Thursday, September 22, 2011

Fall 2011 Student Activity/Recreation Fee budget

As a student-citizen of the Gwinnett Campus community, it is important that you see how funds are spent on your behalf and that you have an opportunity to voice your opinions about the use of those fees. Please read the budget below. Additional contextual information follows the budget. If you wish to make a comment, please use the “post comment” option to do so. The comment period will end on Friday, October 7. Please direct any questions or concerns to Dr. Teresa Raetz. 


Coffee and Culture -- $4,345
• Coffee for 16 events $1,420
• Artist fees for 15 events $2,925

Healthy Habits -- $6,915
• 2 massage therapists for 15 events $4,200
• Yoga instructor for 16 sessions $1,280
• Healthy Habits promotional item -- Stress bones $935
• Stress management informational brochures $500

Discounted Student Tickets to Area Events --$2,097.50
• UGA Football $450
• The Nutcracker $710
• High Museum $300
• Young Frankenstein $637.50

Raising Respect -- $1,180
• Impact posters for campus display $600  
• AIDS Quilt $580                                       
• Clothesline Project $0


Other -- $1,774.95
• Magazine subscriptions $74.95  
• Student organizations $500
• Student Travel Support $1200     


FALL TOTAL: $16, 312.45

What do you think of these expenditures? 
Do you approve?
Do you have suggestions (and, if so, what are they)?

About the Student Activity/Recreation Fee

Providing a vibrant, engaging learning environment that promotes the development of the whole person and supports student achievement in and out of the classroom is part of the University of Georgia mission. Consequently, Student Activity Fees funds are used to promote such an environment. Students enrolled in six or more credit hours at the Gwinnett Campus are required to pay the Gwinnett Campus Student Activity Fee of $45. Proceeds are to be used to fund the activities and events of registered student organizations and to promote personal development, learning or other beneficial out-of-class experiences. Certain purchases are prohibited by law or policy – e.g., alcohol – and other purchases are very restricted – e.g., food.

The fee proceeds fund several types of events, including three main initiatives: Coffee and Culture, Healthy Habits and Raising Respect (see details below). We regularly assess student interests and event effectiveness, and we make changes based on those data. We increase access by tailoring events to suit the unique needs of Gwinnett Campus students, such as offering events on multiple nights to ensure equal access and creating many events in a “ten minutes or less” format.

About the Initiatives

Coffee and Culture is a regular series in which artists are invited to perform or show their work in an informal coffeehouse-type setting. The purpose is to promote the personal development of students by presenting unique forms of cultural or artistic expression in a way that is easily accessible to the busy Gwinnett Campus student.

Healthy Habits is a regular series in which we encourage students to make time for healthy choices on a regular basis, with a special emphasis on stress management. We do this by providing information, opportunities to get immediate relaxation via chair massage, as well as providing a free yoga class.

Raising Respect is a regular series in which we provide information about various identities, ethnicities, cultures, experiences and individuals for the purpose of deepening students’ understanding of difference and promoting inclusion, discussion and mutual respect.

Please contact Dr. Teresa Raetz with any questions or concerns. Thanks for your input!