Where is your money going?

UNM students will pay over $11 million in student fees for the 2011-2012 academic year, which are allocated to cover everything from the Student Health Center to Athletics and libraries.
Fees will also go to special funds at the Women’s Resource Center, American Indian Student Services and the LGBTQ Resource Center, among others.

“Fees are one of the most important issues that student leadership faces,” Katie Richardson, GPSA President, said. “We want to make sure we’re spending the money well.”

The breakdown of fee allocation is determined by the Student Fee Review Board’s final recommendation, which this year is based on an estimated full-time enrollment of 23,116 students. UNM’s Board of Regents accepted the board’s recommendations earlier this year that mandated $508.80 per student in fees.

The SFRB is comprised of 4 undergraduate students and 3 graduate students

According to the SFRB Final Recommendation document, the largest allocation of funds goes to the Student Health Center, which receives about $4.4 million. Second is UNM Athletics, with $1.9 million in allocations. The Student Union Building receives $1.75 million including funds for repair and replacement.

Large allotments also go to the Center for Academic Support, Popejoy Hall, UNM Child Care and Recreational Services & Aquatics.

SFRB policy 1310 defines student activity fees as “the per-student portion of the mandated general fees used to support a variety of student activities.” These do not include the fees allocated to ASUNM and GPSA, which are separately determined.

“Every group or department that needs (student) fees sends in an application to the board,” Richardson said. “The applications include their budgets, why their funding has gone down, and why they need more money.”

Applicants are required to describe their relationship to the UNM community and their methods of tracking both the UNM student and non-student populations they serve.

Student fees are separate from the course and lab fees students pay when they enroll in certain classes, Richardson said. These fees go directly to their respective departments and are used for class materials and equipment.

Student Colleen MacCallum says she’d like to see more money going into the classroom.

“I think way too much goes to athletics,” she said. “It’d be nice to see more money going toward getting more teaching assistants. I know teachers who spend nearly all their time out of class grading.”