Athletics Fee Fails in Student Vote
A proposed increase in the Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) Athletics Fee has not been supported by TAMIU students in a student referendum vote held this week.
The final tally for the proposed fee was 500 against and 418 for. Students voted online Nov. 29-Dec. 1.
The proposed fee, brought forward by the Student Government Association, would have increased the TAMIU Athletics Fee by $3 per semester credit hour to further enhance TAMIU Athletics. It would have been dedicated to the current operational needs of the Athletics Program, including uniforms, equipment, travel and gym maintenance and could have been used for the addition of other TAMIU sports in the future.
TAMIU president Ray Keck said that the University respects the students’ vote and voice, but is disappointed by the outcome.
“I am sure everyone understands the students’ feelings on this matter. No one wants to see fees or tuition go up. The Dustdevils’ athletic program, however, is in need of additional resources, since State appropriations may not be used for athletics. Our Student Government Association is to be congratulated for placing this issue before the student body for a vote and we appreciate their visionary work on this,” Dr. Keck said.
For 2012-2013, the University has submitted planned fee increases in designated tuition, health, Library, technology, student services, energy and graduate tuition fees. Those fees are subject to the approval of The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. The additional fees would fund increased service and resource needs in these areas to better address the University’s rapid enrollment growth. TAMIU has grown 62 percent in enrollment in the past five years, and posted an historic enrollment of 7,039 this Fall.
If approved by the Board of Regents, the fees would be in place for the start of the Fall 2012 semester. If approved, the additional fees for 15-hour course load would raise costs 4.27%, or $139.95. TAMIU remains one of the lowest cost universities in the State and was cited by CNN as one of the “Ten Most Affordable Colleges” in the U.S., based on information provided by the National Center for Education Statistics.
The fee increases were proposed in light of the State Legislature’s across-the-board budget cuts to the University that equaled 18% or $9.2 million of the University’s budget.
Registration for the Spring Semester 2012 at TAMIU is now underway online at tamiu.edu. Classes begin Tuesday, Jan. 17.
Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu