The Daily Bulletin Archive

From the Interim President
At its March 12, 2010, meeting, the College Senate voted to forward the following resolution to increase the athletic fee to the interim president for approval:

Motion on Athletic Fee Increase
Prepared by the College Senate Budget and Staff Allocations Committee (BSAC) and co-sponsored by the 
College Senate Student Welfare Committee, spring 2010

Whereas intercollegiate athletics, recreation, and intramural sports activities are integral components of Buffalo State’s educational experience, such that full-time students are currently assessed a $125 per semester Athletic Fee; and

Whereas mandatory fees represent a sizeable fraction of the cost of attending Buffalo State and students have recently been asked to pay higher tuition, which taken together are straining our students’ ability to pay for a college education at Buffalo State in difficult economic times; and

Whereas Athletic Fee revenues cover 84 percent of the cost of our intercollegiate athletics, recreation, and intramural sports programs, a far higher percentage than any other SUNY college; and

Whereas intercollegiate athletic programs generate approximately $4.6 million annually in tuition, fees, room, and board from student-athletes who might otherwise not attend Buffalo State; and

Whereas a deficit of almost $160,000 in the Intercollegiate Athletics budget is projected for FY2010, causing the Buffalo State Intercollegiate Athletic Board (IAB) to recommend an $8 per semester increase in the Athletic Fee, which would raise the total fee for full-time students to $133 each semester starting in fall 2010,

Therefore, be it resolved that the Buffalo State College administration should seek an increase in the Athletic Fee of $8 per semester for full-time students (pro-rated for part-time), starting in fall 2010, as recommended by the IAB; and

Be it also resolved that the Buffalo State College administration should earnestly and immediately seek out and develop other means to help offset the costs associated with operating the intercollegiate athletic programs, thereby lessening our dependence on Athletic Fee revenues for the operation of intercollegiate athletics, recreation, and intramural sports activities at Buffalo State.

I approve the increase in the Athletic Fee of $8 per semester for full-time students (pro-rated for part-time students) effective fall 2010. I charge the vice president for student affairs with the responsibility of preparing a report by November 1, 2010, that describes possibilities for alternative funding support for these fee-based programs that includes revenue-generation options.