An Instructionally Related Activity is defined as, "activities and laboratory experiences that are partially sponsored by an academic discipline or department and which are, in the judgment of the President, integrally related to the function of instructional offerings." Current IRA fees can be found here.

The Student Fee Advisory Committee (SFAC) is charged with evaluating student fees and making recommendations to the University President while ensuring that student fee uses are in the best interests of students and in compliance with all existing policies and guidelines. The SFAC is comprised of:

• Associated Students President (or designee)
• Associated Students Vice President of Finance (or designee)
• Associated Students Executive Vice President (or designee)
• Two students at large
• Vice President for Student Affairs (or designee)
• Vice President for Academic Affairs/Provost (or designee)
• Vice President for Administration and Finance (or designee)
• Chair of the Faculty (or designee)

   

Students must constitute a voting majority on the Committee.

Funding Criteria

Before recommending support from the President, the Student Fee Advisory Committee determines a program’s eligibility in accordance with the following criteria:

A. Intercollegiate Athletics

Costs necessary for a basic competitive program including equipment, supplies, and scheduled travel not now provided by the State. Athletic grants are not included.

B. Radio, Television, and Film

Costs related to the provision of basic “hands-on” experiences not now provided by the State. Purchase/rental of film as instructional aids is not included.

C. Music and Dance Performances

Costs to provide experience in individual and group performance (including recitals) before audiences and in settings sufficiently varied to familiarize students with performing.

D. Drama and Musical Productions

Basic support of theatrical and operatic activities sufficient to permit experience with performance, production, set design, and other elements considered a part of professional training in these fields.

E. Art Exhibits

Support for student art shows given in connection with degree programs.

F. Publications

Costs to support and operate basic publication programs including a periodic newspaper and other laboratory experience related to journalism and literary training. Publications designed primarily to inform or entertain are not included.

G. Forensics

Activities designed to provide experience in debate, public speaking, and related programs including travel required for a competitive debate program.

H. Other Activities

Activities associated with other instructional areas which are consistent with purposes included in the above may be added as identified and approved by the campus President.

I. Other Programs and Considerations

A program that does not meet one of the established categories (A – H above)  may be considered an IRA if the program is a primary component of a class in which residential academic credit is earned and is closely related to and/or in support of the classroom study of students.

Annually funded programs cannot use IRA funds for: equipment used exclusively for classroom instruction; hospitality expenses that exceed 25% of the program's funding; promotional items and gifts that honor, thank, or congratulate an individual or group; faculty and professional staff salaries; capital projects (building, remodeling, etc.); any activities not included in the original funding proposal; travel costs for faculty and staff; tuition and course fees; grant in aid (scholarships, stipends, grants, etc.) retroactive funding (without consent of the SFAC).

Questions? Please email IRA staff at dsaadmin@sonoma.edu.

All IRA application and assessment information is now submitted using Qualtrics. Please see below for information specific to your application or program status. 

Budget and Assessment Application Process

The buget and assessment applications is currently closed for the 2023/2024 academic year. The application period for 2024/2025 funding will open mid to end fall 2023.

EXISTING PROGRAMS

The application period is now closed for exsting annually funded programs for the 2023-2024 academic year.

All existing programs are required to provide annual assessment information and submit annual budget requests to be considered for continued funding.

In order to be considered for continued funding, the Budget and Assessment Application must be submitted through Qualtrics during the specified application period. 

Programs that do not submit the Budget and Assessment Application by the deadline, will be reviewed for cancellation.

NEW PROGRAMS

The application period is now closed for new annually funded programs for the 2023-2024 academic year.

For the FY2022-2023 only, the committee is considering new program requests for program requests for programs that meet the IRA criteria as efined by the California Education Code 89230 sections A-G:

     A. Intercollegiate Athletics;

     B. Radio, Television, and Film;

     C. Music and Dance Performance

     D. Thearter and Musical Productions;

     E. Art Exhibits;

     F. Publications;

     G. Forensics

New Program requests for category H- Other Activities will not be considered for Academic Year 2022-202.

This does not apply to exisiting programs. 

Process for New Programs

In order for new programs to be considered they must:

1. Meet IRA Criteria as outlined by Education Code 89230 (Category A-G);
2. Submit a complete application via Qualtrics by the specified deadline;
3. Be tied to a course which cannot be the same course as another IRA program;
4. Applications must be reviewed and approved by the Department Chair and Vice President/Dean prior to submission;
5. Provide a 10 minute presentation to the IRA Committee on: April 29, 2022 or May 13, 2022

Applications will be reviewed during the Spring semester and funding recommendations will be finalized by the end of the Spring semester.

Once funding recommendations are finalized and approved by the President, programs will be notified of their funding allocations.

2021-2022 ROLL FORWARD REQUESTS

The IRA Sub-committee is not currently accepting roll forward funding request applications at this time.  Updates will be provided when this application process is available.