2014 Non-Binding Consultative Referendum for Potential Increase to Athletics and Recreation Fee Results

As an extension of the GSA's recent forum to hear from all graduate students about the proposed increase to the Athletics and Recreation Fee, the GSA Board has approved the holding of a non-binding consultative referendum regarding the proposed increase to the Athletics and Recreation Fee (ARF). Voting will open Monday February 10, 2014 at 10:00 AM (MST) and will close Wednesday February 12, 2014 at 10:00 AM (MST).

Question:

Given the explanation and the stipulations described below, do you support an increase in the Athletics and Recreation Fee of $16.38 per semester for full-time students and $8.19 per semester for part-time students?

If the ARF is increased, students will begin to pay the increased fee starting in September, 2014.

It is anticipated that students will begin to pay the PAW Centre fee in Winter 2015.

The results of this non-binding referendum shall be sent to the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, and shared with various committees (including the Athletics and Recreation Fee Advisory Committee, M-BAC/T-BAC). While it is essential to communicate the opinions of graduate students to the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation and University Administration, the final decision regarding the increase ultimately resides with the University of Alberta Board of Governors.

Information Provided by the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation in Response to Information Request from Student Members of ARFAC: ARFAC Requests and Answers from FPER

Background to the Question:

The Athletics and Recreation Fee (ARF) is a Mandatory Non-Instructional Fee (MNIF) levied by the University of Alberta and paid by every on-campus undergraduate and graduate student. In addition to funding from the university, donors, sponsors and program revenues, the ARF provides revenue that enables the university to provide recreational and interuniversity sport programs as well as facility access to students. The ARF revenues will be used to cover the costs of professional staff who manage the aforementioned programs.

Any increase to the ARF would be accompanied by the following stipulations:

  • No increases to student user fees for existing intramural programs for a three-year period, and no increases to student user fees for existing fitness programs or services for a one-year period.
  • Given that students will be paying a fee for the Physical Activity and Wellness Centre, assurance will be given that students will not be paying two fees for the same services/access.

In addition, the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation has offered to provide the following benefits to accompany the proposed increase to the ARF:

  • Free admission to all regularly scheduled Golden Bears and Pandas events excluding Canada West and CIS playoffs and special events.
  • 10% student discounts on merchandise from the Golden Bears and Pandas store.
  • Facility access at no charge for two special events per semester sponsored by the SU and/or GSA (subject to SU and GSA participation in the required facility scheduling timeline and process).
  • Two (2) presentations in the Spring/Summer and Fall semesters, respectively, by the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation to the GSA Council and the Students' Union Council to present and explain the budget for the ARF, and differentiate use of the ARF from use of the Physical Activity and Wellness Centre fee.

  • The ARF is currently $64.92 per semester for full-time students and $32.46 per semester for part-time students.

Additional Background Information:

The Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation (FPER) is proposing a $16.38/term (Fall & Winter) increase to the ARF. Since 1996, when the fee was last increased, the ARF has not been increased beyond cost of living. FPER has been running the athletics and recreation programs on a deficit for a number of years, and is now requesting an increase to the ARF to match the amount of revenue generated by the fee to the total expenses of the costs the fee is intended to cover.

GSA Directly-Elected Officers and at-large graduate students have been participating on the Athletics and Recreation Fee Advisory Committee over the last several months, and have been watching this matter closely. Graduate and undergraduate students on the committee worked together to come up with a request for information from FPER. The original request and response from FPER are attached. Additionally, FPER Dean Kerry Mummery has presented on the matter to GSA Council (November 18, 2013 and January 20, 2014), and Director of Athletics Ian Reade has presented on the matter to both GSA Board (January 15, 2014) and GSA Council (January 20, 2014).

Having discussed the matter extensively at GSA Council, the GSA also held a forum to hear directly from graduate students on the proposed increase and invited students to submit their feedback to the GSA electronically. All feedback will be anonymized and sent to the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation. The GSA's official position on tuition and fee increases (developed after extensive consultation with both departmental GSAs and in GSA Council) is that "the GSA opposes across-the-board graduate student tuition increases beyond CPI, international tuition differential increases beyond CPI, new market-modifiers and new mandatory non-instructional fees that do not result from a new regulatory framework negotiated between the University of Alberta administration and the GSA." However, as FPER has consulted extensively with students on the proposed increase, the GSA feels that the proposed increase is worth considering.

This is an issue of great importance for the GSA, as is any issue where graduate students are asked to pay more in tuition and fees. The GSA would like to hear directly from graduate students whether they would support the proposed increase in the Athletics and Recreation Fee.

If you have any questions, please contact the GSA Chief Returning Officer at: gsa.elections@ualberta.ca