University Position Pertaining to the Athletic Fee Referendum
Utah State University President Stan Albrecht has received numerous inquiries from students and citizens about the recent athletic fee referendum. However, since most of the inquiries contain basically the same issues, the following statement is being released to summarize the university’s position on the result of the referendum.
On March 23 and 24, the student body of USU conducted a special election on a proposed $65 per semester increase for the Athletic Department. The unprecedented turnout of 4,574 voters demonstrated the seriousness of this issue and the fact that the student body cared about the outcome. The referendum passed by approximately 6 percent. Following the student endorsement of the ballot measure, the University Board of Trustees and the State Board of Regents formally approved the fee increase, binding the popular vote of the students. The income generated by the approved fee will assist the Athletics Department in its efforts to become financially competitive with the institutions in the Western Athletic Conference and other comparable institutions. Currently USU, which sponsors 17 programs for women and men, is at the bottom of the conference financially.
The athletic fee referendum was an option chosen by the University Student Fee Board. The Fee Board is comprised of elected student officers and officers-at-large and recommends for approval new fees, as well as changes in current student fees. They are independent and not under the control of ASUSU elected officers. Many academic and recreational programs receive assistance from these self-imposed fees. Since the official request from the Athletics Department in January was larger than normal, the Fee Board decided to call for a special referendum where all students could vote on the increase proposal. They also determined to have an election separate from the regular student body elections held in early March. This would give time for students to study the issues and discuss fully the impact of the fee. The voter turnout on the referendum was the largest percentage vote ever recorded at the university on any election on any topic.
While the referendum and the Tier II tuition increase are two separate issues, President Albrecht was concerned over the ultimate burden they posed to students. Consequently, he chose to reduce the university’s request for a Tier II tuition increase to 4.5 percent, an amount significantly lower than requested by other state universities. The combined increase from the Board of Regents and Tier II is 5.5 percent, the lowest in the past eight years. Overall tuition and fees for USU still remain low. Out of 20 western universities, USU remains the 19th lowest in tuition and fees.
On March 23 and 24, the student body of USU conducted a special election on a proposed $65 per semester increase for the Athletic Department. The unprecedented turnout of 4,574 voters demonstrated the seriousness of this issue and the fact that the student body cared about the outcome. The referendum passed by approximately 6 percent. Following the student endorsement of the ballot measure, the University Board of Trustees and the State Board of Regents formally approved the fee increase, binding the popular vote of the students. The income generated by the approved fee will assist the Athletics Department in its efforts to become financially competitive with the institutions in the Western Athletic Conference and other comparable institutions. Currently USU, which sponsors 17 programs for women and men, is at the bottom of the conference financially.
The athletic fee referendum was an option chosen by the University Student Fee Board. The Fee Board is comprised of elected student officers and officers-at-large and recommends for approval new fees, as well as changes in current student fees. They are independent and not under the control of ASUSU elected officers. Many academic and recreational programs receive assistance from these self-imposed fees. Since the official request from the Athletics Department in January was larger than normal, the Fee Board decided to call for a special referendum where all students could vote on the increase proposal. They also determined to have an election separate from the regular student body elections held in early March. This would give time for students to study the issues and discuss fully the impact of the fee. The voter turnout on the referendum was the largest percentage vote ever recorded at the university on any election on any topic.
While the referendum and the Tier II tuition increase are two separate issues, President Albrecht was concerned over the ultimate burden they posed to students. Consequently, he chose to reduce the university’s request for a Tier II tuition increase to 4.5 percent, an amount significantly lower than requested by other state universities. The combined increase from the Board of Regents and Tier II is 5.5 percent, the lowest in the past eight years. Overall tuition and fees for USU still remain low. Out of 20 western universities, USU remains the 19th lowest in tuition and fees.
Contact: John DeVilbiss, 435-797-1358; john.devilbiss@usu.edu
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