Spring 2008 Student Referenda
See, Voter Pamphlet.
VOTER PAMPHLET
SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY ADVISORY STUDENT FEE REFERENDUM
MARCH 12-13, 2008
Poll Site Locations & Hours
Polling begins Wednesday, March 12th at 6 a.m. and concludes Thursday, March 13th at 7 p.m. To vote, log in to the SDSU Web Portal SDSU Web Portal and click on the link to My eVote. An on-campus poll site will also be available at Aztec Center, March 12 and 13 during the hours of 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
PUBLIC NOTICE
BALLOT FOR THE SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY ADVISORY STUDENT FEE REFERENDUM ON A PROPOSED INCREASE IN THE STUDENT BODY ASSOCIATION FEE
1. Shall the current SDSU mandatory Student Body Association Fee be increased by $20 per semester ($2/unit summer term) effective Fall 2008, to fund more student activities, new "green" programs and facility upgrades, international study abroad scholarships, establish student legal consultation and referral services and an Aztec Culture project?
YES... A Yes vote indicates your approval of the proposed fee increase.
NO... A No vote indicates your disapproval of the proposed fee increase.
BALLOT FOR THE SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY ADVISORY STUDENT FEE REFERENDUM ON A PROPOSED INCREASE IN THE STUDENT LIBRARY USE FEE
2. Shall the current SDSU mandatory Student Library Use Fee increase a total of $15: an increase of $5/semester effective Fall 2008, an increase of $5/semester effective Fall 2009 and a final increase of $5/semester effective Fall 2010 to fund more student space and technology in the Library’s Reserve Book Room (24/7 area), enhanced spaces and resources for group study and research and upgrades to library furnishings and facilities?
YES... A Yes vote indicates your approval of the proposed fee increase.
NO... A No vote indicates your disapproval of the proposed fee increase.
1. Proposed Increase to Mandatory Student Body Association Fee
All students at San Diego State University currently pay $15 per semester in Student Body Association fees. These Student Body Association fees (1) partially support student clubs and organizations, (2) support the student government, (3) cover overhead expenses, and (4) subsidize student union programs including Cultural Arts and Special Events (CASE), Campus Recreation, Mission Bay Aquatic Center and the SDSU Children’s Center. The Student Body Association Fee was initiated in 1957 and was last increased to $15 per semester in 1992. SDSU’s Student Body Association fee is currently the lowest among the 23 campuses in the CSU.
This advisory referendum seeks student input regarding a proposed increase in the Student Body Association Fee by $20 per semester ($2 per unit per summer term) which would be effective beginning Fall 2008. This fee increase would be paid by all SDSU students except those exclusively attending the Imperial Valley Campus.
This fee increase would provide approximately $1.38 million/year in increased funding to support the following new programs or program enhancements (amounts are estimated) effective in the 2008-09 academic year and beyond:
- Increased funding for Associated Student (AS) and other student organization events and activities programming ($300,000)
- International Study Abroad scholarships ($300,000)
- Major Spring "Green" Festival Event ($225,000)
- Support for Aztec Culture Project ($200,000)
- Establish student legal consultation and referral services ($105,000)
- Funding for AS facilities Sustainability upgrades ($250,000)
SUMMARY OF BALLOT ISSUE
A "YES" VOTE FOR THE REFERENDUM MEANS: The Student Body Association Fee would be increased $20/semester ($2/unit summer term) and campus student activities and programs will be expanded and enhanced. The new and expanded funding will:
- Fund International Study Abroad scholarships that will help defray costs incurred by SDSU graduate and undergraduate students studying abroad.
- Increase funding for student events and activities programming, including increased CASE funding for music, film, speakers, and evening/weekend programming in Aztec Center; increased support for student organization programs (administered through the CASE program); Aztec Pride programs (receptions, pep rallies, promotions).
- Establish a major Spring "Green" Festival theme event that would promote "green" awareness and environmental issues. The event will include a major concert event, music stages, student organization and community food and information booths, speakers and film programs.
- Establish a fund to enable AS-managed facilities to implement feasible sustainability upgrades such as utility system retro-fits; solar, wind and alternative energy projects; and recycling programs.
- Establish student legal consultation and referral services such as landlord/tenant issues, family law, criminal matters, and consumer complaints.
- Establish a fund for implementation of the Aztec Culture Project. The Project will include three elements intended to promote historically accurate portrayals of the Aztec Culture: new botanical gardens around the campus that include indigenous plantings from areas where the Aztecs thrived, a glass-mosaic mural that depicts historically accurate images portraying the origins of the Aztec Culture, and educational programs about the Aztec Culture that would be offered to all new SDSU students
A "NO" VOTE FOR THE REFERENDUM MEANS: The Student Body Association Fee would not be increased as proposed and the level of student activities and programs will not be expanded and enhanced.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS: SDSU’s Student Body Association Fee has not been raised since 1992 when it was increased from $10 to $15/semester; $30/year. SDSU’s Student Body Association Fee is currently the lowest in the CSU and significantly below the CSU average of $129/year. Other comparable CSU campus’ annual student body association fees are: Long Beach — $88; San Luis Obispo — $248; Northridge — $148; Sacramento — $251. At $3,428/year, undergraduate fees at SDSU are below the CSU average of $3,521. SDSU’s combined student body association and student body center (student union) fees are $226/year, and are the fifth lowest in the CSU.
The current fee of $15/semester will generate annual revenues in 2007/08 of $1,045,531. For fiscal year 2007-08, the fee funds the following programs and services:
- Student Government — $316,707
- College Councils/Academic Clubs & Organizations — $28,000
- Support for Student Organizations — $66,321
- Student Organization Travel — $16,500
- Imperial Valley Campus — $28,772
- Insurance, Miscellaneous — $25,131
- Support for Student Union Programs (Cultural Arts & Special Events (CASE), Campus Recreation, Mission Bay Aquatic Center, Children’s Center) — $564,100*
* CASE — $194,619; Children’s Center — $12,000; Campus Recreation — $171,000; MBAC — $160,988; Administrative — $25,493
The increased Student Body Association fee revenue is anticipated to adequately provide for student programming through the foreseeable future.
Prepared by the Campus Fee Advisory Committee
STATEMENT IN FAVOR OF INCREASING THE STUDENT BODY ASSOCIATION FEE
SDSU students have an opportunity to significantly raise the quality of student life in the upcoming fee referendum. Increasing the funding source for student activities and programs that enhance the SDSU student experience is a necessary prerequisite to ensure that opportunities outside the classroom are on a par to the quality education we students receive in the classroom. Vote yes to ensure that SDSU students benefit from the following new and enhanced programs funded by this fee increase:
Increased funding for AS and student organization events and activities programming: Will provide increased funding for CASE programs including film screenings, concerts, special events, lectures and student union programs. Also provides dedicated funds for recognized clubs and organizations to fund their programs open to all SDSU students.
International Study Abroad Scholarships: An increasing number of SDSU students are participating in Study Abroad programs, thereby enriching their overall academic experience. This fee will provide an estimated $300,000 in scholarships for SDSU students to help defray the cost of studying abroad.
Major Spring Green Festival Event: SDSU students want a major Spring Festival event. Beginning in the Spring of 2009, AS proposes to present a major 2-3 day spring green festival that will educate students about sustainability issues and at the same time, provide a major student festival to include no cost/low cost concerts; student organization food booths, green information tabling, and access to other educational programs and resources.
Support for Aztec Culture Project: Proposes the creation of one or more planted gardens with plant material indigenous to the areas where the Aztec Culture thrived as well as a water feature. Also included would be creation of a mural on campus that would visually and accurately portray the history of the Aztec culture and funding to provide an Aztec History/Culture educational component that would be proposed for all future new students at SDSU.
New Student Legal Consultation and Referral Service: Students need access to free/low cost legal services for such issues as traffic tickets or accidents, landlord/tenant problems, financial advice and other problems. This fee will provide a new service that will provide each SDSU student with access to an initial free consultation with a licensed attorney or comparable professional and referrals for low cost representation in handling these difficult matters.
Fund for AS Facilities Sustainability Upgrades: A fund would be established from a portion of the fee increase to enable AS-operated facilities including Cox Arena, Aztec Recreation Center (ARC), Aztec Aquaplex, Mission Bay Aquatic Center and the SDSU Children’s Center to make sustainable upgrades to utilities systems and building environments that reduce utilities consumption and rely more on natural energy resources.
We need a yes vote on the proposed Student Body Association Fee increase to enhance student access to needed programs and services while increasing Aztec Pride and the overall quality of the SDSU student experience!
Natalie Colli, AS Council Representative, College of Arts & Letters
STATEMENT AGAINST INCREASING THE STUDENT BODY ASSOCIATION FEE
No responsive argument was submitted.
2. Proposed Increase to Mandatory Library Student Use Fee
SDSU’s Student Library Use Fee was first passed by a vote of students in Spring 2002, and is $10 per semester. It has not been increased since that time. The 24/7 area in the library’s Reserve Book Room (RBR) is so popular that it has become difficult to find seating at peak times. Group study rooms are always at a premium, and students often have to wait in line to use computers. The library seeks to alleviate these conditions and to provide additional student focused services through:
- Increased student space and technology in the library’s 24/7 area (Reserve Book Room).
- New quiet study, group studies and technology enhanced spaces for group research and collaboration.
- Upgraded and enhanced furnishings/facilities.
- Support electronic resources expenses that are rising on average 10% per year.
SUMMARY OF BALLOT ISSUE
A "YES" VOTE FOR THE REFERENDUM MEANS: The SDSU mandatory Student Library Use Fee would be increased by $5 per semester effective Fall 2008, an additional $5 per semester effective Fall 2009 and an additional $5 per semester effective Fall 2010. Library and Information Access will expand and improve space for student services. Specifically, a "Yes" vote would provide:
- Increased student space and technology in the library’s 24/7 area.
- New quiet study, group studies and technology enhanced spaces for group research and collaboration.
- Upgraded furnishings/facilities.
- Support electronic resources expenses that are rising on average 10% per year.
A "NO" VOTE FOR THE REFERENDUM MEANS: The Student Library Use Fee will not increase as proposed and the Library and Information Access will not have additional dedicated student fee revenues to support expanded and enhanced space for student services.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS: SDSU Library and Information Access is primarily supported by University funding. The proposed fee increase ($5/$10/$15 per semester) would be implemented over three years, providing approximately $363,788 in additional funding to support these programs in 2008/09, $727,576 in 2009/10 and $1,091,364 in 2010/11.
If approved, the total fee will be as shown in the table below:
| Fiscal Year | Fall Semester | Spring Semester | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007/08 (Current) |
$10 | $10 | $8 |
| 2008/09 | $15 | $15 | $12 |
| 2009/10 | $20 | $20 | $16 |
| 2010/11 | $25 | $25 | $20 |
The current fee funds increased library hours, and generated revenues in 2007/08 of $700,500.
Total library hours have increased 46%, from 13,164 in 2002 to 19,242 in 2007:
- Main Library: 84.5 to 106 hours per week
- Student Computing Center: 84.5 to 106 hours per week
- Reserve Book Room (24/7 Area): 95.5 to 168 hours per week
- Special Collections and University Archives: 30 to 39 hours per week
The priorities listed above come from an extensive survey of 4,232 students over the past two years via standard survey and focus groups. Future priorities will be determined in consultation with Associated Students Council based on similar surveys. Facilities projects will be completed over time in priority order as funding permits. Cost for each project will require estimates in proximity to construction dates to ensure accuracy.
Prepared by the Campus Fee Advisory Committee
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF INCREASING THE LIBRARY STUDENT USE FEE
This fee will make the library the place you want it to be. The fee increase will expand and improve 24-hour computing and study space. Additional group study rooms will be built and furnishings and facilities will be upgraded throughout the building.
Two years ago, a survey of over 4,200 SDSU students found that students want improved facilities and furnishings, more technology-enhanced spaces for collaboration and group research, and more space in the 24/7 area. The 24/7 access, which is funded by the current library student use fee, has exceeded all expectations. Currently, students frequently encounter lines for computers and experience a shortage of study space at busy times.
Electronic resources are an integral part of the library’s 24/7 service. Students have access to databases, journal articles and e-books at their convenience, without needing to go to the library. The cost of these resources is going up approximately 10% every year. Cancellations will happen if the fee is not passed.
The library has a strong track record of working to meet student needs, and wants to continue to support students beyond its budget capabilities. Recent accomplishments include creation of a laptop users’ area in the basement of the dome, increased electrical outlets for laptops, and renovation of group study rooms. To fully accomplish the improvements students want, an addition to the current fee is required.
Joy Salvatin, AS Council Representative, College of Engineering
STATEMENT AGAINST INCREASING THE LIBRARY STUDENT USE FEE
No responsive argument was submitted.
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