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Student Fee Advisory Committee

Meeting Minutes October 21, 2025

(View PDF version of Meeting Minutes)

Attendees: Rosalinda Garcia, Dr. Cindy Salazar-Collier, Adriana Anderson, Andye Rodriguez, Santiago Garcia Rosales

Other Attendees: Roberto Garza Ill, Patricia Ruiz

Welcome

Ms. Garcia welcomed committee members to the meeting.

Approval of Minutes

Approval of September 17, 2025 Minutes

Ms. Garcia asked if there were any corrections to the minutes. Hearing none, the minutes were approved by unanimous consent.

Approval of September 23, 2025 Minutes

Ms. Garcia asked if there were any corrections to the minutes. Hearing none, the minutes were approved by unanimous consent.

REC Referendum Update

Ms. Garcia presented an update on the REC Referendum noting the following:

  • A TAMIU website has been created to inform students about the proposed increase in the REC Center fee.
  • This information has also been presented to students via table tents, poster flyers placed in designated areas, and as screen savers on computer lab workstations and kiosks’ standalone stations.
  • A series of 4 information forums have been scheduled to present this referendum to students in Two forums have been held with a low turnout, and another two sessions are scheduled in the next two weeks.
  • Various social media postings have misrepresented this referendum initiative stating should the students vote in favor of the proposed $17 fee increase, the university will further impose an additional 10% increase in REC Center fees each year Ms. Rodriguez and Ms. Anderston advised there is a misunderstanding among students in how the proposed $17 increase vs 10% increase is being decided on and how the increase would be implemented.
  • Ms. Garcia asked the committee for suggestions on how to effectively clarify this misunderstanding and stated she and Mr. Garza will discuss these suggestions with Mr. Harmon, Director Public Relations Marketing and Information Services Dept.
  • In the interim, the committee identified the information forums as the best opportunity to explain the proposed fee increase and respond to students' questions.

 

Fund Currently Available in SFAC Account

Ms. Garcia advised a budget review of SFAC funds will be presented at the committee’s next scheduled meeting given that Mr. Fred Juarez is in College Station on official business today.

Regarding the funding available in SFAC funds, Ms. Garcia provided the following overview and update:

  • The SFAC account is allotted $12,000 every year and this allocation has been in effect for the last three years. The SFAC committee decides how these funds will be used.
  • Any funds remaining in the account are added to the following year’s allotment amount.
  • The first year’s allocation was not used – students on the committee did not want to decide on project allotments themselves, but rather wanted to survey TAMIU student on how to use the money. Unfortunately, the group was unable to do this in time, resulting in a $24,000 balance in the SFAC account in the second year.
  • Student committee members did make decisions on financial distributions in the second year which included $10,000 to the TAMIU Emergency Grant and $5,000 to the TAMIU Big Event (community service event).
  • Now in the third year of SFAC funding, the current balance in the SFAC account is approximately $23,000.
  • The committee does not have to use all the available funds this year but should consider allocating these monies for projects that are student-focused and student-centered.
  • In this third year of SFAC funding, the committee will most likely receive requests from different parties including the LOVE Committee (for the Big Event and Make a Difference Day).

Ms. Garcia advised one suggestion for the committee’s consideration this year is paying a stipend to the Student Government Association president and vice-president. Ms. Garcia stated these officers contribute a significant amount of their personal time to work in this organization to serve the student body.

The committee discussed a request received by the LOVE committee for financial assistance with the bus transportation costs needed for the Make a Difference Day event scheduled this Saturday, October 25 th. Additional suggestions discussed in the allocation of this year’s funding included renovating the STC Sky Lab, umbrellas for outdoor seating on campus grounds, and creating campus “charging stations” in designated areas.

Determine Next Meeting

The committee has scheduled its next meeting on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at 10:30am –

location pending.

 

Meeting Adjourned: 11:01 AM