In the spring of 2007, the PSU Student Senate passed a resolution to partially reimburse student mileage fees for travel expenses used in pursuit of academics. Since the resolution was passed, little has been done to ensure students can apply for the funding. Former Student Body President Peter Laufenberg introduced the resolution, “It was an idea I had back when gas prices were really high,” Laufenberg said.
PSU Vice President Dick Hage brought up the conversation during the Nov. 30 Student Senate meeting. The resolution had not been slated for discussion on the group’s agenda for that meeting, as it had been voted on and passed over a year ago.
The resolution was passed, but was essentially lost in the shuffle of the end of the year. Under the guidelines, students who take part in internships for credit or are student teaching may apply to receive retroactive travel compensation at the end of the semester.
The plan that was introduced by the Student Senate called for money to be reimbursed after the student spent the money for fuel, “It was an after the fact payment,” Hage said. Under Senate guidelines, students would apply to be reimbursed after he or she spent the money for transportation.
This is the same as the current system used by Student Organizations in the Student Accounting Office. Individuals are reimbursed for travel expenses based upon a set cost per mile.
Hage urged senators to rethink the adopted mileage reimbursement resolution, due to the change in the economy, mainly falling gas prices.
When the Student Senate introduced the original plan over a year ago, gas prices were much higher than they are now, “gas prices are half of what they were when this plan was conceived,” Hage said. Hage also pointed out that travel costs are taken into consideration when students apply for the Free Application for Student Aid or FAFSA, and any additional funding on behalf of the University would be superfluous.
“Eighty-three percent of students file for FAFSA,” Hage said. When students are given aid through FAFSA, travel expenses are included in the aid package. This applies for mileage used in the pursuit of academics such as internships and student teaching positions.
Hage continued that he was not completely against the plan, but rather, more had to be taken into consideration before an actual plan for student mileage reimbursement could take effect, “I think it is a wonderful idea-but fraught with some concerns,” Hage said.
Student Trustee Gene Martin was on the Student Senate when the resolution was passed and adopted. He is in favor of adopting a plan for mileage reimbursement “We thought it was a really good program,” Martin said.
Upon being passed, the resolution was supposed to be presented to PSU administration by the Student Senate advisors, but it never was.
“Plymouth State University currently does it now,” Martin said, adding that the Student accounting office routinely provides students organizations with mileage reimbursement.
As of now, the resolution is official, but since it left the hands of the student body in the Spring of 2007 and entered the hands of the administration, little has been done to notify eligible students who can apply for the funds.
The money that would be used would come out of the reserve fund, meaning that student costs would not have to rise in order to complete the plan. Reserve funds are additional funds from the student activities fee. These are the mandatory fees students have to pay in addition to tuition and room and board. These fees are then allocated to Student Organizations. Whatever funds are left over are then put into reserves.
The resolution was never meant to fully reimburse students for travel, but rather to recognize the additional work and offer retribution for studies that have to draw upon their own resources in order to complete academic pursuits.
Only a half of a percent of the reserve funds were made applicable for the purpose of mileage reimbursement. This translates into roughly 200 dollars available for students who complete the application process.
There has been some concern as to what has been going on with the resolution since it was passed over a year ago. It has been a viable resource for over a year, yet there has been little done to ensure that students are able to utilize the funds. It should also be noted that only a small number of students, roughly thirty-five, would be eligible to receive funding from reserves.
Students who wished to be considered for the program had to fill out an application similar to the packet student organizations have to fill out when applying for CEA [Conferences, Events, Activities] funds. From then, it would be decided if the student is eligible to receive funds.
Currently, the Student Senate is working on locating the original documents from 2007 in an effort to allow for the implementation of the program in the near future.