The Green Fee Presented by: Benjamin Perry, Assistant Vice - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The Green Fee Presented by: Benjamin Perry, Assistant Vice President of Facilities Planning & Development / University Architect Jerry Sharp III, Senior/Multidisciplinary Studies Student 8/29/2019 The University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249

The Green Fee Background The “Green Fee” legislation authorized a university fee to be assessed at registration. The collected fees were applied to a Green Fund for use by the Green Fund committee which was comprised of students, faculty and staff, with a student voting majority . The legislation passed in 2009 by the 81 st Texas • Legislature (House Bill 3353 and Senate Bill 2182). • The “Green Fee” was active for 5 years from 2010 – 2015 • It was set to automatically sunset. 8/29/2019 The University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249 2

The Green Fee Background A Bill to renew and reauthorize the Green Fund was introduced to the 85 th Texas Legislature this year (2017) but was unable to clear the Committee on Higher Education and did not advance to the floor for a vote. As the Texas Legislature meets only on odd numbered years, the next Legislative session (86 th ) will not meet until Jan 8, 2019. UT Austin chose to make the fee part of tuition and now have a permanent budget for sustainability initiatives known as the Green Fee. 8/29/2019 The University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249 3

The Green Fee Background UT System Policy 169 UTS 169 The initiatives described in this policy are intended to provide the scope, direction, and expectations underlying U. T. System’s Policy on Sustainable Practices and to identify best practices to facilitate compliance with this policy. • The Board of Regents of The University of Texas System is committed to stewardship of the environment and promotion of the principles of energy efficiency and sustainability. 8/29/2019 The University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249 4

AASHE STARS A ssociation for the A dvancement of S ustainability in H igher E ducation (AASHE) S ustainability T racking and R eporting S ystem (STARS) STARS ratings • Platinum • Gold • Silver - 2017 • Bronze - 2010 • Reporter 8/29/2019 The University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249 5

The Paris Climate Agreement UTSA Collaboration with City and CPS Energy on Paris Climate Agreement Along with International Ambassadors Ron Nirenberg, City of San Antonio Mayor Paula Gold-Williams, CPS Energy President Dr. Keith Muhlestein, UTSA Sustainability Director 8/29/2019 The University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249 6

Our Sustainable Campus 8/29/2019 The University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249 7

Community Outreach Equinox 2017 UTSA and San Antonio Leadership Community Outreach and Engagement 8/29/2019 The University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249 8

The Green Fee Projects Hydration Stations UTSA Community Garden 8/29/2019 The University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249 9

The Green Fee Projects Rooftop Solar at Durango and HEB-UC 8/29/2019 The University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249 10

The Green Fee Projects Big Belly Solar Sombrilla Compactors Fountain 8/29/2019 The University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249 11

The Green Fee Comparisons Historical Fee Comparison before Fee was Sunseted (Identified and other Texas Universities) Annualized Fee Total Students Projected Funds UT Austin $12.50 51,331 $641,638 University of $12.50 42,704 $533,800 Houston University of $12.00 43,625 $523,500 Arizona North Texas $12.50 37,979 $474,738 George State $9.00 50,972 $458,748 Texas A & M $6.00 68,825 $412,950 UTSA $12.50 30,674 $287,670 UT El Paso $6.00 23,397 $140,382 Texas State $1.00 38,849 $38,849 8/29/2019 The University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249 12

The Green Fee Comparisons 2012 Fee Comparison of Green Fees Charged at U.S. Universities per AASHE 8/29/2019 The University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249 13

The Green Fee Proposal A $5 increase in Tuition per regular semester, $2.50 per summer semester, to be designated toward University-wide Sustainability Initiatives 8/29/2019 The University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249 14