Student Activity Fee

Student Activity Fee Fund all of the departments and entities that are centered around student activities and consists only of programs that are beneficial to the students. Departments included under the Student Activity Fee include Athletics, Bison Information Network, KNDS Radio, Campus Attractions, Campus Recreation, Intramural Sports, Memorial Union, The Spectrum, Student Government, Performing Arts, and Student Organizations. The Student Activity Fee is currently experiencing deficits every year and it need of more funds. All departments within the fee are experiencing financial issues that impede there ability to benefit students. The fee has plenty of ability to continue to benefit students by providing programming and opportunities for all students.

Future Potential for Student Impact The Student Activity Fee at its core is centered around helping students and giving opportunities to members of the NDSU community. The future impact potential comes from the ability to expand more in the future to open up new programs and new events for students. In our departments, serious deterioration is a problem many face. The Union is experiencing flooring and roofing deterioration. Campus Recreation is seeing massive usage of sport equipment making it ever needed to fund more. Without addressing these issues our ability to have high student impact in the future will start to fall.

Current Student Fees Funding The Student Activity Fee receives $3,813,644 from student fees. Student Activity Fee receives 23.6% of all student fees Student Activity Fee’s primary request 22%, secondary request 25% Funding from the fee goes to countless student programs such as bike share, intramural sports, the spring concert, student tickets to performing arts, the Gold Star Marching Band, the Spectrum, all of the funding for student organizations, and even the entire Memorial Union.

Reason for Fee Increase Request The primary reason for a fee increase is due to inflation and growing student demand for programs covered by the fee. The requested increase is 75 cents – $229,374 annually Current deficiencies include failure to completely cover costs within departments, long term restoration and depreciation costs are not accounted for, programs are requiring part time funding that is not sustainable, and more. The biggest challenges facing the members of the Student Activity Fee are the inconsistency with short term solutions to funding problems and the inability to adapt to student growth and use. Beyond inflation, the rising cost of students traveling and lodging in cities is a contributing external factor.

Past Funding

Past Funding

Impact of Student Fees The Student Activity Fee is essential as this is the primary source of income for almost all of the departments involved in this and the only source for some as well. Programs that are sponsored by the Student Activity Fee are entirely covered from the fee alone. Previous amounts of revenue have been received, but unfortunately were not permanent.

Proposed v. FY15

Historical Context of Student Fees The Student Activity Fee has not received an increase since 2014 The previous increase allowed all of the departments to reduce deficit spending but also allowed for the implementation of new programs and projects such as Bike Share and Performing Arts Tickets.

Contingency Plan If the funding is not received the members of the Student Activity Fee will has to see further short falls resulting in a combination of cutting programs to students due to rising costs of other expenses or will have to embrace the deterioration of current assets.

How We Plan to Improve The members of the Student Activity Fee plan to continue improving the programs that are currently offered and hope to continually serve students to our fullest potential. We plan to continue to push for student programs that are not only beneficial but also entertaining for students. Our goal is to promote a strong culture and an improved life for students at NDSU.