SFAC hearings show SGA wants to be open

Last week, the Student Fee Advisory Committee, or SFAC, reviewed nearly all fees students pay. This shows a committment by SGA to increase transparency at UCA.
SFAC was created as a way to bring more exposure to student fees. This way, anyone can see what fees are in place and what they are used for.
The hearings let representatives of the recipients of the fees explain what the fee is used for and defend it if necessary.
The committee was a result of questions raised about a “testing  fee” many members of SGA felt was unnecessary because the test it funds is no longer given. The five dollar fee is now simply part of the general fund, but is still referred to as a testing fee.
The hearings  are a great way for SGA to prove they have the students’ interests at heart. If a fee is deemed inappropriate or unnecessary, SGA can recommend to the UCA Board of Trustees that the fee be reduced or eliminated. While this more than likely won’t happen, it is a good way for SGA to make sure all student fees are being used properly.
This kind of oversight is exactly what UCA needs to make sure students are not being taken advantage of with any of the fees.
SGA should continue to hold these hearings each semester as a way to keep the fees in check and to make sure nothing is outdated or useless.
Even if no fees are deemed unnecessary or inappropriate, the hearings are a great way to improve transparency for the university.
Students want to know where their money is going. Students spend a lot of money on tuition and fees and they need to know that their money is being spent in good ways that benefit the university and students.
While not every fee had a hearing, nearly all of them did. SGA should strive to make every part of UCA that receives fee money defend its case in the hearings.
These hearings do not mean any of the fees students pay are unnecessary. The hearings are simply a way to help the UCA community understand what the fees are used for while also exposing anything that could be seen as an inappropriate use of student fees.
The next SGA president should continue these hearings next year as well. Fees that are useful now may not be in a year or two and may find more use being redirected to some other fee. Fees don’t generally fall out of use in a year, but if the hearings are continued indefinitely, SGA may see a better use for a fee in five or 10 years that will better serve UCA.
SGA does not have any official power over the fees, but they do have the ability to make recommendations to the UCA Board of Trustees. The board generally listens to sensible recommendations, so SGA does have the ability to help make changes on campus.
While SGA held these meetings, students need to make it clear if they have concerns with any of the fees. Sending an email to any of the SGA representatives can help make it clear what, if any, fees students don’t agree with or think should be removed.
It still remains to be seen whether the hearings will affect any student fees, but the intent behind the hearings is admirable.
UCA has had its issues with transparency and openness, but the SGA hearings make it clear that the student government does not want to be seen that way.