Spring 2022 Alternative Consultation: Proposed Fee
INFORMATION PAMPHLET
SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY
PROPOSED ACCELERATING TECH AND SUSTAINABILITY FEE
Overview
SDSU is considering the establishment of a mandatory Category II fee to support needed
investments for information technology (many of which were previously supported through
one-time funding), and to initiate new support for student- and university-serving
technology infrastructure and sustainability initiatives.
To gain a complete understanding of the Accelerating Tech and Sustainability Fee,
the university will host a series of open forums and consultations with interested,
regularly enrolled SDSU students, including those exclusively attending Imperial Valley
(and excluding those students exclusively enrolled in Global Campus programs). The
Accelerating Tech and Sustainability Fee options for consideration are either $249,
$199, or $174 per semester (during fall and spring) and either $100 or $80, or $70
for the summer term. The fee would begin in Fall 2022 and would be adjusted annually
using the Higher Education Price Index (HEPI), starting in the Fall 2023.
Open Forum Times
The open forums, open to SDSU students, faculty, and staff, will occur in Spring of
2022. Please visit sdsu.edu/alternativeconsult for the most current list of scheduled
forums.
Purpose of the Fee
SDSU proposes the Accelerating Tech and Sustainability Fee to reliably fund technology
infrastructure, innovation, support services, and ecological sustainability initiatives,
and to ensure the university can continue to meet the growing demands on information
technologies, and students’ sustainability goals and aspirations.
Student Voice
If approved, equitable student representation, including undergraduate and graduate
students from both San Diego and Imperial Valley campuses would serve on the Accelerating
Technology and Sustainability committees, and would provide annual input and approval
on the portions of the fee supporting the discretionary budgets for Accelerating Technology
and Sustainability Fee-funded efforts such as programming, procurement subsidies,
micro-grant administration, new projects, software and transportation subsidies.
CFAC will receive annual updates on how the Accelerating Tech and Sustainability Fee
is being allocated, as well as outcomes related to the fee.
Summary of the Issue
A recommendation in favor of the fee increase means:
- The Accelerating Tech and Sustainability Fee would be implemented.
- Sustaining robust digital infrastructure and services for students including:
- a broader portfolio of software for students in areas including security, productivity,
and instruction
- better wireless connectivity across campus (indoor and outdoor) at both San Diego
and Imperial Valley campuses
- enhanced service offering for the SDSU Student Computing Hub with more staff and better
staff-to-student ratios
- improved support (24/7/365) for the learning management system
- modern digital classrooms with the more capacity to capture and caption lectures
- sustained in-person and asynchronous training for students
- investment in information technology research infrastructure
- virtualization technology to support anytime/anywhere/any device computing
- paid information technology internships (student assistant appointments)
- Greater subsidies to incentivize use of mass transit for students and reduce the carbon
footprint of commuters for both the San Diego and Imperial Valley campuses.
- Additional staffing to accelerate implementation of energy and sustainability priorities.
- Additional efforts for professional energy and sustainability education and literacy
for campus stakeholders on individual and campus-wide sustainability priorities and
impacts of operations.
- Additional funding to offset higher initial costs of moving to sustainable energy
and utility infrastructure in new and renovation construction projects.
- A new student technology innovation program that will support e-sports, mobile apps
for student smartphones, electronic workflows to support paperless student processes,
a new e-sustainability program, and greater access to leading-edge eXtended Reality
(XR) and virtual reality environments and software.
A recommendation in opposition to the proposed fee means:
- The Accelerating Tech and Sustainability Fee would not be implemented.
- Direct costs, less support, and reduction of services and opportunities for students:
- Students will need to pay for more software
- Decreased services and infrastructure
- decreased wireless connectivity across campus (indoor and outdoor) at SDSU and SDSU-IV
- lower staffing ratios within the SDSU Student Computing Hub
- slower investments in classrooms with the capacity to capture and caption lectures
- limited training for students on how to use SDSU’s infrastructure and supported software
tools
- very limited student experience with research information technology infrastructure
- Limited subsidies to incentivize use of mass transit for students and to reduce the
carbon footprint of commuters.
- Status quo efforts based solely on State-funding for implementation of energy and
sustainability priorities.
- Energy and sustainability education and literacy for campus stakeholders on a volunteer
support basis for raising awareness of individual and campus-wide sustainability priorities
and impacts of operations.
- Revenues from the proposed student fee will not be available to support offset higher
initial costs of sustainable energy and utility infrastructure in new and renovation
construction projects.
- Revenue from the proposed student fee will not be available to support innovation
programs such as e-sports and an SDSU mobile app for student smartphones, continued
reliance on paper-based processes for students, no e-sustainability program, and limited
access to eXtended Reality (XR) and virtual reality immersive learning opportunities.
Financial Analysis for Accelerating Tech and Sustainability (ATS) Fee
for both San Diego and Imperial Valley Campuses
| Items to Scale Based on Fee |
No ATS Fee
(Status Quo)
|
Option 1
$174/semester[1]
($12M Revenue)
|
Option 2
$199/semester[1]
($14M Revenue)
|
Option 3
$249/semester[1]
($18M Revenue)
|
|
Return to Aid [2]
|
NA
|
3% of Revenue
|
3% of Revenue
|
3% of Revenue
|
| Advancing Technology |
|
Additional Software for Students
|
Reduced
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Enhanced Wireless
|
No Outdoor
|
Enhanced Outdoor
|
Enhanced Outdoor
|
Enhanced Outdoor
|
|
Student Centric Help
|
Decreased Staffing
|
2 additional staff for students
|
5 additional staff for student support
|
5 additional staff and enhanced hub location
|
|
Digital training for Student and Faciulty
|
As is, provided by vendor
|
Vendor Provided
|
SDSU Created
|
Vendor Provided and SDSU Created
|
|
Student Information Technology Internships and Employment [3]
|
Decreased employment opportunities
|
25 positions
|
50 positions
|
75 positions
|
|
Learning Management System (LMS) Support and Video Features
|
No 24/7/365 support and elimination of integrated LMS video platform
|
24/7/365 support
|
24/7/365 support
|
24/7/365 support
|
|
Connected Classrooms
|
Occassional improvements
|
10-year refresh for classrooms
|
7-year refresh for classrooms
|
5-year refresh for classrooms
|
|
Extended Classroom Support Hours
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
SDSU Mobile Student App
|
None
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
E-Sustainability
|
None
|
E-waste
|
E-waste, smart charging
|
E-waste, smart charging, and intelligent printing
|
|
E-Gaming/ E-Sports
|
None
|
Labs
|
Teams
|
Teams
|
|
Sustainable Process for Students
|
None
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Virtualization Technology
|
None
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Information Technology Research Infrastructure
|
None
|
Minor [4] Infrastructure Investment
|
Modest [4] Infrastructure Investments
|
Major [4] Infrastructure Investment
|
|
Augmented and Virtual Reality Labs [4]
|
Limited to One-Time Funds
|
Minor [4] Investment
|
Modest [4] Investment
|
Major [4} Investment
|
|
Mobile Safety Application
|
Existing
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Cyberinfrastructure
|
None
|
Staff Support
|
Labs
|
Core Facilities
|
| Sustainability [4] |
|
Office of Energy and Sustainability
|
2 full-time Office of Energy & Sustainability and 5 part-time student interns
|
2 additional Office of Energy and Sustainability positions (total of 4) and 2 additional
part-time student interns (total of 7)
|
3 additional Office of Energy and Sustainability positions (total of 5) and 3 additional
part-time student interns (total of 8)
|
4 additional Office of Energy and Sustainability positions (total of 6) and 4 additional
part-time student interns (total of 9)
|
|
Sustainability Program Funds [4]
|
Minimal allocation for Energy and Sustainability Program Funds
No Energy and Sustainability Student Micro Grant
|
Minor [4] additional allocation for Energy and Sustainability Program Funds
Energy and Sustainability Student Micro Grants
|
Modest [4] additional allocation for Energy and Sustainability Program Funds
Energy and Sustainability Student Micro Grants
|
Major [4] additional allocation for Energy and Sustainability Program Funds
Energy and Sustainability Student Micro Grants
|
|
Sustainable Energy [4]
|
Limited to One-Time Funds
|
Minor [4] on-going investment in sustainable energy projects to reduce greenhouse
gas and infrastructure to support energy saving measures
|
Modest [4] on-going investment in sustainable energy projects to reduce greenhouse
gas and infrastructure to support energy saving measures
|
Major [4] on-going investment in sustainable energy projects to reduce greenhouse
gas and infrastructure to support energy saving measures
|
|
Sustainable Transportation Subsidy [4]
|
Existing subsidies for mass transit
|
Minor [4] additional subsidies for mass transit and/or shuttle transportation for
San Diego and Imperial Valley Campuses for 4,000 students
|
Modest [4] additional subsidies for mass transit and/or shuttle transportation for
San Diego and Imperial Valley Campuses for 4,000 students
|
Major [4] additional subsidies for mass transit and/or shuttle transportation for
San Diego and Imperial Valley Campuses
|
[1] Annual fee increase based on Higher Education Price Index starting in Fall 2023
[2] 3% return to aid component to help offset the impact of this fee to support students
who are experiencing financial hardship.
[3] Opportunities for Student Information Technology and Office of Energy and Sustainability
student internships and employment would be available for students on both San Diego
and Imperial Valley campuses.
[4] Specific allocation and mix will be proposed by full-time staff and determined
with input and approval from representative student leaders from both San Diego and
Imperial Valley campuses.
Statement in Favor of an Accelerating Tech and Sustainability Fee
Dear Campus Fee Advisory Committee,
I believe that the Accelerating Technology and Sustainability Fee is beneficial in
the development of esports related opportunities here at SDSU. With the increase in
other collegiate gaming facilities and programs at schools such as UCSD and UCI, I
think SDSU following suite would help the university stay competitive in the SoCal
region. According to a March 2021 survey, currently almost half of CSU schools have
some type of gaming space on campus which further proves that gaming is becoming a
larger part of the collegiate space.
The current gaming space within the Student Union bowling alley is not up to par with
spaces that other universities currently possess, with investment into a proper space
and equipment we can provide students with a program that will introduce them to the
esports, technology, and gaming industry. This opens the door to a variety of professions
from marketing, management, production, and product design. Having a dedicated program
that oversees an official gaming space and esports teams will give experience to students
who wish to pursue post-graduation jobs in the gaming/esports industry.
The current student run club, Aztec Gaming, has had several of its members move onto
be successful in the industry with companies like CORSAIR, MSI, and Sony. To gain
these positions, they use the skills gained when leading the club. For example, they
learned how to do event planning, leadership, graphic design, community building,
and sponsorship management. Creating a program based off the already existing leadership
and community will not only allow SDSU to offer a broader range of experience for
students but attract further growth of gaming and esports businesses within the San
Diego area to potentially become an influential region.
In terms of immediate benefits for students on campus, a dedicated facility will create
equal opportunities for all students to participate in personal entertainment activities.
Pulling from data within Aztec Gaming, over 1,700 members have expressed an interest
in gaming in some capacity. Based off this, it is likely that many students would
find use if a gaming facility was available to them. The proposed items would also
help to engage STEM students and increase overall retention rates of students.
If this facility is to function in a similar way to Aztec Recreation facilities where
admission is already paid with tuition and fees, students would have the opportunity
to relax and improve their mental health. Analogous to the popular activity of working
out where students can unwind, some students, including myself, unwind through gaming.
Giving students access to the expensive equipment needed to play and/or compete at
a high level is one benefit of this fee not to mention current supply chain shortages
with electronics.
Considering all of the topics included with this fee, I have determined that the $249
tier is the most beneficial but also recognize that the $199 tier is a reasonable
compromise between additional costs and benefits to create an esports facility and
program.
Keon Moore, SDSU Senior
Rebuttal to Statement in Favor of an Accelerating Tech and Sustainability Fee
While e-sports facilities could benefit the university, the addition of this fee is
not the way to fund them. Historically, student organizations have been funded through
the Student Body Association fee, which costs students only $35/semester and pays
for the activities of recognized student organizations. If SDSU really wants an e-sports
team, they should explore this channel first. The proposed fee places an annual expense
between $12 and $18 million per year on the entire student body, of which only a small
portion would be allocated to the e-sports item - a benefit that would in turn be
used by only a small portion of the student body. The rest would be allocated to a
variety of items whose benefits do not seem to outweigh the increased financial burden
they entail.
Cayton Larmer, SDSU Junior
Statement in Opposition of an Accelerating Tech and Sustainability Fee
While many of the items outlined by this initiative are important, the proposed fee
is not the solution. Existing tuition and cost-of-living expenses for students already
impose a significant financial burden on a population with necessarily limited resources.
Furthermore, many of the items in this initiative (such as the E-sports and virtual
reality labs) look excellent on a university brochure, but will not necessarily materially
help the vast majority of students who end up paying for them. San Diego State University
is currently engaged in a number of other projects and expansions. While nice quality-of-life
improvements, not all of these can be seen as critical to the continued function of
the university as a whole. If the items in this initiative are as important as the
university says, why were the funds currently being spent on these other projects
not put towards the initiative items in the first place?
Cayton Larmer, SDSU Junior
Rebuttal to Statement in Opposition of an Accelerating Tech and Sustainability Fee
While this fee will overall bring beneficial improvements to SDSU, it’s understandable
that current tuition and fees impose a financial burden on students and that additional
fees can worsen this. Though I cannot influence the way the school allocates its money
currently I’d like to compare this new fee with existing similar fees. The current
fees listed on SDSU’s webpage shows that ones like the Instructional Related Activity
Fee use three quarters of the $249 mandatory fee on athletics. This is an area that
only a fraction of students will see the benefits from. It could be argued that items
listed on the Accelerating Tech and Sustainability fee such as the esports, augmented,
and virtual reality labs would be more efficient in their implementation due to the
lower funding per item while influencing similar student numbers or more. Furthermore,
it could be argued that quality-of-life items are what contribute to an overall impactful
college experience. These quality-of-life items are not only nice to haves, but they
serve to engage students and keep them interested in their campus and improve overall
retention. While esports, augmented, and virtual reality labs may not be as immediately
useful as a gym, they still serve as incredible opportunities for students and faculty
in the changing world. Lastly, the bigger picture often gets lost in the debate of
how something like fees impacts students now rather than in the long term. Investments
in our campus now would allow it to be better for those to come.
Keon Moore, SDSU Senior
Information pamphlet approved by the Campus Fee Advisory Committee (CFAC).
Submit a comment/question to CFAC [email protected]