Southeastern’s athletic department is looking to increase student fee revenue by doubling the department’s student athletic fee in the Fall 2014 semester.
Current athletic fees, which were created in Spring 2011, total $50 per full-time student. A full-time student pays approximately $676.55 in mandated fees, not including tuition.
According to Athletic Director Jay Artigues, $45 of the student fee goes towards athletics, while the other $5 is given to Student Marketing, which provides T-shirts, foam hands, food and promotions to the student body at athletic events.  
If approved by students, the fee will increase to $100 per full-time student, generating roughly $2.4 million for the athletic department, nearly doubling the current amount that is roughly $1.3 million.
The athletic department has not seen a drastic decline in revenue resulting from overall university budget cuts, which cut roughly $7.7 million from the university’s budget just this fiscal year.
In fiscal year 2012-2013, the athletic department budgeted for approximately $7.7 million in revenues. At the end of that fiscal year, the athletic department generated $7.5 million, a $200,000 shortfall.
However, Artigues said the department’s expenses are increasing, while the revenues are decreasing mainly because of the decline of funds the university is able to provide to athletics.
According to President John L. Crain, the university has a secondary budget to provide the department with a certain amount of funding each fiscal year for personnel, operating costs and scholarships. Crain said this fiscal year that amount has decreased, causing a number of reductions in personnel and programs, such as women’s tennis, in the department.
Crain said the costs in the department have increased because of state budget cuts, and this includes the cost of athletic scholarships.
Interim Vice President for Administration and Finance Sam Domiano said the funds in the secondary budget are essentially one-time funds, which have been previously used to offset the department’s budget.
Though outside revenue sources, such as fundraising, have increased for the department, Artigues said if the student fee increase were to be approved by the student body, the department’s budget would most likely break even.
The university’s current $50 athletic fee remains relatively average when compared to fellow universities in the University of Louisiana System.
Nicholls State University has the highest athletic fee at approximately $126, followed by the University of New Orleans’ athletic fee, which is about $100. Northwestern University’s athletic fee is $42, while McNeese State University’s fee is $32.
This comparison puts the university’s current athletic fee below the ULS average, which is approximately $55.
Greg Crovetto, president of the Student Government Association, said student outreach would begin with getting the word out through social media forums, such as the SGA Facebook and Twitter page.
Because the War Memorial Student Union walkway, the designated area for student elections, will be closed beginning Feb. 14, Crovetto said SGA would have to find high traffic areas for students to vote.
The student fee increase proposal was first recommended by the Student Budget Oversight Committee. From there, the recommendation was sent to the SGA Senate and then to Crain’s administration for approval.
Now, the proposal to hold a student election to raise the athletic fee awaits approval from the ULS Board of Supervisors. If approved, Crovetto said the election will be held April 7-9, coinciding with SGA elections.