Fees and Financial Aid

Note: For fees and financial aid information specific to graduate students, please see the Graduate Education  section of this catalog.

Click on any of the following links for information:

• Fees
• Financial Aid
• Scholarships
• Availability of Institutional and Financial Assistance Information
• Average Support Cost Per Full-Time Equivalent Student and Sources of Funds
• Procedure for the Establishment or Abolishment of Campus-Based Mandatory Fees

Fees

ALL STUDENTS: Application Fee (nonrefundable), payable by check or money order at time application is made: $55

Estimated expenses for the 2017-2018 academic year include $7,042 for resident tuition and fees. Non-California residents pay an additional $11,880 for full-time tuition ($396.00 per unit). Stanislaus State participates in the Western Undergraduate Exchange program which can qualify students from participating western states for reduced nonresident tuition.

 *See the Schedule of Classes and the University Web site for the most up-to-date and complete information, including fees for Summer 2017, course fees, housing fees, etc.

The CSU makes every effort to keep student costs to a minimum. Tuition and fees listed in published schedules or student accounts may need to be increased when public funding is inadequate. Therefore, CSU must reserve the right, even after tuition or fees are initially charged or initial payments are made, to increase or modify any listed tuition or fees. All listed fees, other than mandatory systemwide tuition, are subject to change without notice, until the date when instruction for a particular semester or quarter has begun. All CSU-listed tuition and fees should be regarded as estimates that are subject to change upon approval by the Board of Trustees, the Chancellor, or the Presidents, as appropriate. Changes in mandatory systemwide tuition will be made in accordance with the requirements of the Working Families Student Fee Transparency and Accountability Act (Sections 66028 - 66028.6 of the Education Code).

Tuition and fees shown above apply to undergraduates only; please see the Graduate Education  section of this catalog for teacher credential, graduate/postbaccalaureate, and doctorate fees.

Nonresident Tuition

Nonresident Tuition (in addition to basic tuition fees and other systemwide fees charged all students) for all campuses:

The total nonresident tuition paid per term will be determined by the number of units taken.

Mandatory systemwide tuition is waived for those individuals who qualify for such exemption under the provisions of the California Education Code (see section on fee waivers).

Students are charged campus fees in addition to tuition and systemwide fees. Information on campus fees can be found by contacting the individual campus (es).

Assembly Bill 540 Exemption from Nonresident Tuition

Any student who has attended a California high school full time for three or more years and has graduated from a California high school or attained the equivalent thereof (e.g., a High School Equivalency Certificate issued by the California Department of Education - a GED certificate alone does not qualify) will be exempt from paying nonresident tuition. An undocumented alien student who meets the above requirements must file an affidavit with the university indicating the student has applied for legal immigration status or will do so as soon as the student is eligible to do so.

Students who meet the exemption requirements and who are undocumented aliens are not eligible for any federal or state financial aid program. Students exempted from paying nonresident tuition under AB 540 are not eligible for the Governor’s Merit Scholar Programs.

The law does not distinguish between public or private high schools nor impose any time limit on how far in the past the student may have attained this status.

Credit Cards

Neither the main cashiers office nor the Stanislaus State-Stockton Center cashiers office will accept credit cards. Regular University fees may be paid online with VISA, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express through CASHNet Smartpay, but users incur a 2.75% convenience fee. VISA, MasterCard, and Discover are accepted only at University Extended Education for payment of student fees. University Police and Parking Management Bureau accept VISA, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express.

Refund of Mandatory Fees, Including Nonresident Tuition

Regulations governing the refund of mandatory fees, including nonresident tuition, for students enrolling at the California State University are included in Section 41802 of Title 5, California Code of Regulations. For purposes of the refund policy, mandatory fees are defined as those systemwide and campus fees that are required to be paid in order to enroll in state-supported academic programs at the California State University. Refunds of fees and tuition charges for self-support, special session, and extended education programs or courses at the California State University are governed by a separate policy established by the University, available in the Academic Policies, Procedures and Standards  page.

In order to receive a full refund of mandatory fees, less an administrative charge established by the campus, including nonresident tuition, a student must cancel registration or drop all courses prior to the first day of instruction for the term. Information on procedures and deadlines for canceling registration and dropping classes is available in the Registration and Attendance  page.

For state-supported semesters, quarters, and non-standard terms or courses of four (4) weeks or more, a student who withdraws during the term in accordance with the University’s established procedures or drops all courses prior to the campus-designated drop period will receive a refund of mandatory fees, including nonresident tuition, based on the portion of the term during which the student was enrolled. No student withdrawing after the 60 percent point in the term will be entitled to a refund of any mandatory fees or nonresident tuition.

A student who, within the campus designated drop period and in accordance with the campus procedures, drops units resulting in a lower tuition and/or mandatory fee obligation shall be entitled to a refund of applicable tuition and mandatory fees less an administrative charge established by the campus.

For state-supported non-standard terms or courses of less than four (4) weeks, no refunds of mandatory fees and nonresident tuition will be made unless a student cancels registration or drops all classes, in accordance with the University’s established procedures and deadlines, prior to the first day of instruction for state-supported non-standard terms or courses or prior to the first meeting for courses of less than four (4) weeks.

Students will also receive a refund of mandatory fees, including nonresident tuition, under the following circumstances:

• The fees were assessed or collected in error;
• The University canceled the course for which the fees were assessed or collected;
• The University makes a delayed decision that the student was not eligible to enroll in the term for which mandatory fees were assessed and collected and the delayed decision was not due to incomplete or inaccurate information provided by the student; or
• The student was activated for compulsory military service.

Students who are not entitled to a refund as described above may petition the university for a refund demonstrating exceptional circumstances and the chief financial officer of the University or designee may authorize a refund if he or she determines that the fees and tuition were not earned by the University.

Information concerning any aspect of the refund of fees may be obtained from the Manager of Student Financial Services, Mary Stuart Rogers Building, Suite 270, or at (209) 667-3063.

Cancellation of Registration or Withdrawal from the Institution

Students who find it necessary to cancel their registration or to withdraw from all classes after enrolling for any academic term are required to follow the University’s official withdrawal procedures. Failure to follow formal University procedures may result in an obligation to pay fees as well as the assignment of failing grades in all courses and the need to apply for readmission before being permitted to enroll in another academic term. Information on canceling registration and withdrawal procedures is available from Enrollment Services, (209) 667-3264.

Students who receive financial aid funds must consult with the Financial Aid office prior to withdrawing from the university regarding any required return or repayment of grant or loan assistance received for that academic term or payment period. Students who have received financial aid and withdraw from the institution during the academic term or payment period may need to return or repay some or all of the funds received, which may result in a debt owed to the institution.

Fees and Debts Owed to the Institution

Should a student or former student fail to pay a fee or a debt owed to the institution, including tuition and student charges, the institution may “withhold permission to register, to use facilities for which a fee is authorized to be charged, to receive services, materials, food or merchandise or any combination of the above from any person owing a debt” until the debt is paid (see Title 5, California Code of Regulations, Sections 42380 and 42381).

Prospective students who register for courses offered by the University are obligated for the payment of charges and fees associated with registration for those courses. Failure to cancel registration in any course for an academic term prior to the first day of the academic term gives rise to an obligation to pay student charges and fees including any tuition for the reservation of space in the course.

The institution may withhold permission to register or to receive official transcripts of grades or other services offered by the institution from anyone owing fees or another debt to the institution. The institution may also report the debt to a credit bureau, offset the amount due against any future state tax refunds or lottery winnings due the student, refer the debt to an outside collection agency and/or charge the student actual and reasonable collection costs, including reasonable attorney fees if litigation is necessary, in collecting any amount not paid when due.

If a person believes he or she does not owe all or part of an asserted unpaid obligation, that person may contact the Student Financial Services Office, (209) 667-3063, MSR 270. The Student Financial Services Office, or another office on campus to which the Student Financial Services Office may refer the person, will review all pertinent information provided by the person and available to the campus and advise the person of its conclusions.

Fee Waivers

The California Education Code provides for the waiver of mandatory systemwide tuition fees as follows:

Section 66025.3 -Dependent eligible to receive assistance under Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Division 4 of the Military and Veterans Code; child of veteran of the United States military who has a service-connected disability, has been killed in service, or has died of a service-connected disability, and meets specified income provisions; dependent, or surviving spouse (who has not remarried) of a member of the California National Guard who, in the line of duty, and while in the active service of the state, was killed, died of a disability resulting from an event that occurred while in the active service of the state, or is permanently disabled as a result of an event that occurred while in the active service of the state; and undergraduate student who is a recipient of a Medal of Honor, or undergraduate student who is a child of a recipient of a Medal of Honor who is no more than 27 years old, meets the income restriction and California residency requirement.

Section 66602 - Qualifying students from the California State University that are appointed by the Governor to serve as Trustees of the California State University for two-year terms.

Section 68120 - Surviving spouse or child of a deceased public law enforcement or fire suppression and prevention employee who was California resident and was killed in the performance of active law enforcement or fire suppression and prevention duties (referred to as Alan Pattee Scholarships), must enrolls as an undergraduate student at the California State University and meets income restriction requirement.

Section 68121 - Qualifying students enrolled in an undergraduate program who are the surviving dependent of any individual killed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon building in Washington, D.C., or the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 in southwestern Pennsylvania, if the student meets the financial need requirements set forth in Section 69432.7 for the Cal Grant A Program and either the surviving dependent or the individual killed in the attacks was a resident of California on September 11, 2001.

Students who may qualify for the above benefits should contact the Admissions/Registrar’s Office for further information and/or an eligibility determination.

The California Education Code provides for the following nonresident tuition exemptions:

Section 68075.7 - Nonresident students are exempt from paying nonresident tuition or any other fee that is exclusively applicable to nonresident students if they (1) reside in California, (2) meet the definition of “covered individual” as defined in subsection (c) of Section 3679 of Title 38 of the United States Code, as that provision read on July 1, 2015; and (3) are eligible for education benefits under either the federal Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty program or the Post-9/11 GI Bill program as each read on July 1, 2015.

Section 68122 - Students who are victims of trafficking, domestic violence, and other serious crimes who have been granted T or U visa status shall be exempt from paying nonresident tuition to the same extent as individuals who are admitted to the United States as refugees under Section 1157 of Title 8 of the United States Code.

Section 68130.5 - Students who are not residents of California are exempt from paying nonresident tuition if they (1) (a) attended high school in California for three or more years, or (b) attained credits earned from a California high school equivalent to three or more years of full-time high school coursework and a total of three or more years of attendance in California elementary schools, California secondary schools, or a combination of those schools; (2) graduated from a California high school or attained the equivalent; and (3) registered as an entering student or are currently enrolled at a CSU campus. In addition, students without lawful immigration status will be required to file an affidavit stating that they have filed an application to legalize their immigration status, or will file an application as soon as they are eligible to do so. This exemption from paying nonresident tuition does not apply to students who are non-immigrant aliens within the meaning of 8 United States Code 1101(a)(15), except as provided by Section 68122 above.

Veteran Deferral

Students qualified by the Veterans Coordinator in the Enrollment Services Office, (209) 667-3081, may have their payment deadline deferred until receipt of veteran benefits. Veterans, dependents of veterans, reservists, and active duty military personnel planning to use veterans educational benefits, or any student with questions concerning veterans educational benefits can obtain information at www.csustan.edu or by contacting a Veterans Services representative in the Enrollment Services Office.

CSU Concurrent Enrollment

Students concurrently enrolled at another CSU campus must have their Concurrent Enrollment form with fees paid certification by their HOME campus on file with the Records Coordinator in Enrollment Services prior to registering for classes in order to have their fees calculated properly.

Employees, Faculty, and Dependents

Qualifying Stanislaus State employees or their dependents must have their employee/dependent fee waiver on file with the Waiver Coordinator in the Enrollment Services Office, (209) 667-3264, prior to registering to have their fees calculated properly. This waiver must be submitted to the Human Resources Office for each term of enrollment. Forms and information are available from the Employee Benefits Coordinator in the Human Resources Office.

Senior Scholars

Qualifying students must have their Senior Scholar fee waiver on file with the Waiver Coordinator in the Enrollment Services Office,(209) 667-3264, prior to registering for classes to have their fees calculated properly. This waiver must be renewed each term. Questions should be directed to the Advising Resource Center, (209) 667-3304.

Third Party Pay

Students whose fees will be paid by another party (Vocational Rehabilitation, Workers’ Compensation, Private Industry Council, Americorps, local school districts, or employers, etc.) must have their fee authorization on file with the Cashier’s/Student Financial Services Office prior to registering for classes. Failure to do so may subject the student to improper billing and related late payment penalties. If the third party fails to pay, the student is fully responsible and liable for all charges incurred on his or her account. For questions, contact Student Financial Services at (209) 667-3063.

Higher Education Tax Incentives

The Tax Relief Act of 1997 (TRA 97) and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provide several federal tax incentives for students enrolled in post-secondary higher education.

• American Opportunity Credit
• Coverdell Education Savings Account (ESA)
• Lifetime Learning tax credit
• Education IRAs
• Student Loan Interest deduction
• Tuition and Fees deduction

Stanislaus State cannot determine if students qualify for a tax credit or deduction or provide income tax advice. Please obtain IRS publication 970 and IRS form 8863 or contact a tax return preparer about your specific income tax situation. Additional information can be obtained from the Internal Revenue Service at 1-800-829-1040 or www.irs.gov

Financial Aid

Noelia Gonzalez, M.A., Director

Online at www.csustan.edu/financial-aid-scholarships

Email: Financial_aid@csustan.edu

The Financial Aid and Scholarship Office administers Federal and State financial aid programs and University scholarship funds to help students meet their educational expenses.  We provide financial assistance and guidance to support student access and success.

Stanislaus State has four major types of financial aid available to students and their families: grants, work-study, loans and scholarships.

1. Federal and State Grants are need-based funds that do not need to be repaid.
2. Federal Work-Study funds are need-based and must be earned through authorized work experience.
3. Federal Loans are need-based and non-need-based and repayment begins approximately six months after leaving the University or dropping below half-time enrollment. An online loan entrance counseling session and a Master Promissory Note are required for all new borrowers. Loan exit counseling is required for all students who are graduating or leave school (including withdrawing from all classes).
4. State aid and Institutional aid are need-based and students apply through the FAFSA or The California Dream (AB540 students) application process.  The Middle Class Scholarship can be used to pay tuition fees, or other educationally related expenses. Cal Grants and State University Grants assist students with tuition/fee payment. Students recieving a fee waiver or fee sponsorship are not eligible for the Cal Grant A, Cal Grant B Fees, Middle Class Scholarship or the State University Grant. 
5. Most scholarships are need-based, although a limited number of merit-based scholarships are available. Scholarships require separate application and are awarded competitively.

To apply for Financial Aid, complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) online at: www.fafsa.gov or a California Dream application at www.csac.ca.gov/dream_act.asp.  Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the CA Dream application no earlier than October 1 and no later than March 2 for priority consideration to receive aid in the following academic year. These applications are used to determine your eligibility for all federal, state, and institutional funds. Submit all additional forms requested by the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office as soon as possible. Many funds are all awarded before the school year begins.

If you are unsure whether your file is complete, use the CSUSTAN Portal to check to see if additional documents are being requested. Please keep your contact information updated on the portal to ensure receipt of important notices. Please check your CSUSTAN email regularly for any important communications. You must inform our office of any changes in housing plans or enrollment status.

Financial aid applicants are expected to: know application deadlines and to apply early; respond immediately to requests for documents; read all financial aid correspondence and emails carefully and promptly; keep copies of all forms submitted and create a special file for Financial Aid documents.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

An annual review of progress toward an eligible degree or certificate is required by federal, state and institutional rules as one condition for determining student financial aid eligibility. Your academic progress will be reviewed in several areas: units attempted versus units earned, academic disqualification and maximum units to complete a degree. There is also a limit as to the number of times you can repeat a class. Classes are generally only funded twice and a third repeat may not be funded by financial aid. If you fail to meet satisfactory academic progress in any of these areas, you will be ineligible for financial aid funding and your aid will be canceled. You may be able to restore your aid if there are qualified extenuating circumstances for an appeal.

Enrollment Adjustments for Financial Aid Recipient

Financial Aid awards are based on full-time enrollment at 12 units for undergraduates and 8 units for graduates. Most adjustments for less than full-time are made after the semester begins. If you are enrolled less than full-time, your disbursement will be reduced or canceled. You must stay enrolled to maintain eligibility. Courses that apply towards a student’s degree objective are eligible for financial aid funding. In some cases, you may be required to repay Financial Aid if you drop or withdraw from classes.

Withdrawing from the University

Students who receive financial aid funds must consult with the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office prior to withdrawing from the University regarding any required return or repayment of grant or loan assistance received for that academic term. If a recipient of financial assistance under federal Title IV financial aid programs withdraws from the institution during a payment period, the amount of grant or loan assistance received is subject to return and repayment provisions governed by Federal law.

Students interested in more information regarding financial aid, scholarship programs, or application procedures should inquire directly to the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office. The standard applicable to Financial Aid recipients for Satisfactory Academic Progress is found on the Financial Aid Website under “Academic Requirements.” Students can access their financial aid status online at http://my.csustan.edu.

Student Assistant Employment

Student employment on campus is administered through Human Resources in MSR 320.  Students can view non-Workstudy and Unit 11 (teaching assistants and tutors) job openings online 24/7 or in the Human Resources Office during regular business hours.

Selective Service Registration

The federal Military Selective Service Act requires males residing in the United States to register with the Selective Service System within 30 days of their 18th birthday. Males between the ages of 18 and 25 must be registered. Males born after December 31, 1959 may be required to submit a statement of compliance with the Act and regulations to receive any grant, loan or work assistance under specified provisions of existing federal law. In California, students subject to the Act who fail to register are also ineligible to receive any need-based student grants funded by the state or a public postsecondary institution.

Selective Service registration forms are available at any U.S. Post Office, and many high schools have a staff member or teacher appointed as a Selective Service Registrar. Applicants for financial aid can also request that information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) be used to register them with the Selective Service. Information on the Selective Service System is available and the registration process may be initiated online at http://www.sss.gov.

Scholarships

Students who demonstrate academic excellence may receive monetary support from nearly 140 available scholarships, many offering multiple awards. Any full-time matriculated Stanislaus State student may apply. Scholarships are funded by private gifts, business donations, and endowments. Most awards range from $100 to $5,000 per academic year, averaging about $500. 

Since 1996, more than $10 million has been pledged and/or gifted to the Stanislaus State Foundation in support of scholarships, endowed scholarships, and endowed operations from private donors. Recruiting scholarships are designated for entering freshmen and transferring community college students. Department scholarships are for students who have declared a specific major. Open scholarships are unrestricted. For complete information, contact the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office at (209) 667-3336 or visit the website at www.csustan.edu/financial-aid-scholarships.

Availability of Institutional and Financial Assistance Information

The following information concerning student financial assistance may be obtained from  the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office, Mary Stuart Rogers (MSR) Building, Room 100, (209) 667-3336:

1. A description of the federal, state, institutional, local, and private student financial assistance programs available to students who enroll at Stanislaus State;
2. For each aid program, a description of procedures and forms by which students apply for assistance, student eligibility requirements, criteria for selecting recipients from the group of eligible applicants, and criteria for determining the amount of a student’s award;
3. A description of the rights and responsibilities of students receiving financial assistance, including federal Title IV student assistance programs, and criteria for continued student eligibility under each program;
4. The satisfactory academic progress standards that students must maintain for the purpose of receiving financial assistance and criteria by which a student who has failed to maintain satisfactory progress may reestablish eligibility for financial assistance;
5. The method by which financial assistance disbursements will be made to students and the frequency of those disbursements;
6. The way the school provides for Pell-eligible students to obtain or purchase required books and supplies by the seventh day of a payment period and how the student may opt out;
7. The terms of any loan received as part of the student’s financial aid package, a sample loan repayment schedule, and the necessity for repaying loans;
8. The general conditions and terms applicable to any employment provided as part of the student’s financial aid package;
9. The terms and conditions of the loans students receive under the Direct Loan and Perkins Loan Programs;
10. The exit counseling information the school provides and collects for student borrowers; and
11. Contact information for campus offices available for disputes concerning federal, institutional and private loans.

Information concerning the cost of attending Stanislaus State is available from the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office, (209) 667-3336, and includes tuition and fees; the estimated costs of books and supplies; estimates of typical student room, board, and transportation costs; and, if requested, additional costs for specific programs.

Information concerning the refund policies of Stanislaus State for the return of unearned tuition and fees or other refundable portions of institutional charges is available from the Financial Services Office, (209) 667-3063.

Information concerning policies regarding the return of federal Title IV student assistance funds as required by regulation is available from the Financial Aid Office, (209) 667-3336.

Information regarding special facilities and services available to students with disabilities may be obtained from Disability Services, MSR 210,(209) 667-3159.

Information concerning Stanislaus State policies, procedures, and facilities for students and other to report criminal actions or other emergencies occurring on campus may be obtained from Public Safety/University Police Services, PSS, (209) 667-3114.

Information concerning the annual campus security report and annual fire safety report may also be obtained from Public Safety/University Police Services, PSS, (209) 667-3114.

Information concerning the prevention of drug and alcohol abuse and rehabilitation programs may be obtained from the Dean of Students Office, MSR 340, (209) 667-3144.

Information regarding student retention and graduation rates at Stanislaus State and, if available, the number and percentage of students completing the program in which the student is enrolled or has expressed interest may be obtained from  the Institutional Research Office, MSR 360, (209) 667-3281.

Information concerning athletic opportunities available to male and female students and the financial resources and personnel that Stanislaus State dedicates to its men and women’s teams may be obtained from the Athletics Department, G7, (209) 667-3016.

Information concerning teacher preparation programs at Stanislaus State, including the pass rate on teacher certification examinations, may be obtained from the Credential Processing Center, DBH 303, (209) 667-3534.

Information concerning grievance procedures for students who feel aggrieved in their relationships with the university, its policies, practices and procedures, or its faculty and staff may be obtained from the Dean of Students Office, MSR 340, (209) 667-3144.

Information concerning student activities that Stanislaus State provides, must be easily accessible on https://www.csustan.edu/asi-usu.

Information concerning student body diversity at Stanislaus State, including the percentage of enrolled, full-time students who are (1) male, (2) female, (3) Pell Grant recipients, and (4) self-identified members of a specific racial or ethnic group, must be obtained from https://www.csustan.edu/about/diversity.

Average Support Cost Per Full-Time Equivalent Student and Sources of Funds

The total support cost per full-time equivalent student (FTES) includes the expenditures for current operations, including payments made to students in the form of financial aid, and all fully reimbursed programs contained in state appropriations. The average support cost is determined by dividing the total cost by the number of FTES. The total CSU 2016/17 budget amounts were $3,169,425,000 from state General Fund (GF) appropriations and before adding $36.8 million CalPERS retirement adjustment, $1,685,885,000 from tuition fee revenue and after tuition fee discounts (forgone revenue), and $528,555,000 from other fee revenues for a total of $5,383,865,000. The 2016/17 resident FTES target is 361,644 and the nonresident FTES based on past-year actual is 22,552 for a total of 384,196 FTES. The GF appropriation is applicable to resident students only whereas fee revenues are collected from resident and nonresident students. FTES is determined by dividing the total academic student load (e.g. 15 units per semester) (the figure used here to define a full-time student’s academic load).

The 2016/17 average support cost per FTES based on GF appropriation and net tuition fee revenue only is $13,152 and when including all sources as indicated below is $14,528, which includes all fee revenue (e.g. tuition fees, application fees, and other campus mandatory fees) in the CSU Operating Fund. Of this amount, the average net tuition and other fee revenue per FTES is $5,764.

¹Represents state GF appropriation in the Budget Act of 2016/17; GF is divisible by resident students only (361,644 FTES).

²Represents CSU Operating Fund, Tuition Fee and other fees revenue amounts (net of tuition fee discounts) submitted in campus August 2016/17 final budgets. Revenues are divisible by resident and nonresident students (384,196 FTES).

The average CSU 2016/17 academic year, resident, undergraduate student basic tuition fee and other Mandatory fees required to apply to, enroll in, or attend the University is $6,881 ($5,472 tuition fee plus $1,409 average campus-based fees). However, the costs paid by individual students will vary depending on campus, program, and whether a student is part-time, full-time, resident, or nonresident.

Procedure for the Establishment or Abolishment of Campus-Based Mandatory Fees

The law governing the California State University provides that specific campus fees defined as mandatory, such as a student association fee and a student center fee, may be established. A student association fee must be established upon a favorable vote of two-thirds of the students voting in an election held for this purpose (Education Code, Section 89300). The campus President may adjust the student association fee only after the fee adjustment has been approved by a majority of students voting in a referendum established for that purpose. The required fee shall be subject to referendum at any time upon the presentation of a petition to the campus President containing the signatures of 10 percent of the regularly enrolled students at the University. Student association fees support a variety of cultural and recreational programs, childcare centers, and special student support programs. A student center fee may be established only after a fee referendum is held which approves by a two-thirds favorable vote the establishment of the fee (Education Code, Section 89304). Once bonds are issued, authority to set and adjust student center fees is governed by provisions of the State University Revenue Bond Act of 1947, including, but not limited to, Education Code sections 90012, 90027, and 90068.

The process to establish and adjust other campus-based mandatory fees requires consideration by the campus fee advisory committee and a student referendum as established by Executive Order 1102, Section III. The campus President may use alternate consultation mechanisms if he/she determines that a referendum is not the best mechanism to achieve appropriate and meaningful consultation. Results of the referendum and the fee committee review are advisory to the campus President. The President may adjust campus-based mandatory fees but must request the Chancellor to establish a new mandatory fee. The President shall provide to the campus fee advisory committee a report of all campus-based mandatory fees. The campus shall report annually to the Chancellor a complete inventory of all campus-based mandatory fees.

For more information or questions, please contact the Budget Office in the CSU Chancellor’s Office at (562) 951-4560.