In an emergency meeting Wednesday, the ASUNM Senate unanimously passed a resolution in opposition to the proposed $77 increase in student fees.
The Board of Regents is considering a proposal that would split the additional funding between Athletics and UNM Libraries. ASUNM President and Student Fee Review Board Vice Chair Jaymie Roybal said the Board of Regents has not offered a detailed outline of how student fees would be spent, but said a portion of it will pay off the Athletics Department’s $1.5 million debt.
“It’s unnecessary and inappropriate,” Roybal said. “It’s not our responsibility to pay off the debt of any department. There needs to be more financial responsibility in every department, especially departments that use student fees.”
GPSA President and SFRB Chair Katie Richardson said the proposed increase in tuition and fees would also pay for the e-journals for UNM libraries, something she said needs to be paid for through Instruction and General funding from the state, or tuition.
“SFRB has been paying for the journals and they are inflating by 10 percent every year,” Richardson said. “We shouldn’t be paying for these costs because they are essential to student success. It is inappropriate that student fees are funding journal costs.”
According to the ASUNM resolution, the SFRB recommendation will expand services for students, including a 24-hour library, recreational service hours and tutoring services, and an increase above what was recommended by the board not only disregards the recommendations of the board, but is unnecessary.
Roybal said any increase in tuition or student fees should be justified by specific claims as to how that money will serve students, something she said the regents have not done.
“For every dollar we spend, we should get something in return,” Roybal said. “An increase in tuition and fees should only be used for concrete services with concrete benefits.”
Roybal said the regents and Athletics representatives have been unclear about Athletics’ financial situation and what the money will be used for if the $77 increase passes.
“There’s a lot of mistrust between the students and the regents,” Roybal said. “At the end of the entire process to just tack on an ($77) increase totally diminishes everything we’ve done.”
Members of ASUNM will present the resolution to the Board of Regents on Friday during the budget meeting. The presentation will include a video produced by ASUNM Sen. Bridget Chavez that will share the stories of five students at UNM who will be unable to afford an increase in tuition and student fees.
If the proposal is approved, fees could be as high as $580 next year.
“As a Senate we have to urge for student representation on board decision-making bodies,” ASUNM Attorney General and SFRB member Gregory Montoya-Mora said. “We should have a voice for any dollar we are funding.”
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The ASUNM Senate considered an amendment to the resolution that would have stipulated how any increase in tuition and student fees would be spent if the regents decided to pass the increase, but the motion did not pass.
“The most important part is that we communicate that several departments need more fiscal responsibility,” ASUNM Sen. Caroline Muraida said. “Student fees are not a scapegoat or a last resort.”
The Board of Regents is also considering a 3 percent tuition increase. The board is expected to finalize the budget April 27.
