At the beginning of every academic school year students stress over the cost of textbooks, tuition and parking, but few students take the time to look at student fees.
Every semester full-time students at the U pay more than $500 in student fees.
Almost 60 percent of the total student fees go to building construction and maintenance, computing and athletics. The remaining 40 percent goes to libraries and computer labs, health services, fine arts, sustainability projects and allows students to use the Student Life Center.
With such a large portion of fees allocated to athletics, some question what that money is used for and how it benefits the average student.
According to Chris Hill, the athletic director at the U, student fees are not only used for various aspects of athletics, but also benefit students academically.
Part of the student fees go toward athletic events which provide free and discounted game tickets for students. Students that don’t attend games feel as though the amount paid doesn’t offer a big enough return.
“It’s not a quid pro quo, it will never happen that way,” Hill said. “There are a bunch of other fees that [students] may not be involved with, but just like the fine arts fee, they collectively add up to hopefully create a better experience for students.”
The U’s student section, courtesy of student fees, is frequently sold out. Hill also said that expansion of the student section is a possibility.
Schools in athletic conferences like the Pac-12 are often associated with their athletic teams. Hill believes that the U’s membership in the Pac-12 adds value to students’ degrees.