A few weeks following the University of Houston president’s rejection of a recommendation regarding the allocation of student fees, students made an attempt on Wednesday to persuade the university system’s board of regents to designate a portion of those funds for student services instead of the university’s athletics program.
Last autumn, the university’s Student Fee Advisory Committee, a panel of students mandated by the state to recommend how student fees should be allocated annually, proposed reducing the approximately $8.3 million in student fees allocated to the athletic department by $1.5 million. The rationale behind this proposal was the university’s transition to the Big 12 Athletic Conference, which resulted in increased revenue for the athletic department. The committee argued that the university should rely less on student fees.
About half of the student fees directed towards athletics are allocated to repay debt from the construction of a new football stadium and basketball arena, as approved by a 2012 student referendum. The remaining half contributes to the athletic department’s operating budget.
According to the student fee committee, UH students taking six or more credit hours pay $260 in student fees per semester this academic year. These funds support various student services and departments on campus.
The committee suggested reallocating a portion of the student fee money currently allocated to athletics programs to fund student services, particularly the campus child care center, the counseling center, and programs assisting students dealing with substance abuse issues. The committee’s recommendation followed the unfortunate deaths by suicide of two UH students on campus last year.
The committee also proposed conducting an external review of how the athletics department utilizes student fees, citing a lack of transparency and clarity regarding the department’s expenditures.
Earlier this month, UH President Renu Khator rejected the committee’s recommendations for the first time in 16 years. Administrators argued that athletics funding from student fees has remained stagnant over the past 14 years despite increasing operating costs and university support for athletics.
Khator emphasized the need for athletics to achieve national competitiveness and self-funding while acknowledging the committee’s focus on athletics.
The debate over fee allocation occurs as UH aims to elevate its national athletics profile, with Khator setting a goal for the university to be ranked in the top 50 public universities in the country.
Nearly 40% of UH’s athletic department funding comes from the institution itself, with 11% sourced from student fees.
Student fee committee members expressed surprise at Khator’s rejection and emphasized their recommendations aimed to gradually reduce funding for athletics.
On Wednesday, the Student Fees Advisory Committee and Khator presented their recommendations to the university system’s regents, who will make the final decision.
Student groups organized a protest in support of the committee’s recommendations, while student government leaders expressed support for reducing funding towards athletics.
The fee allocation debate coincides with Khator’s caution to the university community to brace for a tight budget next year due to flat enrollment, with no tuition increases allowed for the next two academic years as per agreements made with state lawmakers.
