Campus-based fees vary

Unit figures same across CSU, but service-oriented costs differ

Unit fees are identical throughout the California State University system, yet campus-based fees vary drastically from school to school because of each college's need for improvements of services or facilities.

Current unit fees for students taking more than six units is $1,584 a year at all CSUs. Students taking less than six units must pay $918 a year.

Campus-based fees include instructionally related activities, health services and facilities, student body association and center fees.

In a comparison of all CSUs, the most drastic difference in campus-based fees is between Sonoma State and Cal State San Marcos.

The fees are highest at Sonoma State, where the total registration fee is $2,070 a year. Students pay the least amount of fees at CSU San Marcos, where the total annual registration fee is $1,700.

Cal State Long Beach ranks near the bottom in campus-based fees. CSULB students pay only $49 more than those at CSU San Marcos, for instance, despite the fact that the latter school has only 2,753 students and three buildings.

CSULB Associated Students treasurer, Allison Swinson, said that for the small amount CSULB students pay, compared to other CSUs, they should be grateful.

"At our Student Union we can bowl for $1.20, and you can watch premieres of new movies. People don't realize what their money pays for," Swinson said.

The highest IRA fee belongs to Sonoma State. The fee, like other campus-based fees, is determined by an advisory-student referendum and, ultimately, by the university president and chancellor.

Sonoma State recently approved an increase of its IRA fee to fund its athletic programs.

Sonoma State Associated Students member Tracy Terrill said students were led to believe that if they did not support the increase Sonoma's athletic department would be eliminated.

"Students are not completely informed, so it creates a fear syndrome and they are forced to make a decision," Terrill said.

One of the most striking examples of campus-based fee increases is at Cal State Chico, where students pay 100 percent of their health services costs.

CSU Chico Associated Students president, Oscar Delatorre, said his university's student health services fee jumped $20 in one semester because the university could no longer cover it.

"It's terrible, I might as well pay $81 more and get full medical insurance through the university," Delatorre said.

The $20 increase, Delatorre said, did not shorten the lines at CSU Chico's health center, while its service is becoming worse.

"If I go to Student Health Services, I can get sick waiting," Delatorre said.

On the other side of the issue is the viewpoint of a CSU San Marcus undergraduate representative at large, Neil Rombardo, who said he believes students are relatively satisfied with the fees they're paying.

"I haven't heard anybody complain about campus-based fees. The number one complaint I've heard is regarding the tuition fee," Rombardo said.