Illustration by Heather Billings / The Collegian

In fewer than 10 years, total registration fees at Fresno State have more than doubled.

Overall there has been a 94 percent increase in tuition at California State Universities in the past 6 years, while inflation has risen by only 3 percent over the past decade. These figures are according to Tuition Relief Now, an organization of concerned students, parents and California residents who are working together to make education affordable.

The increase in fees at CSU campuses may seem extreme, but according to the vice president of student affairs at Fresno State, Paul Oliaro, Ph.D., the jump in fees has become necessary.

“The reality is that the costs for higher education in California have been unrealistically low for a long time,â€Â Oliaro said. “Those things are starting to shift.â€Â

In 2001, the university collected $10 for the IRA fee and $714 for the state university fee. Registration fees for the semester totaled $881. That means that IRA was less than 1.1 percent of total registration fees.

IRA money funds activities that are in some way sponsored by an academic discipline or department and can be proven to be integrally related to instruction.

In 2004, the university still collected $10 for the IRA fee while the state university fee rose to $1,167. Total registration fees for the semester were $1,352. The IRA then dropped to 0.7 percent of total registration fees.

In 2007, the IRA fee again remained $10 and the state university fee went up to $1,386. Total registration fees for the semester totaled $1,649.50. The IRA ticked down to 0.6 percent of total registration fees.

Currently, for the 2008-09 school year, the IRA fee increased to $62 and the state university fee climbed to $1,524. Total registration fees for the semester went up to $1,847.50.

That means that the IRA fee is now more than five times the cost it was only eight years prior, now totaling 3.4 percent of total registration fees.

This is not to mention the near-doubling of the state university fee.

Prior to 2008, athletics were not included in the IRA fee. But in May 2008, the university̢۪s president, John D. Welty, approved a measure to increase the IRA fee by $52 to its current $62 level.

Welty̢۪s decision came after students defeated a fee referendum to raise the fee by $72 and the Campus Fee Advisory Committee proposed a $52 fee-hike compromise.

University President John D. Welty told The Collegian that even with the increases in total registration fees, Fresno State is and has been one of the most affordable universities in the CSU system and that California has enjoyed low-cost higher education for a long time.

“California has been very inexpensive compared to most institutions.â€Â Welty said.

“Our IRA fees have been among the lowest for many years.â€Â

In addition to the IRA fee, total registration fees consist of a facility fee, health services fee, student academic service fee, student body fee, Bulldog Card fee, university student union fee and a state university fee — which is equivalent to student tuition.

The facility fee is related to the maintenance of the property and buildings. The health services fee covers basic health insurance for all students at Fresno State, which can be redeemed in the Health Center.

The student academic service fee and student body fee fund instructional and non-instructional programs and activities and supplement the academic curriculum. The Bulldog Card fee provides all students with a Fresno State identification card that can be used as a pre-paid debit card for dining on campus as well as other services like printing and checking out library materials.