College raises student fees

Sam Gauntt Managing Editor Megan Cunningham Photo Editor

The dean of student development said in March funding for student clubs should remain steady for the next school year unless there is “a significant spike in new clubs.”

Still, Dean Deneen Dangerfield added: “I don’t see a significant increase in the number of clubs and [organi- zations] being raised during the next academic year.”

AACC’s Board of Trustees voted on Feb. 28 to raise athletic and student activity fees by $1 per credit hour each starting in the fall.

According to Vice President for Learning Resources Management Melissa Beardmore, the increased fees will generate approximately $179,000 each for student engagement and AACC Athletics.

Dangerfield said this is the first time student activity fees have increased during her time at the college— more than five years.

“The student fee has been stagnant,” Dangerfield said. “Our enrollment has been on a steady decline for approximately 10 years. So as our enrollment has declined, revenue for students has also declined. So I think again, [the change is] just to create a sustainable model where we can support students with ... co-curricular activity and extracurricular activities.”

Student activity fees fund the Student Government Association, student clubs and organizations, initiatives such as textbook loans and the college’s food pantries, and salaries for some positions in the Office of Student Engagement that support clubs.

Athletic Director Duane Herr characterized the fee

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