board President Justin Atkinson at ombudsman@cc.usu.edu.

-mmackay@cc.usu.edu