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, and 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 $10 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 Student Senate’s review and approval of budget recommendations compiled 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 and recommended I-Fee amount 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. The process and authority granted to ASUO are outlined in Oregon Statute and the UO 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 and statutory authority to support student education, instruction recreation, and services for students. ASUO organizes the allocation of Incidental Fees by three Major Programs:
- Student Organizations, which includes student government programs and activities as well as ASUO Organizations’ programs and activities;
- Department-Based Programs, which includes activities or on-campus programs funded, in whole or in part, with Incidental Fees, and that are organizationally based in university departments, and;
- Contracts, which includes agreements with service providers for programs and services not provided by the University.
The current Incidental Fee allocation and a 10-year historic overview are published annually in the Incidental Fee Budget Book.