With an internal audit now looming in mid-September, Associated Student of the University of Wyoming (ASUW) Intersession Oversight Committee (IOC) held a meeting at the July 2023 meeting to discuss a recent change in how student fees are handled, their new classification as state funds under the purview of the Board of Trustees (BOT), and the challenges that ASUW are now facing in lieu of these changes.
The reclassification was highlighted in a memo and correspondence from the Board that was circulated to UWYO administration and student organization leadership.
Student Media requested a copy of this memo and correspondence but have not received copies of either.
The meeting began with the Chair of the IOC, Tanner Ewalt, indicating the restrictions and problems ASUW are currently dealing with are a direct result of this change of interpretation in how student fees are classified.
According to Dean of Students Ryan O’Neil “pre-pandemic there had been a question raised about endowments and the ability to create endowments using student fees, and whether or not they were considered state funds.”
The question was raised once again when ASUW moved to create two new endowments using end of year funds near the end of 2022, and the BOT formed an inquiry into these endowments, and shortly after circulated a memo that supposedly details the changes to student fees.
The Executive Business Manager for Student Affairs, Marjorie Jaeger, pushed back on the notion of this being a change of interpretation by the BOT, instead attributing the issues facing ASUW as ‘confusion’ in regards to the University’s swap in financial programs from ‘Pistol’ to ‘WyoCloud’ over 7 years ago.
When asked by Ewalt as to whether this was a legal or statutory change, or if it came from the BOT changing their interpretation Jaeger states that the interpretation is documented, is not new, and funds held by the University have always been considered state fees.
“So if that’s the case why are these restrictions that are imposed on state fees and state funds now being applied to ASUW, why is this just now happening and not been the policy for the last couple of years?” said Ewalt.
Jaeger offers that “the University has undergone a lot of changes recently, certainly when we went to WyoCloud … and as we’ve tried to get a handle on enforcing our own policies I think ASUW just got caught, and has been a good example, and has been a good discussion point.”
O’Neil also stated that the decision was not made by Student Affairs, but was made with the review of general counsel, and that she is unsure if the BOT or the University of Wyoming Foundation had any involvement in these discussions.
She also notes that these decisions aren’t just affecting ASUW student fees, but is affecting Student Affairs as a division.
Ewalt responded with, “ASUW is distinct from almost every campus department; we are supposed to be an independent student representation organization. Why then, were we not included in any of these conversations that drastically impact our ability to serve students? Why were we not included in any of the discussions that have now created a finance policy where it seems like you guys get final say over what we can buy, what we can do, how we are allowed to interact with and engage with campus … what’s the point of having elections? What’s the point of having student representation? Why is this not just a high school council?”
