Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval approved a $495 student fee increase on April 1, which will take effect beginning Fall 2025. The increase will bring in an estimated amount of $11,385,000.
A school-wide email briefly summarized the benefits and reasoning behind it.
“I recognize the concerns that students shared, and I want to assure you that this decision was not made lightly,” Jiménez-Sandoval said in the email.
This comes after a month of talks with the Campus Fee Advisory Committee (CFAC), student leadership groups and student surveys.
The email contained an attachment detailing the different allocations of the fee, the consultation process behind the fee increase and the results from the student feedback surveys.
There were seven major changes in money allocation.
Two new categories were added to the fee increase.
Associated Students Inc. and services for students with disabilities each will receive $200,000. Meanwhile, the Career Development Center’s and the Cross Cultural and Gender Center’s proposed funds will be reduced by $200,000 and $150,000 respectively.
Other changes include the Bulldog Shuttle and Club Sports each receiving $50,000 less than the original proposal. Meanwhile the Amendola Family Student Cupboard will receive $50,000 more.
The survey taken by students was split into two categories, the most utilized services and the services students believed should receive more funding.
Of all the services named in the fee increase, the Fresno State Library, Fresno State Athletics, the Amendola Family Student Cupboard and the Learning Center were the most utilized according to the survey.
The least utilized services included the Fresno State Marching Band, Fresno State Study Abroad and the Cross Cultural and Gender Center.
As for which services students believed should get more funding, Library services, the Amendola Student Cupboard, the Learning Center and the Center for Essential Needs were at the top of the list.
Meanwhile, the Jan and Bud Richter Center, study abroad, marching band and The Collegian were at the bottom.
A note was made about additional services that are outside of instructionally related activities (IRA). This includes the Student Health and Counseling Center, scholarships, parking and more.
“These fees will directly improve the student experience at Fresno State, as the resources will all return to elevate students directly,” Jiménez-Sandoval said.
For more information on the fee increase read The Collegian’s interview with Jiménez-Sandoval.