New Fee Hike is Proposed by Student Senate

Teresa Wilson

Photo Editor

Special election results are in and the new student fees proposed by the Shasta College Student Senate (SCSS) have passed with overwhelming support. Over 90% of the recorded votes were in favor of the increased fees. This is the first time SCSS has proposed fees of any type and the first time a special election was held on their behalf.

“The average student fees charged in all other California districts is $8. We only proposed $6 which is 25% below the state average,” said Robert Wilson, SCSS president and student trustee.

The SCSS doesn’t receive any funding directly from Shasta College or the district and runs the student government organization through student elected volunteers. The primary source of revenue is generated through sales of student body cards. Other fundraising efforts provide some revenue as well, but not nearly enough to maintain the SCSS presence here on campus.

All the new fees go directly to SCSS which will be used to grant scholarships, host larger campus events, and provide regular office staff for the student population. Extended education sites will have a SCSS presence at their locations to bring continuity between campuses. Some of the revenue generated will go back into the community through charitable contributions by SCSS.

In addition to local purposes, SCSS officers and representatives can voice student concerns at the city, county and state levels. “We felt that we could solve numerous issues more effectively if we were just to implement these fees,” said Wilson.

When Wilson was elected into office in May, he and new SCSS Treasurer Josh Phelps reviewed the financial records for the last three years. They discovered a deficit that would soon deplete the reserve account unless additional revenue was secured. According to Wilson, SCSS was spending $10,000 more per academic year than they were bringing in, thus requiring funds from the reserve account to maintain activities on campus. If that trend were to continue, the reserves would be depleted in four years and could have caused the SCSS to dissolve.

After looking at alternatives for funding, such as bringing in vending machines or a coffee cart, SCSS determined there was a need for steady revenue to keep the SCSS presence on campus and to counterbalance the deficit.

After attending a student trustee conference in San Jose, Wilson said, “What I learned is something I did not expect: that Shasta, Tehama and Trinity Joint Community College District [are the only districts in the entire state of California that doesn’t charge for one of three fees at admissions.”

Wilson researched the 72 districts in California through their web sites and by polling admissions personnel about the types of fees collected from students. Of the 72 districts in California 60% of the community colleges charge a $1 student representative fee and 25% of the districts charge some type of events and activities fee. Seventy percent charge for student body cards at admissions. In other districts, fees range from $1 per semester to $23.50 a semester in Glendale County. The student representative fee is not mandatory, and can be waived under certain circumstances (including political, moral, financial or religious reasons) in accordance with California Education Code 76060.

The $5 events and activities fee is optional, yet will provide every student that pays it a student body card. Student body card holders are entitled to free admission at all home games as well discounts at local businesses. There are currently 24 businesses that offer some type of discount to Shasta College students who hold student body cards and SCSS hopes to increase that number to 50 this semester.

The fees will be implemented for fall 2007 registration which begins in the spring. The cost to students is a $1 student representative fee and an optional $5 events and activities fee which includes a free student body card.

All SCSS representatives are volunteers who are elected into office by students to represent and serve the student body at Shasta College. SCSS officers and representatives are not compensated for their involvement in student government.