IRA Fee Overview

Overview
Increase in base budget funding provided to Academic Affairs by $3.745 million annually. Laboratory, field experiences, undergraduate research, music and theatre performances, and exhibitions are essential high-impact practices that directly advance SJSU’s academic mission. These activities provide hands-on, experiential learning opportunities that elevate student success and deepen mastery of interdisciplinary skills.

Proposed Solution
Funding will support critical instructional experiences, including equipment and materials for labs and fieldwork; production costs for performances and student exhibitions; support for faculty-supervised student projects; enhanced accessibility of academic service centers (e.g. tutoring, supplemental instruction); updated technology and software (classrooms); and support for high-impact, experiential learning programs.

Rationale and Benefits
This investment ensures that all students have equitable access to experiential learning central to degree completion. Additional funding will strengthen academic quality, increase student engagement, and improve career readiness.

Overview
$1.715 million new funding provided to Transportation Solutions to pay for the Bay Area Clipper Pass pilot program for all students. The Clipper Pass provides unlimited access to all bus, rail, and ferry services in the nine-county Bay Area region. Reliable and affordable public transit is a foundational component of student access, retention, and wellbeing. Many SJSU students are commuter-based and rely heavily on transit to participate fully in academic and co-curricular life.

Proposed Solution
Funding will support a Bay Area Clipper Pass for all enrolled full-time and part-time SJSU students in accordance with the terms and conditions of the agreement between Associated Students and Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC).  This program will provide students with access to regional transit systems, reducing commuting barriers and improving campus connectivity.  The MTC has committed to this program for SJSU students through June 30, 2027. 

Rationale and Benefits
A student fee-supported transit pass reduces out-of-pocket transportation costs, promotes sustainability, and directly enhances students’ ability to attend classes, labs, internships, and campus activities. Improved mobility supports retention, reduces parking demand, and aligns with SJSU sustainability goals.

Overview
$300,000 annual new funding.  Co-curricular engagement available to all students—including leadership programs, cultural events, service learning, and student development initiatives—is a proven driver of academic success and student belonging.

Proposed Solution
Funding will support a portfolio of structured student engagement programs that strengthen community, leadership development, and student wellbeing, ensuring broad access to meaningful out-of-class learning.

Rationale and Benefits
Enhanced engagement opportunities available to all students foster a stronger sense of belonging, improve retention and graduation rates, and contribute to a vibrant campus life. These initiatives support holistic student development and respond to student demand for more inclusive, accessible, and mission-aligned programming.

Overview
$350,000 annual new funding. Club sports and intramural programs enrich the student experience by promoting physical wellness, teamwork, and community involvement. Participation is consistently high and contributes significantly to campus vibrancy.

Proposed Solution
Funding will support club sport travel, uniforms, equipment, safety requirements, league fees, facility access, and staffing to support intramural program operations. Funding will support creation of additional club sport team and intramural activities. 

Rationale and Benefits
Investment in recreational sport opportunities enhances student wellness, supports social connection, and provides leadership and teamwork experience. These programs contribute to campus health and wellness initiatives and provide inclusive, recreational options for the entire student body.

Overview
$250,000 annual new funding. The Spartan Marching Band is a signature student performance ensemble with over 135 student participants that contributes to academic achievement, campus spirit, and community engagement. It represents SJSU locally, regionally, and nationally and plays for a variety of athletic, campus and community events each year.

Proposed Solution
Funding will provide a stable financial foundation, ensuring that our students can continue to perform at campus events, athletic competitions and community engagements while enhancing school spirit and representing the university with pride.  Funding will support instruments, uniforms, travel, instructional support from part-time Graduate Assistants, and other general operating needs in order to maintain high artistic and performance standards.

Rationale and Benefits
The Spartan Marching Band is a longstanding experiential learning program that enhances the visibility and pride of the university, strengthens recruitment and provides performance-based learning opportunities for students in music and related disciplines. A strong marching band elevates campus culture and pride and enhances the student experience across athletic and university events and provides for community connection by playing at local and regional events.

Overview
$25,000 annual new funding. The Spartan Daily is a premier, award-winning student-run publication that provides real-world journalism experience while serving as an important source of campus news and civic engagement.

Proposed Solution
Funding will support essential operating expenses — including printing, equipment, digital production tools, and travel—to maintain the newspaper’s high-quality journalistic standards and student training opportunities.

Rationale and Benefits
Support for the Spartan Daily enhances students’ professional skills in reporting, multimedia production and editorial management while promoting transparency and information-sharing across campus. A strong student newspaper contributes to civic literacy, accountability and an informed student body.

Overview
$3 million annual new funding (lower than the originally-proposed $5 million) from the new IRA fee. Approximately 475 students participate directly in intercollegiate athletics. Intercollegiate athletics is a core student activity that builds community, enhances institutional visibility nationally through brand recognition, enhances alumni and donor engagement and support and provides student-athletes with structured leadership, academic support and competitive opportunities.

Proposed Solution
Increased funding will enhance student-athlete support, facility operations, sport team operations (travel, uniforms, equipment), facility maintenance costs and academic and counseling services which align with Education Code guidelines.

Rationale and Benefits
Athletics is a driver of student, alumni, and community engagement, University branding, and donor cultivation. Universities that invest in their athletic programs benefit from increased student applications, stronger alumni engagement, enhanced campus culture and athletic events contribute directly to the economic vitality of the local region. 

This funding will strengthen student-athlete academic success, enhance campus spirit, and will support activities that engage the broader student community. 

Overview
Approximately $1 million for an annual new funding pool to be administered by a new IRA Advisory Committee to annually fund initiatives. IRA Advisory Committees typically include students, faculty and administrative representatives who evaluate campus proposals for funding.

IRA Advisory Committee
The IRA fund will operate with guidance from an advisory committee composed of nine (9) total members, co-chaired by the Provost and the Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) President or their designees. Students will be the majority of voting members.

Committee membership will include: 

• Provost (or designee), Co-Chair
• Associated Students, Inc. (AS) President (or desinee), Co-Chair
• Four (4) AS student representatives
• Two (2) faculty members appointed by the President
• Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA) (or designee)

Proposed Solution

A flexible method using the IRA Advisory Committee will annually evaluate initiatives and allow funding for activities and experiences integral, but not core, to the formal university instructional curriculum. Possible initiatives to be funded using the pool could include new academic competitions or hackathons, short-notice field experiences tied to grant or industry opportunities, pilot experiential learning initiatives and many others. This pool would allow flexibility to support academic innovation without waiting for a full budget cycle, as the committee could potentially be structured to award funding during the academic year, rather than just at the beginning.

Rationale and Benefits
The IRA Advisory Committee would be charged with reviewing and recommending funding allocations from the initiative pool for additional IRA-designated programs, ensuring student consultation consistent with CSU fee policy, promoting transparency and accountability in how IRA funds are used, and confirming alignment with CSU criteria and SJSU’s academic and student-success priorities.