Student Fee for football

[cajun_lannister]

I'm wondering if the public schools in other states with $500 athletic fees or more had student votes.

UTSA had a vote in the spring it failed with 75% no's

[CajunJeaux]

Successful athletics prevents the prospective employer from asking ... "Where?"

Exactly...

[CharlieK]

I was under the impression that all all public universities had a budget and requested funding from the state. If there are shortfalls, positions/programs are cut or tuition is raised to cover them. It is not done by the individual institutions. It makes sense that unilaterally assessing fees without government or taxpayer approval would be circumventing the arrangement these public schools have. Putting the vote directly to the consumer (student) is the fairest and most equitable way to make the changes students want. Right now they don’t care about making our athletic budget larger.

Do all universities in Louisiana have to have student approval for fees?

[CajunEXPRESS]

Do all universities in Louisiana have to have student approval for fees?

All are required to have a vote. I'm recalling some capital improvements don't.

[Ragin' Caleb]

I believe they already are. That’s why they are “free”. I even remembered paying a small amount for the band and cheerleaders as well.

Yup, and I don't remember a time it wasn't approved.

[Ragin' Caleb]

I understand your brother saying no not being a sports fan...but SMD is saying how can he/they not view it as a minor nvestment in their diploma/future...

Bc that money will never be invested towards that student. At the very least maybe for future students but it won't affect their academic side in the time they are at UL

[Policarp]

I was under the impression that all all public universities had a budget and requested funding from the state. If there are shortfalls, positions/programs are cut or tuition is raised to cover them. It is not done by the individual institutions. It makes sense that unilaterally assessing fees without government or taxpayer approval would be circumventing the arrangement these public schools have. Putting the vote directly to the consumer (student) is the fairest and most equitable way to make the changes students want. Right now they don’t care about making our athletic budget larger.

So have a vote where fees start and increase each year by 3%, but in 4 years......90%+ of current voters pay nothing, ever.

Which is how fees work now....current students almost all never voted for any fees they are being assesed now. It was all passed by former students. Some fees by students decades ago.

[MetryCajun]

So have a vote where fees start and increase each year by 3%, but in 4 years......90%+ of current voters pay nothing, ever.

Which is how fees work now....current students almost all never voted for any fees they are being assesed now. It was all passed by former students. Some fees by students decades ago.

I think today’s students are fed up with all the fees that are currently on their tuition bill. Adding another one to sports teams is just not palatable (even if it is later). College sports are currently being supported financially at unprecedented levels. Everyone sees the outsized salaries and facilities coaches and athletes get compared to professors and students.
Like it or not, we are at a disadvantage here in La because 1) we are a poor state and 2) LSU is able to game the system in their favor because of historical and legislative dominance.

Going forward we need to find ways for students to feel invested in UL's athletic success. Far too many of our alums never catch the sports bug and follow other programs when they become adults. Charging them more money to attend sporting events does not seem like the way to reverse this trend.

[CajunJeaux]

Bc that money will never be invested towards that student. At the very least maybe for future students but it won't affect their academic side in the time they are at UL

Of course it’s not an investment towards that student individually...it’s towards the name of the school that will be hanging in your office...if you spend anytime in the corporate world (outside of Lafayette)...you will notice overwhelming majority of stakeholders come from universities with prominent athletics...as Turbine said, it’s about the image and brand perceived of when potential employer is reading your resume and where you went to school...

[CajunAmos]

I think today’s students are fed up with all the fees that are currently on their tuition bill. Adding another one to sports teams is just not palatable (even if it is later). College sports are currently being supported financially at unprecedented levels. Everyone sees the outsized salaries and facilities coaches and athletes get compared to professors and students.
Like it or not, we are at a disadvantage here in La because 1) we are a poor state and 2) LSU is able to game the system in their favor because of historical and legislative dominance.

Going forward we need to find ways for students to feel invested in UL's athletic success. Far too many of our alums never catch the sports bug and follow other programs when they become adults. Charging them more money to attend sporting events does not seem like the way to reverse this trend.

The current fees were added when the legislature started removing funding of higher education to keep programs operating. I think I looked at the North Texas fees at one time and it was $2000-$3000 per semester in fees alone. Even with all the new student fees, I still think UL fall short of the southern average cost of tuition.