FAQ’s: Athletics & IRA Fee Increase
1. Why is the campus proposing to increase the Athletics portion of the IRA fee for students? The Athletics
IRA Fee revenues have not kept up with the costs of running the program. This is primarily because costs such as
insurance, benefits, travel expenses, etc., have risen faster than the increases to the IRA Fee. The proposed IRA
Fee increase would be used to stabilize the current Athletics program, not to add new programs.
2. What has been done to manage the Athletics program and control costs? Athletics’ services and supplies
budget has been cut each year to balance total expenditures to the IRA revenue budget. However, services and
supplies costs, such as team travel, insurance and equipment, are increasing each year. Some of these increases
have been covered by increased fundraising on the part of Athletics. However, Athletics is already raising over $1.2
million annually to cover scholarships and other expenses not covered by the IRA fee, and cannot realistically
expect to increase that amount substantially. In addition to increases in services and supplies, mandatory payroll
increases are added to the existing payroll budget. Mandatory increases are not controlled by Athletics or HSU,
such as collectively bargained salary rates and increased charges for health and state retirement costs. This year
medical and retirement costs jumped by 10%. Without an increase in the IRA fee, these increases will have to be
covered by additional cuts in the services and supplies budget, or increased fundraising.
3. How have past years’ Athletics funding shortfalls been covered? Besides IRA Fees, the other major source
of revenue for Athletics is fundraising from donations, events, ticket sales and corporate partnerships. Most
fundraised dollars go to support Athletics scholarships, but these funds must also be used to cover any costs not
picked up by the IRA fee. Without a fee increase, fundraising would have to pick up any shortfall incurred by
Athletics.
4. What portion of the IRA fee currently goes towards Athletics? The distribution from the IRA fee to Athletics
is $223.83 per semester per full-time student for 2010/2011.
5. How much is the proposed IRA fee increase for Athletics? The proposal is to raise the Athletics fee by $17.55
per semester beginning in Fall 2011, and by approximately $21 the year after that.
6. How do other campuses pay for Athletics? While HSU no longer provides any state operating funds to support
Athletics, other CSU campuses do provide general fund support to one degree or another, including funding for
scholarships in some cases. Prior to the 2007-08 academic year, the vast majority of funding for HSU Athletics now
provided by IRA fees came from the general fund. The decision was made in 2007 to switch funding for Athletics to
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IRA fees, freeing up the general fund monies that had previously supported Athletics to fund academic programs.
The infusion of general fund money that had previously supported Athletics – roughly $2.5 million, could then be
used to fund classes, student services and administration that would have had to be cut otherwise.
7. What is the “value” of Athletics to the Average HSU student? Athletics, like the other programs funded with
IRA Fees, helps to round out and complement a student’s educational experience. Student learning, development
and personal growth happen inside and outside the classroom. Total student attendance at all HSU Athletic events
is about 25,000 each year. 400+ students participate in Intercollegiate Athletics as student-athletes, and many
more support HSU Athletics at games and with their school spirit. One thing seldom acknowledged in discussions
such as these is the number of students who enroll at HSU because a friend or relative is, or has been, a student-
athlete here. Friends and siblings follow current students to HSU, and children of alumni who were student-
athletes here follow in their footsteps. Another reality sometimes lost in these types of discussions is the diversity
that Athletics enables. 70% of our student-athletes are women and/or students of color, many of whom would not
have come to HSU were it not for our Athletic programs. In addition, Athletics scholarships help to provide
educational opportunities for many students who would not have been able to pursue a college education
otherwise. In 2009-10 Athletics provided just under $600,000 in scholarships to 193 student athletes, in amounts
ranging from $250 for the year to a “full ride” of roughly $14,000. Other programs indirectly contribute to and
benefit from Athletics. Opportunities for experiential learning in the areas of marketing, public relations, business,
journalism, coaching, athletic training, strength training and mass communication are provided through Athletics,
both behind-the-scenes and at Athletic events. Many student groups such as the Marching Lumberjacks, cheer
squads, and club sports utilize home athletic events to raise money or as performance venues. Student athletes
have an overall graduation and retention rate higher than the campus average. Every student who pays the IRA
Fee is admitted free to every regular home game for all sports, including football and basketball, by simply showing
their current student ID. But show up early because some games do sell out. Finally, the fact is simply that
many, if not most students would not choose to attend a University that did not have an Intercollegiate Athletics
program. Sporting events have long been an integral and valued part of the college experience, and our University
would be incalculably poorer without them.
8. Is the Athletics IRA fee increase restricted to maintaining just the existing service, or are there other
plans for the increased revenue? The primary purpose of the increase is to meet current and future predicted
operating costs for the current Athletics programs. Most of the costs that would be covered by this increase, such
as increased costs of employee benefits, travel, etc. are out of Athletics’ and the University’s control. This
proposal would not add or expand any sports.
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9. Will Athletics get the same percentage of the
increase as it has received of the IRA Fee in the
past? The proposal is to adjust downward the share of
the IRA Fee going to Athletics, so that JackPass’s share
can be increased. Athletics would still get an increase
in IRA funding, but the percentage increase will be a
little less in order to help the JackPass. With this shift
Athletics would receive about $119,000 less next year
(a 3.4% decrease), with $199,000 extra going to
JackPass. To the right is a chart that shows the
proposed shift.
10.What will happen to the Athletics program if the
IRA fee is not increased? The campus will not be able to meet the expense of continuing the existing Athletics
programs. We would first consult with the Intercollegiate Athletics Advisory Committee (which has student
representatives), but one possibility is to eliminate sports. Such a move would have far-reaching ramifications in
such areas as compliance with gender equity requirements and conference and NCAA regulations. As an example,
eliminating a men’s sport would require that Athletics eliminate a women’s sport or sports with equivalent
participation numbers in order to maintain gender equity. In addition, eliminating any sport would hurt recruiting
for the remaining sports, could impact the campus by limiting our ability to recruit all students to HSU, and would
negatively impact donations from the community, alumni and parents.
11.I’m on financial aid and don’t have a lot of money, but I like going to games, how will this change
impact me? If the proposal is approved, then our five men’s teams and seven women’s teams would continue to
compete, you would continue to be able to attend regular season home games by simply showing your current
student ID, and the IRA Fee would be included in your financial aid cost of attendance. (The Financial Aid Office
would determine how your financial aid package would be adjusted based on this change.)
12.How do I learn more, express my opinion, or get more involved? Attend one of the committee or campus
meetings listed below. The HSU Budget website has a lot of information about the IRA fee proposal, and a feedback
option for electronic submittal of comments and concerns. Go to:
http://www.humboldt.edu/budget/IRAFeeProposal.php
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13.When/Where are the committee and/or campus meetings about this topic?
UPCOMING PUBLIC HEARINGS ON HSU STUDENT IRA FEES
Group Date Time Location
IRA Committee October 13 3-4 pm NHE 120
Associated Students October 18 2-3 pm UC South Lounge
HSU Academic Senate October 19 4-6 pm Goodwin Forum
Student Fee Advisory
October 20 2-3 pm NHE 120
Committee
Parking & Trans / Jack
October 21 2-3 pm NHE 113
Pass Committee
JGC Recreation room, 1st
Campuswide Meeting October 25 5-6 pm
floor (the “J”)
Campuswide Meeting October 26 Noon-1 pm UC South Lounge
Intercollegiate Athletics
October 27 3-4 pm Lumberjack Arena
Advisory Committee
IRA Funded Programs October 27 4-5:30 pm UC South Lounge
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