When I assumed the position of Student Fee Advisory Committee Chair, my primary objective was to fund many important programs without an increase to the Student Service Fee. Affordability is a chief cornerstone of attendance at the University of Houston and continued diligence in keeping fees steady will reinforce this critical facet of our identity.
We were successful in this endeavor and our budget recommendation does not call for increased fees. Maintaining the current rate is a reasonable goal considering recent history.
The Student Service Fee was increased $45 following a referendum to accommodate construction of TDECU Stadium. Our predecessors on the committee soon followed this by recommending another $10 fee increase last year. While gradual increases may not overwhelmingly inconvenience students at the time, repeating them can significantly increase costs over an extended period.
In this era of striving for tier one initiatives and success, affordability and fiscal responsibility must also remain paramount considerations. Fortunately, there was a broad agreement on this point, not only from students but administrators as well.
Nonetheless, our appropriations process was the most contentious in recent history because of an extremely important issue. The committee heard concerns voiced by student leaders regarding the construction, management and student involvement surrounding our new football stadium.
Per our fiduciary duty, we made repeated inquiries to investigate the grievances expressed to us. These concerns continue to resonate, and we look forward to discussing them with President Renu Khator in the coming days.
The drafting of our report is ultimately a democratic process that incorporates students, faculty and administrators. It is impossible for one of these groups to act unilaterally without consensus from the others.
The members of our committee debated fiercely the best course of action in addressing the very meritorious concerns expressed by student leaders. We are prepared to voice them to Khator while retaining potential for subsequent recourse.
The students of our committee will continue to do everything in our power to advance the student interest. Go Coogs!
Nathan Alsbrooks is the Student Fee Advisory Committee Chair and may be reached at [email protected].
This is far too neutral of a statement.
This letter says absolutely nothing at all but Nathan Alsbrooks’ and the 2014-2015 Student Fee Advisory Committee’s propensity for apathy and inaction when confronted with the very real and very damming complaints levied against the Administration and Finance Department’s handling of the stadium Construction, and the student body should not stand for this farce.
No doubt, and well said, “Hunter” (if that’s your real name). It’s basically a 500 word way of saying “Or naaaaw” to legitimate student concerns.
As the gatekeepers of student fees, it amazes me that SFAC, year in and year out, manages to be so cavalier with turning down requests that legitimately help students and ignoring SGA’s own recommendations, but has no issue whatsoever sitting back and taking whatever lie the University sees fit to tell about their funding at face value and deflect it as “Let me talk to the president”.