November 20-21, 2003
ITEM 121-110-R1103
940.24 Collection and Remittance of Voluntary Fees for Student, Non-profit
and Non-partisanOrganizations; The Montana University SystemThe University of Montana-Missoula
Board policy:
1. ������� The Associated Students Organizations of
The University of Montana Missoulathe MontanaUniversity System
isare authorized to collect a special and voluntary feeof any amountup to, but not exceeding $37.50 per semester on behalf of a student organizationMontana Public Interest Research Group; and to remit the proceeds thereof to that corporation under the following terms and conditions.
Procedures:
1.� ������ The
corporationorganization must be a Montana non-profitand non-partisancorporationrundirected solely by Montana University System studentsUniversity of Montana-Missoula.
2.� ������ The articles of incorporation and by-laws of the corporation will assure that the procedures and activities of the corporation are democratically controlled by Montana college students of the Montana University System
University of Montana, and will clearly limit the corporate activities to those activities which advance the general welfare of students consistent with the overall educational mission of the Montana University SystemUniversity of Montana-Missoula.
3.� ������ The fee
beis collected incidental to each applicable campus� regular registration processthe regular registration processand will not be assessed unless the student elects to pay the voluntary fee to the organization by means of a positive designation.that it be made clearly known to each student that it is a voluntary fee.
4. ������� The fee collection process be initiated only after it has been clearly demonstrated that
there isgeneral and substantial support for the corporation exists among the students of the particular Montana University System campusUniversity of Montana-Missoulaeither through:
a.� a referendum, held in compliance with the Associated Students Organization procedures, in which at least a majority of those voting vote in favor of the establishment of the fee, or
�
b.� a minimum of 20% of students signing a petition in favor of the establishment of the fee.
5.� ������ An assessment of collection and disbursement of costs
of up to 3.5% of all funds collectedwill be deducted prior to remittance to the corporation of the balance of the fees collected.
6.������� The fee will not be billed to any student until at least 10% of the total student body has made a positive designation to pay the fee.
7.�������� If, by the end of spring semester of the academic year following implementation, and any year thereafter, the percent of students having made a positive designation to pay the fee equals less than 10% of the current student enrollment, continuation of the fee must be reaffirmed either through:
a.� a referendum, held in compliance with Associated Students Organization procedures, in which at least a majority of those voting vote in favor of the continuation of the collection of the fee, or
�
b.� a minimum of 20% of students signing a petition in support of the continuation of the fee.
8.
6.�����TheAgreements between an Associated Students OrganizationASUMand a student organizationMontPIRGentered into pursuant to the authority of this policy may specify additional terms and conditions for the collection of the fee including procedures for collecting, verifying, and submitting each students positive designation, methods for canceling a students positive designation and issuing refunds, conditions and procedures for amending or discontinuing the agreement, and indemnification provisions.
a.the majority vote of the students voting on continuation of the MontPIRG voluntary student fee in a referendum to be held either as a part of winter term registration or to coincide with ASUM spring elections and with voting to continue until at least 25 percent of the student body votes; or by,
b.
�a majority minimum of 20% of the U of M students body signing a petition in support of continuing the MontPIRG voluntary student fee.
9.�������� Establishment or collection of such a fee does not constitute sponsorship or endorsement by the Montana
University System of the registered campus organization.
Definitions:��
Voluntary Fee: For purposes of this policy a voluntary fee is one that is assessed only when a student makes a positive designation that the student wishes to pay the fee.