Utah Tech University aims to remain transparent with students through the Utah System of Higher Education policy R516. With the policy put in place, students have the opportunity to know what student fee money is going toward.
R516 states, “Institutions must identify the specific purpose for which revenue generated from a general student fee will be used.” Student fees cannot be used for academic or educational purposes, as under the policy, universities are required to take from tuition for any reason that isn’t focused solely on students.
R516 requires institutions like Utah Tech to state the specific purpose behind the usage of general student fees.
Under the policy, institutions are able to request fees be used on student-approved facility construction, student-approved facility operation and student activities, programs and services. The policy also states that any changes in student fees must be posted to the university’s website.
Along with transparency, R516 states that student voices must be involved in student fee decisions. Utah Tech approaches this demand by hosting the Student Fee Advisory Board.
“There’s a process for selecting students for the fee board,” said Luke Kerouac, executive director of student engagement and leadership. “It’s the student body president and vice president of the student council. Then there’s students at large. But who decides that is essentially every fee program manager. If you receive a student fee, you’re a fee program manager.”
The Student Fee Advisory Board decides whether student fees are increased, decreased or cut entirely.
Kerouac explained that every spring semester, Utah Tech advertises a meeting mandated by the Utah System of Higher Education called Truth in Tuition.
The meeting includes an appearance from the administrator over tuition, with an explanation of what the plan is for distribution of tuition money, what it is funding and how it’s split up.
During the Truth in Tuition meeting, the student body president or another member of the fee board will explain where student fees are being moved, any future plans and any changes to the current distribution of fees.
Kerouac said that events like these offer students opportunities to learn about student fee money and where it’s utilized.
“I just really want to encourage students to come [to Truth in Tuition],” said Shellsea Ramirez, Utah Tech Student Association student body president, and a senior individualized studies major from St. George. “If students ever have any feedback, obviously I want to hear some of that so I can make sure to advocate for students in the ways that I can.”
Ismael Medina, a sophomore business administration major from St. George, said: “I’m not entirely sure where the student fees go. I would assume fees for classes.”
Kerouac pointed to the tuition and fees page on the university website for more insight into where fees currently go.
“Go on to the tuition and fees website at the university, and you can see all of the different fees, and they have the names associated with them of what fees on our campus are used for,” Kerouac said.
