The Incidental Fee, or I-Fee, is a mandatory fee paid by all students as part of their tuition and fees. The ASUO uses an open and democratic process when determining the amount, use, or modification of Incidental Fees. The amount of the I-Fee is determined each year by the ASUO, and the current Incidental Fee budget is approximately $9 million.
The ASUO’s I-Fee budgeting process is a six-month endeavor beginning with the collection of budget requests in October and culminating in late January with ASUO Senate’s review and approval of budget decisions made by each finance committee. The legislative branch oversees the funding process, and as soon as budget decisions are made by ASUO Senate, the total proposed budget is subject to the approval or veto of the ASUO President.
The ASUO’s I-Fee budget and annual fee recommendation is subject to the review of the UO President and the approval of the UO Board of Trustees. This process is outlined in the Incidental Fee Authorization Policy.
Incidental Fee Authorization Policy
Where the I-Fee Goes
The I-Fee directly supports hundreds of services, programs, and endeavors that fall within ASUO’s mission to provide for the social, cultural, educational, and physical development of its members and for the advancement of their individual and collective interests.
Student Organizations
More than 200 student organizations are recognized by the ASUO, each of which has access to Incidental Fee funds.
Contracted Services
Campus-wide contracts ensure student access to services that are not provided by the university, including legal services, bus access, child care, and more. The Contracts Finance Committee (CFC) manages these agreements.
Department-Based Programs
I-Funds support programs in multiple campus departments, including the Basic Needs Program, Student Government Engagement and Success, Duck Rides, the Multicultural Center, the Women’s Center, Oregon Athletic Bands, and more.
Erb Memorial Union
On July 1, 2022, funding for the Erb Memorial Union that previously came from the Incidental Fee was moved to the Student Union Fee. Because Administratively Controlled Mandatory Fees were already set and locked in for students covered by the Guaranteed Tuition Program, it is not possible to change the amount of the Student Union Fee for these students. As such, students in the 2020 Cohort and 2021 Cohort will not see any changes to their Student Union Fee while under their Tuition Guarantee (through FY25 and FY26, respectively). To correctly fund both the EMU and ASUO budgets, the university will make distributions (either direct allocation or a funding transfer) from the ASUO to the EMU after the fees have been collected by moving $134 per student, per term, from Incidental Fee proceeds to the EMU.
Also effective on July 1, 2022, the Mills International Center moved from the Division of Global Engagement (DGE) to the Division of Student Life, as a program of the Erb Memorial Union (EMU). While a part of DGE, the Mills Center’s budget was funded through the Incidental Fee. Students in the 2022 Tuition Cohort will not see any changes to their approved Student Union Fee while under their Tuition Guarantee program. To correctly fund both the Mills Center and ASUO budgets, the university will make distributions (either direct allocation or a funding transfer) from the ASUO to the EMU after the fees have been collected by moving $5.50 per student, per term, from incidental fee proceeds to the EMU.
Services
Key services funded by the I-Fee include:
- LTD transit passes and extended service on Route 79X
- ASUO Legal Services
- Bikeshare with Cascadia Mobility
- Late night rideshare services through UO Lyft Night Rides
- Duck Rides
- Campus events, concerts, conferences, and speakers
- LGBTESSP
- The ASUO Street Faire
- Publications such as Ethos, The Student Insurgent, Oregon Voice, and the Daily Emerald
- University Theatre
- Basic Needs Program
- Family Center Co-op Child Care
- Accessible Education Center
- Committee for Musical Arts
- Forensics
- Prison Education Program
- Campus Zero Waste