It is the start of a new quarter and the halls of Pierce are decked with signs and banners beckoning new students to come see all that college has to offer.  New and returning students stop to grab flyers, freebies and snacks before heading to their classes, but most of them are not aware that these free items are actually not free at all.  They have already been paid for by the students.

Every quarter when students register for new classes there is a small list of fees.  There is a fee for the new HEC building, general maintenance and a tech fee, but there is a fee that is not listed.  The S&A fee is the fee that covers the ‘freebies’ and unlike the others it is billed as part of tuition. According to the proposed Pierce College 2015-2016 S&A fee budget over 1.2 million dollars will be collected for services and activities.

The S&A fee money goes into funding programs like athletics, theatre, clubs, Student Life and the college newspaper.

“It’s the bulk of funding for almost all of the programs,” Says Cameron Cox the director of student programs. He said that students should take advantage and get involved in all that is offered through the S&A fees.  

Cox also explained that every year a student-led committee decides where the money for the next year will be allocated.  The process is usually started in early winter quarter when the clubs, services and other student programs are alerted by email to prepare their proposals.

Next, the engagement senator recruits volunteers to be a part of the five member committee, which is made up of one faculty representative, one member of Student Life and three student volunteers. The committee reviews all of the club and program proposals before deciding how the money would best be dispersed.

The committee then sends their recommendations out to the campus before holding an open hearing.  In this hearing, the committee presents their plan, at which time anyone can comment, make suggestions, appeal or express concerns regarding the proposal.  After the hearing, the committee makes any changes they think are necessary and sends it to the student government for review and vote.  Once approved, the package of funding recommendations goes to the vice president for learning and student success for review before being forwarded to the Board of Trustees for final approval.

Many students are not aware of the S&A fee or what it is used for, but this does not mean they are not interested.  Marissa Delgado, a nutrition student, thought the fee might be related to tuition processing fees, but after hearing what it was used for she thinks the fees serve a good purpose in funding clubs and services for students. She mentioned that clubs are an important resource for students to connect with each other.  

“It’s absolutely important for everyone to have a place especially if you are not from here, like the international students,” Delgado said.  

James Young, a business student, agrees that the fees serve a good purpose.  “The fees are reasonable,” says Young. “The school does quite a bit for us, it’s good for morale and keeping students interested.”

Delgado said that although she is unsure whether she would have attended the meetings, she feels that it would have been nice to know of ahead of time.  “[The committee] could have sent out a mass email.  They have forms of mass communication with students, they should use them.”