With homecoming week here and in full swing, many students are enjoying the festivities that week brings upon Sam Houston State University. Whether that be voting for homecoming king and queen, enjoying the carnival and parade and of course watching the national champion football team play to cap off the week.
However, with the voting of king and queen comes one more vote. The athletics department has introduced a new Intercollegiate Athletic Fee Referendum. The fee will increase all students’ tuition by $3 per credit hour each semester.
The fee is intended to help build the brand of athletics at the university while also trying to expand scholarships and employment for students, according to the homecoming voting page.
This fee is being introduced to also help funding towards the expansion of the university sports due to the recent conference change. The Bearkats moved conferences from the Southland Conference to the Western Athletic Conference. This move went into effect July 1, 2021.
The fee is also geared to help towards athletic related programs such as the spirit program, marching band participants, student athletes, student athletic trainers and managers.
The goal of the fee is to help create not only the jobs and scholarships, but also help build student engagement and spirit across the campus. With these hopes, the university hopes to increase all things spirit and enrollment across the university.