The Utah Board of Higher Education struck down a proposed student fee increase for Utah State, saying the change is "unsustainable."
According to The Salt Lake Tribune, Utah State had proposed to increase the athletic fee each student pays by 25.8%, or an additional $59.44 per student annually. That would have amounted to each student paying $290 each year just in sports fees. That’s on top of $9,000 in tuition.
“All of this is just band-aids. It’s band-aids on a gushing wound,” said board member Steve Neeleman, a USU alumnus who played football during his time there. “Sorry to be so graphic … but we’re going to be back here every single year having this same conversation unless we fix this model.”
Utah State president Brad Mortensen had pitched the hike as a one-time deal that he intended to revisit and possibly lower next year. The school said it needs the funds now as it makes the move to the Pac-12 conference.
Mortenson said the school intends to devise other revenue generating mechanisms, including fundraising, increased ticket and concession prices and sponsorships. It may also rent out its arena and stadium for concerts.
The board advised Mortenson to implement those measures now.
Utah State's athletics department runs all of its programs in the red, including football. The athletics department overall reported a total debt of $44.5 million, largely from bonds, including for upgrades to its football stadium and basketball arena. The school has $403.9 million in debt, the auditor’s report noted, again largely attributable to bonds for buildings,
The board did approve a much smaller fee increase of 4.3% each year, for a total of $247.47 per student. In sports and other fees combined, a USU student will now pay $793.10 annually as of this fall.
