SAFC allocates funding for student-focused programs

Looking closely at their tuition bill, UW Tacoma students will notice that they pay $136 each quarter for the Services and Activities Fee (the "S&A" Fee). This is a substantial sum that all enrolled students must pay. The funds generated from this fee are authorized by state statute for the express purpose of financing student activities and programs of their particular institution. These are programs such as ASUWT (student government), the Student Activities Board, student publications (e.g. the Ledger, Tahoma West), the Childcare Assistance Program, Registered Student Organizations, intramurals, special speakers/events, and many other student services, as well as acquisition, construction, equipping, and betterment of lands, buildings, and facilities. The State Legislature's Revised Code of Washington (RCW), the compilation of all permanent laws now in force on higher education, dedicates a chapter to college and university fees. Sections within this chapter address services and activities fees. Since services and activities fees are paid by students for the express purpose of funding student services and programs, RCW 28B.15.044 stipulates that students must have a strong voice in proposing S&A Fee budgetary recommendations for consideration by the college or university administration and governing boards. The Student Activities Fee Commission (SAFC) at UWT serves this role. A majority of the committee consists of up to seven voting members, who must be enrolled students. They are recommended by ASUWT and then appointed by Chancellor Spakes pursuant to RCW 28B.15.045. The committee also consists of four non-voting ex-officio members: a faculty member, two staff employees and a compliance officer recommended by their respective authorities. SAFC reviews all requests for funding from Services and Activities Fees, recommends program priorities and budget levels, and serves in an advisory capacity to the Chancellor. Kathleen Burdo, Chair of SAFC, noted that the majority of SAFC's meetings are in March and April, when they deliberate on annual allocation recommendations. This year, they start annual proposal hearings on March 12. The rest of the Committee's time is spent deliberating on special allocation recommendations, which cover capital expenditures and emergency funding. Kelli Tracey, Vice Chair of SAFC, noted that last year the Committee identified their core values, which are those services that they have been regularly funding (such as ASUWT or the Childcare Assistance Program). "We've looked over our budget and identified necessary services and programs for students," said Tracey. But SAFC is not limited to funding its core values. "Any member of the campus community can submit a proposal, and it's our responsibility to ensure that they all get reviewed as democratically as possible," Tracey said. "It's up to us to determine if proposals match the needs of students." Tracey added.

SAFC Processes

Core services that have been previously funded by SAFC and are requesting the same amount or less are required by the Committee to provide a summary of their services and amount of funding requested, documentation of strategic alignment and program assessment, and a budget breakdown from the previous year. Those core services requesting an increase in funding must additionally provide sufficient justification for the request. New units seeking funding from the S&A Fee are required to give a program orientation to the Committee prior to the submission of their budget request. A program orientation must include a detailed description of the proposed service, documentation of strategic plan alignment, an itemized budget, justification for a request for S&A Fee funding, and a signature from the head of the department or division to which the service reports to. Once all funding proposals are received, the Committee can call for any party submitting a budget request to answer questions regarding its services. "It's not a requirement," Burdo said. "Last year we had everyone come in for questions." "This year, we hear half the requests on March 12, and the other half on March 19," Burdo said. "So between March 8 and 12 we have to make sure we've completely read over the half of requests scheduled for March 12 hearings." During final budget deliberations, the Committee recommends for the following academic year the amount for allocation to each unit requesting funding, the level of the S&A Fee, the percentage of the fee to be placed in the Long Term and Contingency Fund, and the percentage of the fee to be assigned for Committee operations. Once final budget recommendations have been deliberated on Mar. 26, the Committee chair drafts a letter to the Chancellor detailing the decisions of the Committee. If the University Administration agrees with all of the Committee recommendations it drafts a letter to the Board of Regents stating the agreement, with the Committee Chairs' letter attached. "So between late March and June, that's all the time there is for appeal, getting [the budget recommendation] to Chancellor Spakes, and final deliberation by the Board of Regents," Burdo said.

Criteria for Proposals

SAFC follows certain guidelines when deliberating on funding requests. "Proposals must explain to us how they fit into the general plan of the campus community," Burdo said. "We look at how they've used their resources previous years, to ensure that funds are being responsibly spent." "We also look at statistics provided in proposals to determine how much use students get out of them," Burdo said. "For instance, that's why SAB has you sign in for their events, it's a way for us to gauge how they're doing. It's important to us that students get full benefits from the services we fund." $136 is a sizable sum for students to pay each quarter on top of tuition fees. SAFC members, who are fellow students, are vested with the power to ensure students are getting enough bang for their buck.