Do you approve an increase in the Graduate Student Association Fee by $7.96 per graduate student per quarter (excluding summer), effective Fall Quarter 2019 for a quarterly total of $19.96 and with 1.5% annual inflationary increases starting in Fall Quarter 2020, to increase funding for student events and traditions, student organizations, services to students, and administrative operations of the Graduate Student Association of the University of California, San Diego?

29% of this fee increase ($2.31 in Fall Quarter 2019) will return to UC San Diego to help meet the financial aid needs of graduate students.

71% of this fee increase ($5.65 in Fall Quarter 2019) will be used to expand and increase student events and traditions, and increase funding for student organizations, services to students, and administrative operations of the Graduate Student Association of the University of California, San Diego. These would include, but not be limited to:

• Basic needs initiatives, including food and housing insecurity programs and resources
• Additional programming to support diversity, inclusion, and equity for graduate student groups on campus
• Professional development programs
• Social programming on and off campus
• Increased UC San Diego graduate student participation in advocacy efforts, including at meetings with state and federal legislators, as well as the UC Office of the President and UC Regents
• Mental health and physical wellness
• Graduate student organization funding

Specifically, this portion of the fee increase would allow the Graduate Student Association to:    

• INCREASE BASIC NEEDS INITIATIVES: This fee increase would help support campus-wide efforts to address food and housing insecurity at the graduate level. A portion of this fee would provide funding for the food and supplies necessary to operate the Triton Food Pantry, which serves hundreds of graduate students each quarter.  
• INCREASE PROGRAMMING TO SUPPORT EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS AND GROUPS ON CAMPUS: A portion of this fee increase will be allocated to fund EDI initiatives and events that foster the growth, support, and increased recognition of underserved, and historically underrepresented graduate level scholars and community. Programs may include large-scale symposiums or events to encourage and promote broader social and intellectual engagement across cultures and disciplines.
• INCREASE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS: A portion of the fee increase would create initiatives to enhance and promote the professionalization of graduate students by including a graduate student career fair, professional development travel opportunities, and informational interviews and networking meetings.
• INCREASE SOCIAL PROGRAMMING ON AND OFF CAMPUS: A portion of the fee increase would be allocated to large and small scale events, such as the quarterly Free for Alls and Roaming Socials.  The increase would also support the creation of new traditions, such as a graduate student music festival, as well as funding the operating expenses of the Graduate Student Association required to support programming.
• INCREASE UC SAN DIEGO GRADUATE STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN ADVOCACY EFFORTS: A portion of this fee increase would provide funding to include additional UC San Diego student representatives in advocating for graduate student needs to state and federal legislators, as well as the UC Office of the President and UC Regents.       
• INCREASE FUNDING FOR GRADUATE STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL WELLNESS RESOURCES: A portion of this fee increase will be allocated to funding for programs and events geared toward holistic graduate student health.
• INCREASE FUNDING FOR GRADUATE STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS: A portion of this fee increase will be allocated to funding for programs and events requested by graduate student organizations, as well as events open to the entire graduate community hosted by graduate students and departments.                                               

The Graduate Student Association Fee is currently $12.00 per student per quarter. This fee was last increased in 2002. Neither the increase nor existing Graduate Student Association Fee will be assessed during summer sessions.                                                           

If this fee referendum is approved and implemented, the Graduate Student Association Fee would be $19.96 per student per quarter effective Fall Quarter 2019. If this increase to the Graduate Student Association Fee is approved, the increased amount will be adjusted by 1.5 % annually to account for inflation, starting in Fall 2020. In addition, no referendum that would increase the Graduate Student Association Fee may be proposed until Fall Quarter 2022.

Statement of Conditions:                                                                                                                              

1. This fee will be included in the determination of financial aid.                                            
2. Annual budget reports will be made public and provided to all UCSD Student Governments. 
3. Modifications to this fee may not be made without a subsequent student referendum held in accordance with the appropriate student governmental and University policies unless other means are explicitly provided in this ballot language.