Summary:

During a faculty-wide referendum held from the 11th-15th of March, 2013, 67% of students voted in favor of a FMUA student levy being implemented. In an agreement between the Faculty and the University administration, these contributions will be matched for the three year period and then will be subject to review and potential renewal. The results of the referendum were reviewed and approved by the University Affairs Board in late May 2013. The student levy was be phased in at the beginning of the 2013-14 academic year. All full time students will pay a FMUA Society fee of $615 for 2013-14, $915 for 2014-15 and $1,215 for 2015-16. This fee will remain at $1,215 unless further changes are implemented by the FMUA. The student levy is subject to review by the FMUA at the end of the three year period. Thus, for the 2014-15 academic year, this levy will appear on your Fees Invoice as a charge of $457.50 per term.

Please feel free to contact us at fmua@utoronto.ca if you should have any questions or concerns regarding the special levy. 

Timeline:

December 17, 2012: FMUA council voted yes to move forward with the referendum to allow the student body their own decision on the Special Levy.

January 10, 2013: FMUA Annual General Meeting; the council amended the constitution and created an article that addresses the procedures of holding a referendum.

January 17 & 24, 2013: FMUA student forums; the student body had an open discussion about how and why the $1,200 fee would be implemented though the FMUA for all students beginning in 2013-2014.

March 11-15, 2013: FMUA Student Referendum was held with 51% turnout of eligible votes, and 67% in favour of the fee.

April 30, 2013: The Levy was approved by University Affairs Board.

Definitions:

Ancillary Fee: Fees implemented by the Faculty and the Registrar’s office; consistent though all the Faculties and Colleges.

Incidental Fees: Fees that can vary depending on each Faculty and College; examples include the UTSU health and dental plan and other Student Association Fees.

Facts:

The Special Levy ($1,200) is to be dedicated to costs associated with “theatre and student activity space improvement costs, external/extracurricular performance opportunities, career development workshops, free concerts and complimentary tickets, Walter Hall and MacMillan Theatre recording services, and class-provided accompanists.” The FMUA will continue to receive $7.50 per semester or $15 per two-semester year and operate on this budget.

The Special Levy, which is in addition to the regular student society services fee (currently $7.50 per semester, or $15 per two-semester year), will be phased-in over three years:

$600.00 ($300.00 per semester) in 2013-2014;

$900.00 (450.00 per semester) in 2014-2015;

$1,200 ($600.00 per semester) in 2015-2016.

The FMUA Special Levy will be reviewed through referendum process in the 2015-2016 academic school year to determine its continuation, discontinuation, or adjustment.

The Co-Presidents and the Faculty senior administration will meet three times a year to review all materials related to the FMUA Special Levy Fee, including account information, projects, and student body feedback. At the end of each academic/budget year, the Faculty will provide the FMUA with an accounting of all fee-related expenditures.

Financial Agreement:

Fees levied from student accounts will be credited directly to the Faculty’s FIS account via ROSI-FIS transfers. The fees levied will be included in the FMUA’s annual audit.