Student fees to increase

Forum allows students to become part of decision making process

By: Melissa Appel

Posted: 10/29/08

Texas A&M requires departments to present proposed fee increases.

Texas A&M Student Senate will have a student fees meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Rudder Tower 601 to inform students about possible fee increases over the 2009-2010 school year.

"As students at Texas A&M University, we are fortunate to be able to be a part of the fee review process," said Student Advocate of Student Services for SGA Executive Council Hunter Bollman.

Many students outside of the Senate realize the importance of this opportunity as a chance to voice opinions and concerns regarding money.

"It is important for students to attend this meeting because the fee increases directly affect each of us," said sophomore biology major Carey Placke. "Especially when money is becoming tighter in the current economy and tuition is constantly increasing, we have the chance to ask questions and voice our opinion on the proposed increases."

The forum is part of the reworking of the student fee-determining process, which allows students to be more involved. The meeting provides students with the opportunity to hear presentations from eight departments on campus about possible fee increases for the 2009-2010 school year. The forum is a Special Session of Student Senate, called by Speaker Cody Vasut.

"We're hoping to educate the Student Senate and students about why these entities are requesting fee increases," said Vasut, a graduate student in human resource management. "This meeting will allow for open two-way communication between administration and the elected representatives of the student body to eventually determine if these additional costs are in the best interests of students. Such communication is essential for shared governance."

The fees to be considered are computer access and instructional technology, transportation services parking permit rates, library use, installment plan services, advising, group hospital and medical services, recreational sports and student services. Each department will be allowed 15 minutes to explain the fee proposal, after which there will be time for questions from the senators.

"With the rising cost of higher education, student fees are a becoming an important issue to most students," said Bollman, a junior accounting and finance major. "By having this special meeting, it will allow the Student Senate to focus on these fee increase proposals both 'individually' but 'holistically' as well."

Although the students cannot ask questions to the departments, they can submit written questions after the meeting. Student questions and comments will be collected, and the Senate will compile a list of questions to send to each department for consideration. SGA will post the written answers on the website Nov. 4. Students can fill out an online survey expressing concerns through the SGA website beginning Thursday.

"Each student at Texas A&M is affected by student fees; we all pay them," said Student Services Chairman in the Student Senate Logan Nichols, a junior agricultural economics major. "This is a chance for students to come out and hear where the money they pay for fees goes, and have an opportunity to ask questions."

Time and place
The forum will be 6 p.m. Wednesday in Rudder
Tower 601.