Student Board Suggests Fee Hike

A student board that was hoping to recommend a 5 percent decrease in University of New Mexico student fees is instead recommending a 3.4 percent increase.

Student fees are paid on top of tuition. As with most university costs, they have increased over the past several years. That’s why this year, the Student Fee Review Board voted to lower the baseline for fees in hopes there could be a decrease in the next school year.

But after long and careful deliberation, the board recommended the 3.4 percent increase. The board is comprised of five undergraduate and two graduate students. The recommendation is under review by administrators and will ultimately be decided by regents.

Twenty-seven UNM organizations such as athletics, Student Health and Counseling, Children’s Campus and Popejoy Hall get funding from student fees. The board recommends a set amount to each organization.

Last year, full-time UNM students paid $486.49 in fees. If the board’s recommendations are accepted, students will pay $503.20 next year.

Board chairwoman Katie Richardson said Wednesday the recommended increase is “extremely modest” and was made after considering which organizations most benefit students.

“You have to just sort of weigh what is best for students. You don’t want to raise fees so much that students can’t return to school,” she said.

Ultimately, she said, the board made a decision that “best impacts students.”

At a meeting earlier this year, board members set a baseline of $460 dollars per student for fees, but soon found there were too many organizations that are strapped for cash and heavily dependent on student fees.

Several organizations requested significantly more money than they got last year, citing slashed budgets and an increased demand for services.

For example, the athletics department asked for $150 per student, compared to the $81 it got last year.

The board recommended leaving the amount as is for next year.

Information technologies also requested a dramatic increase: from $10 per student this year to $128 per student next year.

The board recommended a small boost to $16 per student.
— This article appeared on page C1 of the Albuquerque Journal