USU aces legislative audit
According to a recent audit by state Legislature, USU is an excellent example to higher institutions of learning when it comes to handling student fees.
“In contrast to what we found at the University of Utah,” the audit stated, “Utah State University has a significantly more structured student fee process.”
Student fees are voted on by a group called the University Student Fee Board, which is made up entirely of students, except for James Morales, vice president for Student Services.
“Each of the students (on the board) works with one of the fee-receiving areas, so whenever a fee comes to the board, it is considered and voted upon,” Morales said. “It acts as the voice for the larger student body.”
Jason Russell, ASUSU student advocate vice president, said student fees are taken seriously, and each fee is analyzed concerning the purpose, structure, authority and reporting procedures. Fees are also reviewed annually, according to the audit, and are not allowed to increase automatically.
The audit also states that USU’s structured student fee process provides transparency and accountability.
USU’s policy requires monitoring to ensure funds are used for their intended purpose, that audit stated.
“That’s what is beautiful at USU,” Morales said. “The things that students want are the things that students get. This is a wonderful thing. From the very beginning and all the way along it is being led by students. I think that is remarkable. It just goes to show that this (university) truly is not only student centered, but student driven.”
The student fee board convenes each year, and representatives for each of the fee areas come together and review where student fees are collected from and where those funds are spent, in order to monitor them, Morales said.
“Every year there is a student officer assigned to each fee, and they are responsible to meet with the administrator over the fee receiving area,” Russell said. “They fill out evaluation forms, review the budget, financial statements and then come up with a plan of action for the fee for the upcoming year. All of this is done before it is brought to the Student Fee Board in February for further evaluation.”
The audit also said USU promotes accountability on spending by requiring a separate account to record fee income and expenditure.
According to Morales, the student fees from USU come from 11 different areas. These include: activity, building, athletics, Aggie Shuttle, health services, computer labs, campus recreation, library, music and theater, Aggie bikes, and sustainability (Blue Goes Green) fees.
“Whatever fee you’re paying, under any of those categories, goes specifically into that area to help provide services for students,” Morales said.
He said the amount of credits taken determines the amount of student fees each student pays.
“It plateaus at 13 credits and is the same until you reach the maximum 18 credits,” Morales said. “But before that, anything between one, up to 12, is incrementally based on the amounts of credits you are taking.”
He said $412.94 is the total amount of student fees per semester, for students taking 13 or more credits.
Student fees at the University of Utah, according to the audit, are $456 per semester for a resident undergraduate student enrolled in 15 credit hours. The fees are taken from 15 fee categories.
The audit also stated, “Utah provides minimal statewide guidance for managing student fees. Statues rarely address student fees. The Utah Board of Regents also does not provide much guidance and has only a few policies for managing student fees.”
Morales said USU goes above and beyond these guidelines.
“To me, I don’t think an institution needs to wait for a state guideline to be able to do the right thing,” he said. “I think we’re evidence of that. We created this model with the right processes and the right checks and balances, and we’re student led. We didn’t need a strict guideline to do that. I think it’s unfortunate that some universities need to have a strict, clear guideline to do A, B and C. You should be able to know that if you’re handling student’s money, you better do the right thing.”
Morales said students sometimes forget tuition at USU is consistently cheaper than many of the universities it is compared to.
“What you get at USU for what you pay is actually a very good value,” Morales said.
Morales said he believes in being upfront and clear when it comes to student fees and other policies. “We want to be very transparent,” he said.
“I believe a high majority of the students are getting their money’s worth in student fees, and USU is doing a great job in handling these fees,” Russell said. “Obviously, you run across those students who may never take advantage of the health fee, because they never got sick and had to use the Student Health and Wellness Center — or the student who pays for the Athletic fee and yet doesn’t attend any sporting events. It’s important to keep in mind that these fees are to benefit the students in their entirety.”
Fees have always been voted on by students, he said, and it is still the students who have a direct say regarding them.
– amber.murdoch@aggiemail.usu.edu