$5 fees generate $46,630 for ASU

Students signing up for classes this fall were met with an outstanding balance of at least $5.

Last spring, the district Governing Board approved a mandatory student activity fee of $5, which is designed to provide funding for the Associated Student Union groups at Contra Costa, Diablo Valley and Los Medanos colleges.

Funding received from the student activity fee, during the summer term, totaled to $46,630, ASU President Jasmine Ramezanzadeh said.

Students must pay this fee in order to register for courses.

The student governments of the three district colleges discussed and proposed the student activity fee.  Governing Board trustees passed the proposal during the 2012 spring semester, Ramezanzadeh said.

The student activity fee provides funding and will allow the ASU to host events, activities and campus-based programs that will benefit the student population.

With the large amount of funding, the ASU plans to bring more opportunities and activities to students.

“We have a lot of plans for the allocation of those funds,” Ramezanzadeh said. “We will have proposals at our meetings to discuss the allocation of those funds and also hope to use student general assemblies to get student involvement into the decision making.”

Examples of programs the activity fee could support include Welcome Week activities, Middle College High School events and dances, as well as other activities and events.

The funds that are collected will then be used to support student services like free student identification cards, flu shots, condoms,   and funding student clubs.

“We hope to have more student giveaways of school supplies, more guest speakers, and especially more student general assemblies,” Ramezanzadeh said.

Some students were surprised and disappointed to find out the college even had a student activity fee.

“I wasn’t even aware that I paid a student activity fee, “ nursing major Chandi Williams said.

Culinary arts student Lai Saeteurn agreed.

“Students shouldn’t be burdened with an extra fee when students already deal with rising tuition costs and the costs of books,” Saeteurn said.

Business major Kevin Kristanto finds the fee a good idea as long as the funds are used for the students.

“A small fee is not much to pay if it is going toward the student body. As long as the (ASU) uses that money for students and we know how it is being spent, it will be a good idea.”