Student services fees help fund many activities and programs around campus, some of which may not be readily visible to the campus community.

Each session, including full semesters and winters and summers, students pay a voluntary $12.50 fee for student services. Out of these fees, the Associated Students of Glendale Community Colleges administers a budget this year of $264,798.

According to Dean of Student Affairs Paul Schlossman, the student services fee is “like a student activities fee that students pay.”

At first thought, some students don’t see the value in it.

“At first I wanted to waive the fee since I assumed that I do not benefit from it, but in the long run the benefits are valuable,” said student Gayane Panosyan. “I did not want to give up the scholarship opportunities.”

Some of the services offered to the students in return for their student services fee include, ASGCC-sponsored scholarships, use of computer labs, use of the math and science centers, and participation in all varsity athletics (for both women and men).

“The fee makes up a large part of the operating budget for the ASGCC, the official student government organization, each year,” said Schlossman.

The services fee amount is decided by the Board of Trustees, but it is ASGCC that allocates the money to variety of activities and groups on campus.

The ASGCC uses the budget to help pay for intercollegiate awards, maintenance of the Baja field studies facility, El Vaquero, the Associated Student Newsletter, the Forensics Program, the health services office, campus relations, the music department, national field studies, scholarships and loans, student government, the theater department, transfer center, dance production, cheer squad, and many more programs.

According to student trustee and ASGCC president David Arakelyan, “Last year the Associated Student Legislature decided to donate $2.50 for the next two years from the student services fee to the parking structure construction project. The goal is to help keep the parking fees down.”
From the remaining $10, $5 goes to the ASGCC budget and $5 goes to the college general fund.

“I find the services provided by the ASGCC very helpful, especially the scholarship program and the Learning Center and do not understand why somebody would waive their rights to such beneficial services,” said student Linda Perez.

Waiver petitions are available through the business office at the bookstore to those students who wish to waive the fee.
Students may fill out a waiver form, said Schlossman, but if they did so “they would not be eligible for the services.”

Non-credit students along with students who have waived the fee are excluded from participation in most of the programs
and activities provided by the ASGCC.

Many of these activities include all varsity athletics, public address systems, personal check cashing, use of the tutorial center, student government assemblies, and intercollegiate awards.

“We provided a big chunk of that budget to the athletic programs to help them pay for various competitions, meals for their trips and so on,” said Arakelyan.

In addition, ASGCC allocates approximately $25,000 every semester to various clubs. There are over 50 clubs this semester on campus and many of the clubs apply for funding for different projects for their clubs each semester.

“Maybe some people think they could do without the fee and decide not to pay the fee and they don’t really care, but there is a lot of proof that states that student life makes the student experience an extraordinary one,” said Arakelyan. “It really gives a nice addition to student life.”

“I like to be involved with different clubs and activities and can’t see myself not being part of different organizations,” said student Armine Hakopian.

The good thing about the fee is that “it is the same price regardless of residency status,” said Schlossman. AB540 (undocumented students) and international students pay the same amount for student services fee as do California residents unlike tuition fees, which are higher for non-residents.

“As an undocumented student I cannot receive any financial aid from school, but I participate in clubs such as Voces del Manana, which offers scholarships for AB540 student and I get these benefits with only paying $12.50 in student services fee,” said an AB540 students who wished to remain unidentified.

According to Arakelyan, “We have been very successful keeping students involved on campus.”