Referenda Questions
Main Content
Spring 2023
Title: Student Cultural Programming Fee
Do you recommend the renewal of the Student Cultural Programming Fee, collected each fall and spring semester, for up to four years beginning July 1, 2024 and ending no later than June 30, 2028?
Explanatory Statement
The Student Cultural Programming Fee provides funding for culturally specific programming and activities in African American, Asian American, Latino/a/x, Native American, Middle East/North Africa, global cultural, LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer), and women’s areas. The goal is to advance cultural awareness, educate the University community, and provide a forum for the development, exploration, and enhancement of cultural programs.
The amount of the fee, currently $3.00 each fall and spring semester, is subject to review by the Student Fee Advisory Committee and approval by the University administration and Board of Trustees. As a student-initiated fee, it must be renewed by student referendum at least once every four years. The next referendum on this fee will be in spring 2027.
Title: Student Cultural Programming Fee
Do you recommend an increase of the Cultural Programming Fee, collected each fall and spring semester, for up to four years beginning July 1, 2024 and ending no later than June 30, 2028?
Explanatory Statement
The Cultural Programming Fee provides funding for culturally specific programming and activities in African American, Asian American, Latino/a/x, Native American, Middle East/North Africa, global, LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer), and women’s areas by the campus cultural and resource centers. The goal is to advance cultural awareness, educate the University community, and provide a forum for the development, exploration, and enhancement of cultural programs. The amount of the fee, currently $3.00 each fall and spring semester is proposed to increase to $4.75, is subject to review by the Student Fee Advisory Committee and approval by the University administration and Board of Trustees. As a student-initiated fee, it must be renewed by student referendum at least once every four years. The next referendum on this fee will be in spring 2027.
Title: Student Cultural Programming Fee Scope Change
Do you support aligning the Student Cultural Programming Fee to the original mission of exclusively supporting the various Cultural and Resource Centers to enhance cultural, diversity and inclusion programming and activities?
Explanatory Statement
The Student Cultural Programming Fee will provide funding for culturally specific programming and activities in African American, Asian American, Latino/a/x, Native American, Middle East/North Africa, global cultural, LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer), and women’s areas for the exclusive use by the campus cultural and resource centers as intended when first passed in 2003. The goal of the fee will remain to advance cultural awareness, educate the University community, and provide a forum for the development, exploration, and enhancement of cultural programs. Funding for RSO programming will now be available from the Student Organization Resource Fee (SORF) and for college or unit programming from various sources, including partnering with cultural/resource centers and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (OVCDEI) inclusion grants.
Title: Students for Equal Access to Learning (SEAL) Fund
Do you recommend the renewal of the Student for Equal Access to Learning (SEAL) Fund, collected each fall and spring semester, for up to four years beginning July 1, 2024 and ending no later than June 10, 2028?
Explanatory Statement
The SEAL Fund supplements existing financial aid for students with financial need, thereby providing equal access to learning at the University of Illinois.
The amount of the fee, currently $5.20 each fall and spring semester, is subject to review by the Student Fee Advisory Committee and approval by the University administration and Board of Trustees. As a student-initiated fee, it must be renewed by student referendum at least once every four years. The next referendum on this fee will be in Spring 2027.
Title: Bicycle Programs and Infrastructure Fee
Do you recommend the renewal of the Bicycle Programs and Infrastructure Fee, collected each fall, spring, and summer semester, for up to four years beginning July 1, 2024 and ending no later than June 30, 2028?
Explanatory Statement
The Bicycle Programs and Infrastructure Fee is used to fund bike-related projects at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Use of the funds includes but is not limited to improving bike infrastructure, expanding bike parking, creating safety courses and materials for bike encouragement and education, and creating a bike storage program. The funds are managed by Facilities & Services, whose annual budget for the fee is approved by the Student Fee Advisory Committee (SFAC).
The amount of the fee, currently $1.00 each fall, spring, and summer semester, is subject to review by SFAC and approval by the University administration and Board of Trustees. As a student-initiated fee, it must be renewed by student referendum at least once every four years. The next referendum on this fee will be in spring 2027.
Title: Helping Others’ Personal Excellence (HOPE) Fee
Do you recommend the renewal of the Helping Others’ Personal Excellence (HOPE) Fee, collected each fall and spring semester, for up to four years beginning July 1, 2024 and ending no later than June 10, 2028?
Explanatory Statement
The HOPE fee provides scholarships for students who demonstrate financial need but do not otherwise qualify for financial aid. Recipients of HOPE fee funds include undocumented and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) students; international students from countries experiencing a natural disaster, an economic crisis, or political instability; and students with minor criminal histories.
The amount of the fee, currently $3.50 each fall and spring semester, is subject to review by the Student Fee Advisory Committee and approval by the University administration and Board of Trustees. As a student-initiated fee, it must be renewed by student referendum at least once every four years. The next referendum on this fee will be in spring 2027.
Title: Improve Patient Experience and Expand Emergency Contraception Access
Do you approve of McKinley Health Center expanding emergency contraceptives (“morning-after pills”) to be provided at additional clinic-operated satellite locations at the Ikenberry Commons Vending Machine and Illini Union Health Resource Center?
Explanatory Statement
In order to accommodate students whose schedules make it difficult to commute to McKinley Health Center during their operating hours Monday-Saturday to obtain Emergency Contraception (which is time sensitive), we propose the question on if you support McKinley Health Center expanding their offerings of Emergency Contraception to clinic-sponsored satellite locations, such as the Illini Union Basement Health Resource Center, or the McKinley Vending Machine in the Ikenberry Commons which has significantly extended operating hours Monday-Sunday.
Title: A New Direction for Student Representation
Do you approve of the proposed constitution?
Explanatory Statement
The current Illinois Student Government (ISG) model does not adequately foster student representation and advocacy. Over the past two years, leaders within ISG have examined the organization's structural limitations and reviewed governing documents from more effective student advocacy bodies around the country. This proposed constitution (pdf) is an entirely new model of student representation based on thoughtful consideration of our campus' specific needs.
Title: Bicycle Programs and Infrastructure Fee
Do you approve the increase of $2.00 to the student fee each semester to support the bicycle infrastructure improvement and maintenance as well as better programming to support bicycling on campus?
Explanatory Statement
The Bicycle Programs and Infrastructure Fee is used to fund bike-related projects at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Use of the funds includes but is not limited to improving bike infrastructure, expanding bike parking, creating safety courses and materials for bike encouragement and education, and creating a bike storage program. The funds are managed by Facilities & Services, whose annual budget for the fee is approved by the Student Fee Advisory Committee (SFAC).
The amount of the fee, currently $1.00 each fall, spring, and summer semester, is proposed to increase to $3.00 and is subject to review by SFAC and approval by the University administration and Board of Trustees. As a student-initiated fee, it must be renewed by student referendum at least once every four years. The next referendum on this fee will be in spring 2027.