Utah students take on state Legislature
The Utah Student Association presented a uniquely united front Thursday during a presentation to members of the state, exposing representatives to the greatest needs of Utah’s colleges and universities.
Student body presidents and other USA leaders met with the higher education appropriations subcommittee. This committee will make recommendations next month to an executive committee which will determine the amount of funding allocated to higher education during the next school year.
Specific requests during the presentation included $2 million to improve advising, $1.5 million to increase need-based financial aid and $500,000 to go toward the library consortium, said Associate Students of USU President Les Essig, who attended the presentation. Support for increased student voting was also presented.
“We’ve never been this organized before,” Essig said. “The USA is doing a very professional job at representing students.”
Carrie Flamm, USA executive director, made the presentation with Happiness Peterson, USA’s student lobbyist and Cody Jones, Weber State University’s student body president.
Flamm said the cooperation between Utah’s 12 institutions of higher education is crucial to the passing of legislation and has become even more important this year in the face of rising tuition.
“Had USA not come together about advising, it [would have] never been brought up by students at the capitol,” she said. “Simply addressing the issue starts the process, but funding is even better.”
Flamm said she felt the presentation was well received by representatives.
“I feel like this committee is very open to hearing what students have to say,” she said. “Normally students haven’t been on the agenda, but this year we were put on without even having to request it.”
Despite the positive response, Flamm said it is impossible to know whether the funding will be approved. Essig said members of the subcommittee were “very receptive and very appreciative.”
“They are a committee willing to work with and for students,” Flamm said. “If we don’t get the funding then it goes to Tier II [tuition]. I feel like the committee doesn’t want to have to raise tuition, but there’s never enough money to go around.”
Flamm said Tier I tuition is a price or cost set by the state Legislature. Tier II tuition is set by the individual university based on the needs it must cover, she said. Flamm used the fuel and power deficit many state universities have as an example.
“The bills need to be paid,” she said. “Hopefully the state will find funding for it, or students will pay for it through their Tier II tuition.”
Flamm made no guess as to how likely it is USA will get the funding it has requested, saying, “it can change until the last day of the session.”
Essig said members of the subcommittee seemed especially interested in improving advising. Some of the other requests tied into requests already made by the Board of Regents, he said, but advising was something new.
“They definitely had a lot of questions, and I see that as a positive thing,” he said. “Representatives did agree this an issue that will help students graduate quicker. Whether we get the funding remains to be seen depending on the rest of the state budget.”
The hiring of a full-time student lobbyist, supported by a 25 cent fee increase for every higher education student across the state, with the exception of the University of Utah, will only increase the chances of schools getting the funds they need, Essig said. The University of Utah has allocated other money to help fund the lobbyist, Flamm said.
“This is the first year where we’ve been organized and I attribute that to the student fee increase,” he said. “The strong support has helped bring a full-time lobbyist to fruition. The Legislature is more sensitive to listening to us.
“It comes across as professional and is benefiting students. It was a very wise investment,” he said.
Flamm said she hopes student involvement will only increase, adding involvement directly correlates to funding that can help keep tuition low and fund programs such as advising.
“I would like to see students more involved in setting Tier II tuition,” she said.
Flamm also said she hopes to see USU’s advising program used as a model for others across the state. Every program has its flaws, she said, but programs such as the graduation guarantee program are innovative and unique to USU.
Essig said it unites with USA in accomplishing state objectives, but will also continue to lobby for its own specific needs. The most important of those this year is repealing House Bill 331, he said. HB 331 increased residency requirements from 30 to 60 which has lead to the loss of both students and money from out of state.
Essig said while it may not be fully repealed, USU is hoping to find funding allowing more tuition vouchers to be awarded to out-of-state students, especially in the College of Agriculture. Essig said lobbying efforts will continue strong until the end of the session.
“The student voice is being heard at the capitol,” he said. “Student should be very pleased with what’s going on.”
-bnelson@cc.usu.edu