Wellness

The ASI Student Wellness Initiative is a student-led project to improve campus health and wellness resources and programs in service to CSUF students.

Alternative consultation is an alternative to the referendum process to ensure appropriate and meaningful consultation from the campus community, particularly students, when adjusting a Category II mandatory fee, like the Campus Union Fee. Alternative consultation strategies depend on input from the student body association and the Student Fee Advisory Committee to ensure the process is transparent and meaningful.

The alternative consultation process is designed to 1) engage large portions of the student body; 2) educate students on the issues and components of the ASI Student Wellness Initiative; and 3) gather information to shape the improvements to ASI.

For additional information, read Executive Order 1102 and the CSU Fee Policy on Referendums and Alternative Consultation Processes.

We recognize the need to support CSUF students’ health and wellness. We have done the studies, read the research, talked with students and the broader campus community, and heard the concerns and the demands. Now, we want to know more! Alternative consultation means we are committed to talking with as many students and stakeholders as possible. In the simplest terms, we are committed to sharing information, listening to what students want and need, and how we can do that responsibly and transparently.

ASI is funded through mandatory student fees (Category II fees) that every enrolled student contributes to maintain the existing building, provide programs and services, and pay off the mortgage/debt of the facilities. The Campus Union Fee supports programming, staffing, maintenance, and operations of the Titan Student Union and the Student Recreation Center. Similar fees are at every CSU supporting their ASI and student facilities. The last time the Union fee had a major increase was the year 2000. The fee has been incorporated with a Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase and is adjusted every 3 years. CPI is attached to most fees to ensure expenses can be covered due to inflationary increases.

This fee covers the cost of construction and operation of the Titan Student Union and the Student Recreation Center. ASI is responsible for all the expenses of staffing and operating these facilities, debt service, building improvements, and repairs. Staffing costs, particularly student staff, represent a large portion of operating costs. It also funds programs, events, and services within the facilities.

The Campus Union Fee is a mandatory student fee and would factor into students’ total cost of education and impacts on estimated family contribution. Therefore, financial aid (including grants and loans) can be used to cover increases in these mandatory fees. If the fee does increase, individual student financial aid may also increase to cover the fee increase. Always defer to the financial aid office with any questions related to student fees and/or financial aid.

• Based on information from the CSUF Office of Financial Aid, approximately 75% of CSUF students receive Financial Aid for their education experience. Approximately 40% of CSUF students receive the Middle-Class Scholarship that may be used toward payment of fees. Campus fees, including this increase, can be covered by certain types of financial aid (for example: Middle-Class Scholarship, scholarships, grants). But not all types of aid can be applied.

The final “design” of the facilities will be decided through shared governance with student leaders and your feedback. We will include the involvement of students and the campus community in many elements of the design process.

Programming and services would start in Fall 2025. Infrastructure projects would begin no earlier than the summer of 2026 and are estimated to last approximately two years, depending on any phasing of facility improvements.

We intend for the construction to progress in phases to ensure the buildings remain open for operation for the campus community during the project. ASI is committed to reducing as much disruption as possible and continuing to offer dining, programs, and services to students.

On average, CSU Union/Student Center fees are between $121 to $460 per semester, as of the 2024 – 2025 academic year. CSUF’s current Union/Student Center fee is $170.66 per semester (or $341 per year).

While we have the largest enrollment in the entire CSU system—comprised of 23 campuses—we are ranked 17th as far as total mandatory fees, including in the Union/Student Center fees category. This means 16 other CSUs charge students more than CSUF students are charged. This increasing difference in fees has caused disparities in the resources offered at CSUF.

Associated Student Inc. is one of the top employers of students on campus. Throughout the year, ASI employs almost 400 students. The ASI Student Wellness Initiative will offer opportunities for an additional 75 student jobs.

Student Affairs currently provides a variety of wellness services through TitanWell, Student Health Center, and CAPS (Counseling & Psychological Services), including a wellness room. The ASI Student Wellness Initiative will provide funding to services that are complementary to the existing framework of services provided on campus. Taking a holistic approach that considers the advantages of a facilities expansion for our large campus population, this initiative endeavors to address the many dimensions of wellness.

CSU Executive Order EO 1102 states the following about mandatory fees such as this fee (Category II): “The campus president shall provide to the fee advisory committee a report of all fees in Categories II, III, IV and V. New fees, fee increases, total revenue and unexpended balances should be included.

Each campus shall report annually to the chancellor, for the most recently completed fiscal year, a complete inventory of all fees in categories II, III, IV and V, including current year fee rates, the total revenue collected in the past year for each fee, and the remaining balance for each fee. The Category II fee report shall be presented to the board by the chancellor to allow the board to consider the level and range of campus mandatory fees charged to students.”

Not only is our university mandated to report on the use of this fee, but as the organization led by students for students, ASI will ensure that the increased union fee is going towards programs and services deemed important during the alternative consultation process.

Student input is critical in this process to shape the ASI Student Wellness Initiative through the alternative consultation process and beyond. Students guide the operations and direction through the ASI Board of Directors elected by the student body. The Student Fee Advisory Committee, where students comprise a majority of members, will make a final recommendation to the University President whether to proceed with the ASI Student Wellness Initiative. Participation by this group, other stakeholder groups, and the general student will occur throughout the programming and design process. After all the feedback and data is gathered, ASI will share the results with the committee on Dec.5, 2024.