Student Fee Proposals & President's Determination

President's Determination | July 9, 2025

TO:  Campus Community

FR:  Emily F. Cutrer, Interim President

RE:  Category II Fee Proposals

I received the SFAC committee reports from the alternative consultation processes on two Category II Fee Proposals: (1) the report for Student Health and Wellness Proposal to Consolidate Mandatory Student Fees and (2) the report on the Proposal to Redirect Instructionally Related Activities Mandatory Student Fees. I thank the committee for its diligence and steadfast work in leading the campus through a comprehensive alternative consultation process over the Spring 2025 semester, and for its thoughtful recommendations regarding these proposals. After considering the committee's recommendations; student and campus community feedback received as a part of the consultation process; the information outlined in the fee proposals; and evaluation of campus needs in order to move forward in a manner that best supports our students and the Bridge to the Future plan, I have made the following determinations, which are outlined below.

Student Health and Wellness Proposal to Consolidate Mandatory Student Fees: Approved

SFAC considered a proposal to consolidate three existing Category II fees -- Student Health Fee, Counseling and Psychological Fee, and the Student Health Facilities Fee -- into one renamed Category II Fee: Student Health and Wellness Fee. This combined fee would continue to fund the programs and services offered by Counseling and Psychological Services and the Student Health Center without changing the total fee amount paid by the students for these programs and services. Rather, the proposal recommends consolidating them into one renamed fee to provide financial flexibility, stabilize services by providing the ability for the area to more easily adapt to the changing needs of the students while also allowing strategic utilization of financial resources based on student needs.  

The fee consolidation was unanimously supported by the SFAC Executive Committee and had clear support from the students who participated in the open forums, responded to the survey, and/or participated in other feedback forums. Therefore, I agree with SFAC’s recommendation and, while this consolidation cannot be implemented for the Fall 2025 term given deadlines for fee changes have already passed, I would like for this fee consolidation to be implemented no later than Spring 2026.

Proposal to Redirect Instructionally Related Activities (IRA) Mandatory Student Fees: Redistribution Approved for FY25/26

In response to SSU’s current budget situation and the very difficult decision to eliminate NCAA Division II Athletics, a program that is partially funded through IRA fees, SFAC considered a proposal to redistribute IRA fees to support other student-focused programs. The proposal shifts IRA funding from Athletics and establishes seven permanently funded programs: Career Pathways and Preparation, The HUB, Club Sports, Children’s School, Library Extended Hours, Performing Arts, and Arts Integration, and includes an allocation for the annually funded program pool. The proposal does not include an increase to the overall IRA fee, except for the standard annual CPI adjustment applied to all Category II fees.  

The report shows that there were mixed opinions throughout the alternative consultation process regarding the proposal. Those not in favor of the reallocation noted that a decision would be premature, there was limited information on how the funding was determined and how it would be utilized, and there was a desire to consider alternative proposals such as, but not limited to, reducing the IRA fee altogether.  

The SFAC Executive Committee recommended moving forward with the IRA Fee Redistribution proposal, however, this recommendation was not unanimous (four members were in favor of the recommendation and one was opposed) and came with the following additional considerations:

1. Increased funding for permanently funded programs will not result in a reduction of university funding for those programs;

2. Starting in January 2026, SFAC and the University will begin a full review of the proposal and the IRA program as it exists, including the new IRA programs within the proposal;

3. No new permanent full-time staffing will be assigned to these funds until the review noted in No. 2 above is completed.

I understand the concerns raised during the alternative consultation process and the desire to slow down or pause the redistribution of the IRA fees, particularly in light of the recent, one-time funding proposed by Senate Pro Tem McGuire to provide $8 million to explore institutional athletics opportunities over the next three years.

However, because there will not be NCAA athletics for the 2025-26 academic year and student fees are still being collected, it is prudent to move forward with redistributing the IRA Fee in order to utilize these student fee funds toward programs and services that will serve and benefit the current student body. Equally important, this decision reduces the need to make further reductions to vital student programs and services.

Taking into consideration these factors and the current needs of the campus, I approve the allocations outlined in the proposal for the 2025-26 academic year to redirect IRA funding from Athletics to fund the following seven programs: Career Pathways and Preparation, The HUB, Club Sports, Children’s School, Library Extended Hours, Performing Arts, and Arts Integration, as well as an allocation for the annually funded program pool.

This decision for the IRA reallocation of funds is for one year only and will be revisited by the next regularly appointed president, who will also provide direction on the extent and scope of the review of the IRA program.

In response to the additional considerations presented by the SFAC, while I understand the committee’s desire to not reduce university funding for these programs, we need to strategically align university resources to ensure continued support to these vital programs and services. Therefore, while some of this funding will go to enhance programs, reductions to university funding for some of these programs will be required. Any adjustments to funding sources will be carefully evaluated to preserve program quality and sustain programs and services while also addressing overarching fiscal challenges of the university and maximizing financial resources.  Finally, given that this decision is only for one year, I agree that no new permanent full-time staffing will be assigned to these funds for FY25/26.

Student Fee Proposals & Feedback Gathering | Concluded April 30, 2025

The Student Fee Advisory Committee (SFAC) sought feedback from Sonoma State University students on two proposed Category II Student Fee Changes:

1. The Consolidation of the Counseling & Psychological Services Fee, Student Health Fee, and the Health Facilities Fee into a single Student Health and
   Wellness Fee. View this proposal.
2. The Redistribution of the Instructionally Related Activities Fee. View this proposal.

Feedback was gathered on both proposals (through open forum attendance and online surveys) and shared with the Student Fee Advisory Committee who then prepared a final report to the President on the two proposed fee changes for her consideration.