1. Policy
A. No comments

2. References
A. No comments

3. Definitions
A. No comments

4. Procedures

A. General Information

1. In section 4.A.2.b (1), consider revising as follows: “During each fall semester, the vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment will announce . . . “
2. In section 4.A.2.b, consider adding (4) which will state as follows: “During March, the student fee board recommendations, after Executive Cabinet approval, will be presented, in a public hearing to the Board of Trustees for approval.”
B. Appointment of Student Fee Board

1. In section 4.B.1 consider revising as follows:

“The vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment, a non-voting member, and the Student Association president, a voting member, will be co-chairpersons of the board... .”

2. In section 4.B.2.b, it includes “two administrative representatives” to the Board. What does this mean? Should this be “two employee representatives” instead?

3. Consider adding section 4.B.3 which will state as follows:
a. “The Board’s recommendation will be determined by majority vote. In the case of a tie vote among voting members, the vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment, who is typically a non-voting member, will cast a vote if there is a tie vote.

Note: the draft policy does not expressly state that a majority vote applies. Rather it is implied. In addition, the substance of section 4.C.6.d has been moved to section 4.B.3. Also consider adding the following subsection to this section:
(1) When voting on a recommendation, at least four of the six student board members must be present and vote at the meeting to ensure adequate student representation in the decision to recommend student fee amounts.

Note: this section has been restated and moved from section 4.B.6.c

b. The make-up of this Student Fee Committee is eight voting members plus one non-voting members. Keep in mind that having an even number makes you more susceptible to having tie votes.

C. Authority of Student Fee Board
1. In section 4.C.1, consider slightly revising to state: “. . . regarding the amount and allocation of student fees.”
2. Section 4.C.2 is confusing and needs clarification. What happens if the Executive Cabinet either “modif[ies] or decline[s] the board’s recommendations”? Who has the final say in what is presented to Trustees? If it is Executive Cabinet’s decision, will the Board’s recommendation be presented to the Trustees also? Should Cabinet or the Trustees have the power to override the Student Fee Board’s recommendation? This is an important comment and needs to be clarified.
3. Consider adding section 4.C.3 to state as follows: “The Student Fee Board’s recommendation must be posted on the Student Association’s webpage.”
4. In section 4.C.4 addressing “Process for Requesting New Fees” consider the following comments:
a. Should there be express language for deadlines of submission of new student fee requests? For example, new fee requests must be submitted by January 15.
b. Is there a form for making a fee request? If not, consider creating a form and linking it to the policy so it includes all of the questions required by the policy. (i.e. demonstrated need, fee purpose, and detailed budgetary plan.)
5. In section 4.C.5.a, there should be a section added which requires all applications for student fees that are submitted to the Student Fee Board should be posted on a webpage for either the Student Association, the Student Fee Board or the vice president for Student Affairs. This is similar to C.3 above.
6. In section 4.C.5.a, a question was posed whether students have the ability to propose student fees? As drafted, only AVP, Deans and other position reporting directly to a cabinet member may propose student fees.
7. Are student board public or closed meetings? Do students or employees have the ability to comment on proposed student fees?
8. In section 4.C.6.b(6), the “hold harmless” provision, needs clarification. What does it mean? This is an important comment. The committee thought it meant that if there was an increase in the wages or benefit cost for an employee whose position is covered by student fees, that the increase will automatically be paid for by student fees. If that is the case, consider revision this section as follows:
a. “If an employee, whose wages and benefits are paid by student fees, receives a state or college mandated wage increase, this wage increase and associated benefits cost increase will be paid for by student fees.”
b. This is an important comment. This provision, as drafted is confusing and should be clarified. If you make this change, don’t forget to remove the “hold harmless” definition.

9. In section 4.C.6.g, consider revising this provision as follows:
g. In March of each year, the Board of Trustees will hold a public hearing called the Truth-in-Tuition hearing whereby the Trustees will consider whether to adopt the proposed student fees. At this hearing,
(1) the Student Association president or designee will provide a summary to the Trustees of student issues, concerns, and questions regarding the proposed student fees.
(2) the Board of Trustees will vote on whether to approve the proposed student fees.
(3) If the Trustees approve the proposed student fees, the proposal will be forwarded to the Utah State Board of Higher Education for consideration.

Section 2. References
R516 is "General Student Fees" R510 is "Tuition" I assume both should be cited. Could also include: I think R713, "Funding of Student Centers" could also be cited, since they've added language regarding fees for funding "Capital" as well as R701, Capital Facilities, since they used the "Capital Facilities" definition directly from it. They could also include R761, Physical Education, Intramural Sports, and Special Event Facilities, since it seems relevant to the new plan to renovate the LAC for further "student" space, and mandates financial support from student fees or other revenues to fund it to an "appropriate degree."

3.A. General Student Fees suggestions:
Refers to institution-wide mandatory fees assessed to students “upon registration” (R516, 3.2) that benefit students broadly and support the “student belonging, enrichment, and success as a campus community" (R516,3.2) ... as determined by the... general student fee structure included in the tuition and fees schedule. The general student fee does not include course fees or administrative fees. Student fee “assessment” can be viewed on the Tuition and Fees webpage.

3.A. – “assessment” is probably the better term here. If this is changed, then the website will also need to be changed.

3.F. - This definition of Capital Facilities is directly from R701-3.2, Capital Facilities, and seems unnecessary. Why does all this need to be listed out?

516-5.1.2- '...fees may be used to fund operation and maintenance, capital improvements, and other necessary operating expenses for student' approved facilities in subsection 5.1.1."
516-5.1.1- student facilities are "for the enrichment of the student experience"

It seems to lightly contradict R713-4, which lays out capital funding requests proportional to space-type percentages. If I understand R713, R701, and R516 correctly, "general purposes of the institution" aren't fee relevant?

4.A.1 – Suggested revisions: Student fees may be used to fund activities, programs, and services, [r516-5.1.3, "from which the general student body may benefit."] to secure construction bonds, and fund operation, maintenance, and capital improvements to student-approved facilities [R516-5.1.1, "for the enrichment of the student experience."].

4.A.2.b.(1) suggestion: after “office” add “for Student Affairs”

4.A.2.b.(2) suggestion: should “budget” be “budgets” (plural, not singular?)

4.A.2.b.(3) suggestion: after “budget meetings” add “, Truth in Tuition,”

4.B.1 – “co-chair” - R516, 6.1.1, "The board shall be chaired by a currently enrolled student." It doesn't talk about a co-chair situation. Is this ok?

4.B.5.d – should “total allocation” be “annual fee revenue”? Or define total allocation as annual fee revenue plus carry forward?

4.B.5.d - I wonder if some areas will want to separate their other revenue activities from their fee area to prevent having this restriction on those other revenues. Child Care already has their other revenues separated to their Aux indexes for each site. But most other fees have some other revenues mixed in.
1. STC's other revenues in their fee fund account for 3.12% of their total revenue.
2. CHC's is 9.27%.
3. Student Engagement is 4.73%.
4. Recreation is 10.82%
5. Athletics is 9.85%
6. ACE is 1.33%

4.B.5.d – regarding “preapproved via the student fees process” - R516-5.3, "fund balances... [of] multi-year revenues" are allowed "only if planned, budgeted, and pre-approved by the institution's board of trustees" While the 10% threshold falls beneath it, balances over 1 year's worth of revenue as a carryforward requires Trustees approval. It seems like this section needs clarification.

4.B.6.b – This list doesn't include some requirements from R516-6.2.2, "...review institutional enrollment projections and enrollment impact on general student fee revenue, examin[ing] whether each general student fee may be proportionally adjusted with enrollment change"

This policy doesn't include any language regarding r516-6.2.5, Five Year Comprehensive Reviews. "The general student fee advisory board and the board of trustees shall comprehensively review all general student fees and determine whether each fee should be retained, transitioned to tuition or state appropriations or repealed." It seems like something that should have some kind of inclusion to the standard procedure be noted.