The Fresno State Academic Senate approved a resolution on April 29 to address the redistribution of funds to academic affairs instead of athletics.
The resolution passed with 43 votes in favor, one against and two abstentions. It was passed to open a broader discussion about the need to keep excess funds from going to Fresno State Athletics and ensure they are allocated to academics.
“We should be spending within our means rather than continuing to increase the athletic budget deficit,” said John Wakabayashi, a geology professor and member of the Academic Senate.
Wakabayashi submitted this resolution to the academic senate following a Collegian investigation released in February that details how the university’s spending toward athletics using subsidized funds from taxpayer money, tuition revenue and student fees almost tripled within a decade and a half.
The resolution states that Fresno State should further assume its responsibility as an educational institution and shift its priorities away from athletics and toward academics to support student success.
Emphasis is placed on allocating more student fee money toward student projects and supplemental activities that enhance learning.
Fresno State Athletics receives $92 out of the $132 Instructionally Related Activities (IRA) fee that students pay each semester.
This fee is meant to support campus clubs, projects and help students gain knowledge and experience related to their field of study outside of class.
Wakabayashi said collegiate athletics do not fall under this category.
“What on earth does athletics have to do with Instructionally Related Activities? We’re talking about guest speaker programs, clubs and all these activities that could be funded with that additional 70%,” Wakabayashi said. “We could have much greater funding of student research from IRA funds.”
Tom Holyoke, a political science professor, said the IRA fee isn’t close to being evenly distributed.
He points out that the students aren’t getting enough of what they deserve from paying this fee.
“Not at all fair, and frankly an embarrassment,” Holyoke said. “Students should be expressing some real anger at the abuse of their student fees.”
It’s not only the students who are affected as faculty also feel the effects of funds being allocated to athletics and away from academics.
One concern the resolution highlights is how faculty members need to stay engaged in research and scholarly work to remain in their field, but aren’t getting paid for doing most of it.
“To this day, we are required to have a research output and there’s no regular workload assignment,” Wakabayashi said. “We’re basically required to volunteer our time.”
The Academic Senate attempted to address this issue to the administration in 2023, but was tossed aside due to insufficient funds.
“We came up with this workload proposal last year, but the pushback is ‘there’s no money, it’s a zero-sum game,’” Wakabayashi said.
The Academic Senate will meet next week on May 6 to discuss the university’s budget presentation.
