IT’S ABOUT THE MONEY

WHAT IS THE “TRANSPORTATION FEE” for the BUS & PARA-TRANSIT PROGRAM?”

The “transportation fee” is a “supplemental fee” of $25/semester ($15/summer) charged to support the Bus & Para-Transit Program.  Complete information about the transportation fee may be accessed at: matcmadison.edu/bus-passes

WHY DO I PAY “SUPPLEMENTAL FEES,” INCLUDING THE “TRANSPORTATION FEE?”

All degree credit students at Madison-based campuses are required to pay supplemental fees, sometimes referred to as “student activities fees” or “segregated fees.”  A degree credit student is anyone enrolled in at least 1 class designated as a “degree class.”  A degree class is any class with a 1, 2, 3 or 5 as the 6th digit of the "catalog number.”  Degree credit students at Madison College-Fort Atkinson, Portage, Reedsburg & Watertown do NOT pay any supplemental fees, & therefore do not support the program, nor are they eligible to receive a bus pass.

Supplemental fees fund three budgets:  (1) the co-curricular activity budget; (2) the Fitness Center; & (3) the Bus & Para-Transit Program.   The co-curricular activity fee provides funding for staffing, programs & services to enhance the educational, social & recreational development of students in & out of the classroom.  The following receive supplemental fee dollars:  Athletics, the Campus Center, The Clarion (student newspaper), the Executive Leadership Team for Clubs (50+ clubs), Forensics, Leadership Programs, Performing Arts, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Programs & Activities Council, Student Publications, the Student Senate, United Common Ground for Culture, Diversity & Contemporary Issues, the Volunteer Center, the Yahara Journal, the Fitness Center & the Bus & Para-Transit Program.

WHAT IS THE ANNUAL COST FOR THE BUS & PARA-TRANSIT CONTRACT?

The cost of the 2009-10 program was approximately $580,000, with about $18,000 of that amount paying for para-transit services.  Costs are based on ridership.  In 2011-12, the cost will be $1.15 per ride.

HOW ARE STUDENTS INVOLVED IN DECISIONS ABOUT MADISONCOLLEGE SUPPLEMENTAL FEES?

The Student Activities Board (SAB) is responsible to allocate supplemental funds as per college policy & in accordance with WisconsinStateStatute 38.145(9).  The Student Activities Board is comprised of 8 student representatives from student organizations & is co-chaired by the Student Senate President & the MadisonCollege Vice President of Learner Development.  Following the annual budget development process by student leaders on the Student Activities Board, the budget is submitted to the Student Senate for a vote by the General Assembly with recommendations to the District Board for action.  The Madison College District Board approves all fees & budgets.

In a referendum sponsored by the Student Senate, MadisonCollege students voted in 1999 to establish the Bus & Para-Transit Program.  Annual costs have risen for transportation services.  Students voted again in 2008 by a vote of 9 to 1, to continue the program by putting a new funding structure into place to pay for services.   Students were paying $2.15 per credit to fund the Bus & Para-Transit Program.  They now pay a flat-fee of $25.00 per semester ($15.00 per summer) to fund the Bus & Para-Transit Program.

WHAT SPECIFICALLY DID MADISONCOLLEGE STUDENTS VOTE ON IN THE BUS REFERENDUM SPONSORED BY THE STUDENT SENATE, NOVEMBER 3 – 10, 2008?

BUS REFERENDUM BALLOT – FALL 2008

QUESTION #1:                                                                                                              Should the Bus Pass Program continue for Madison College students?   

__ Yes.  I want the Madison Metro Bus & Para-Transit Program to continue after August 2009. As such, every degree-credit student at Madison College will pay a fee of $25 per semester & $15 per summer session to support the Bus & Para-Transit Program, beginning fall semester 2009.                     RESPONSE:  90% said “yes”

__ No.  I do not want the Madison Metro Bus & Para-Transit Program to continue after August 2009 for students at Madison College.                    RESPONSE:  10% said “no”

QUESTION #2:                                                                                                   Should future funding adjustments for the Bus Pass Program be decided by the Student Senate, on behalf of Madison College students?   

__ Yes.  I want the Student Senate to work in cooperation with the Student Activities Board, to regulate future      funding changes to sustain the bus program through the year 2015; not to increase bus fees by more than 3% in one year.                         RESPONSE: 67% said “yes”

__ No.  If there are any future funding changes in the bus program, I want to have Madison College students vote in another student referendum.          RESPONSE:  33% said “no”