K-Statesports.com
MANHATTAN, Kan. – As part of its commitment to enhancing the experience of all K-State students, K-State Athletics, in conjunction with the Student Governing Association, has announced that it will end its annual receipt of student privilege fees beginning in 2018-19, one year earlier than originally scheduled.
The legislation, which was recently approved by student senate, immediately reduces to zero allocations to Athletics from its scheduled $200,000 in FY19, making K-State Athletics the lone athletics program in the state of Kansas and one of only eight in the country to operate with no direct or indirect university and student funding or state support. The department previously announced in 2015 a three-year plan to phase out the funding by FY20.
SGA’s tradition of financial support for intercollegiate athletics currently manifests itself in an FY18 allocation of $350,000, which in turn is used to defray a large portion of the $1.1 million in wages that K-State Athletics pays to student workers (graduate assistants, parking lot attendants, ushers, etc.,) each year.
“The phasing out of the student privilege fee is a key decision and step as we continue to build a strong partnership with our Student Governing Association and all of our students,” Athletics Director Gene Taylor said. “The fees originally scheduled to be allocated to Athletics next year will allow SGA to fund other student organizations. Students will continue to have the opportunity to invest in K-State Athletics through their annual purchase of student football and men’s basketball passes at a price level that has not increased since 2009, and we appreciate their support in making our student sections one of the best in all of college athletics.”
“SGA is eager to continue our strong partnership with K-State Athletics as we work to provide students, alumni, and fans the best experience possible,” said SGA President Jack Ayres. “Phasing out the funding that traditionally has gone to Athletics will now be put back into the students and is a decision that will greatly enhance the entire University. We are excited for our continued partnership with Athletics and the initiatives and projects that lie ahead.”
K-State Athletics and the Student Governing Association have a long history of working together to advance and improve the Wildcat experience for all students and the community. For example, a movement led by K-State students was a major factor in getting state approval and support to build Ahearn Field House in the 1940s and 1950s, while SGA provided $1 million, over half of the original cost, for the initial construction of Bill Snyder Family Stadium in 1968. Later SGA helped drive the reconstruction of Nichols Hall, and in the 1980s, student fees, along with private gifts, helped build Bramlage Coliseum, which almost 30 years later provides one of the best home court atmospheres in all of college basketball.
K-State’s annual student fees are established and governed by the SGA’s Privilege Fee committee and Student Senate. K-State students have personally paid, through their fees, for many of the university’s facilities, including funding the original Student Union (and new massive new renovation and upgrade) and Recreation Complex as well as vital services like the university counseling center, health services and other programs.
This announcement comes on the heels of the department’s phasing out and elimination of more than $2.6 million of direct and indirect University funding, not counting the student fee allocation. Thanks to the generosity of Wildcat donors and fans, the growth of Big 12 Conference revenues and careful fiscal management, the department was able to eliminate this funding source, enabling these dollars to be reinvested into critical academic needs across campus.
The department also directly supports the K-State Marching Band’s annual operating budget of $200,000, while it also contributed more than $6.5 million this past year in total payments to the University base budget for tuition and fees and annual institutional support fees.