2008 Woodie Awards
SB 31 promises improvement
Josh Gautreau
Issue date: 5/15/07 Section: Opinion
The recent changes to the Student Activity Fee from the Student Government Association have three goals in mind. First, Senate Bill 31 creates proportional rates for both Undergraduate and Graduate students. Second, it provides a consistent level of funding for the Office of Student Affairs and student publications. Third, it enables the Student Government Association to spend more time addressing student concerns.
Traditionally, graduate students have paid a considerably lower rate for the Student Activity Fee. As graduate students have become more involved on campus, they should pay a rate that is proportional to undergraduate students.
Full-time status for an undergraduate student is 12 or more hours, while graduate students are considered full time at eight hours. Thus, graduate students now pay 66 percent of what undergraduate students pay.
Graduate students now contribute more funds and should receive funding for events accommodating graduate students. This plays an even more important role now that the Graduate Student Association has become an officially recognized student organization on campus.
The Office of Student Affairs has consistently come to the SGA requesting funds for various events such as Night at the Rockets, Deck the Mall and Late Night Breakfast.
The new Student Affairs Fee provides funding for the Office of Student Affairs, without requiring them to petition SGA for funds on a regular basis. The new Student Publications Fee will also offer funding to the student publications without having the organizations petition SGA for funds.
SGA spends considerable time every meeting discussing whether or not to give funding to the Office of Student Affairs. By providing funds at the beginning of the year, it creates more free time for SGA to hear student concerns.
Next year's senators will be required to spend time outside of the SGA meetings talking with students. This will hopefully create a more noticeable presence on campus, and will allow the senators to focus on a variety of issues.
Traditionally, graduate students have paid a considerably lower rate for the Student Activity Fee. As graduate students have become more involved on campus, they should pay a rate that is proportional to undergraduate students.
Full-time status for an undergraduate student is 12 or more hours, while graduate students are considered full time at eight hours. Thus, graduate students now pay 66 percent of what undergraduate students pay.
Graduate students now contribute more funds and should receive funding for events accommodating graduate students. This plays an even more important role now that the Graduate Student Association has become an officially recognized student organization on campus.
The Office of Student Affairs has consistently come to the SGA requesting funds for various events such as Night at the Rockets, Deck the Mall and Late Night Breakfast.
The new Student Affairs Fee provides funding for the Office of Student Affairs, without requiring them to petition SGA for funds on a regular basis. The new Student Publications Fee will also offer funding to the student publications without having the organizations petition SGA for funds.
SGA spends considerable time every meeting discussing whether or not to give funding to the Office of Student Affairs. By providing funds at the beginning of the year, it creates more free time for SGA to hear student concerns.
Next year's senators will be required to spend time outside of the SGA meetings talking with students. This will hopefully create a more noticeable presence on campus, and will allow the senators to focus on a variety of issues.