In what can be seen as a commitment to sustainability, Appalachian State University is planning to move Renewable Energy Initiative funding to the student activity fee.

Previously, every three years the student body voted whether $5 was taken from student fees to fund the sustainable initiative.

Now, REI will receive its annual $146,000 from the student activity fee, which encompasses all university-funded organizations.

Tazewell

As a university-funded organization, REI will have the opportunity to increase their budget by up to 15 percent every three years by submitting budget plans to the university’s Budget Council. Currently, all

REI funding is used solely for projects. Under student activities, money will be able to be set aside for things like education and awareness.

“We’re looking into doing a transportable demonstration project that uses renewable energy,” Tazewell said. “We could take it to conferences and other schools as a demonstration and education project.”

DiBernardi

Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Development Dino J. DiBernardi said it made more sense to fold REI into the student activity fee rather than have students vote every three years to fund it.

“I think that the idea of student input into fees has been part of Appalachian’s operating philosophy for a long time,” DiBernardi said. “But the establishment of separate fees for particular things – for example, if you were to follow this logic, couldn’t you have a club sports fee, a Greek fee or a multicultural fee?”

DiBernardi said the student activity fee is an institutional fee that is designed to support the priorities of the institution and the students.

“If the REI is important enough to have a fee, why not fund it out of the fees that are established for that purpose,” he said. “REI has become part of Appalachian’s commitment, and by folding it into the activity fee it demonstrates a permanent ongoing commitment to the effort.”

Story: EDWARD SZTUKOWSKI, News Editor