University of Wisconsin’s student government is attempting to renegotiate student-segregated fees in an effort to promote a more equal allocation of funds across student groups.
Student Services Finance Committee Chair Ellie Bruecker and Associated Students of Madison Chair Andrew Bulovsky are working in conjunction with the university in order to make changes to the current segregated fees system.
Under the current system, student segregated fee rates each semester depend upon course load, Bulovsky said. A full-time student taking between 12 and 18 credits pays $550.60 each semester, where as students taking 11 credits or less pay a different fee that divides the average segregated fee by the number of credits taken.
However, according to Bulovsky, this system places an unfair burden on full-time students, as all students benefit from the services.
“This is not fair because part time students are paying less, but receiving the same services,” Bulovsky said.
Bulovsky exemplified this inequality with the South East Recreational Facility, noting that each full-time student is currently paying $25 to use the SERF, where as a one-credit student is paying three dollars for the same service.
According to Bruecker, because access to the certain services is equal, segregated fees should be allocated more equally across the student groups.
Bruecker said UW is aware of this inequality and has created a networking group to resolve the issue, a committee in which both Bulovsky and Bruecker hold seats.
However, Bruecker said the committee is still in very early stages of planning and is currently working on gathering more information in order to approach the issue in the coming weeks.
Bulovsky said researching statistics on how many students use certain services and how often has been a challenge. According to Bulovsky, it is hard to measure the frequency individual students utilize some services, like Memorial Union. Because of this difficulty, Bulovksy argued an equal fee would be more efficient.
Bruecker said the majority of current segregated fees are allocated toward areas accessible to all students. Approximately 91 percent of the money raised from the fees goes toward major services such as recreational sports, unions, University Health Services and student bus passes, she said, despite the fact that students pay different prices for the services.
In addition to promoting more equality in the segregated fee rates, both Bulovsky and Bruecker hope there will also be an overall decrease in segregated fee rates for full time students without compromising the services.
“Tuition has been rising 5.5 percent each year,” Bruecker said. “We don’t want segregated fees to continue to rise, but we also don’t want to sacrifice the services students benefit from.”
According to Bruecker, by leveling out the fees, rates for full-time students will decrease overall.
Both Bulovsky and Bruecker expressed their gratitude toward the university for valuing student input on the issue of segregated fees. They said the student body is lucky the administration recognizes the problem and is looking to students for their thoughts and input.
“I’m happy they asked students to participate,” Bulovsky said. “I’m looking forward to continue to work with the administration.”
