“None of This is Secret Money”: Inside the Allocation of Student Activity Fees at Pitt-Greensburg

“None of this is secret money,” Al Thiel, director of the Student Center and Student Involvement, said. “Every dime is accounted for.”

Students at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg are required to pay a “student activity fee” as part of their tuition. Full-time students pay $85 per semester, while part-time students pay $35. These fees are collected and given to one of the largest organizations on campus, the Student Government Association (SGA), which decides how they are distributed.

According to Thiel, SGA uses the funds to support clubs, with 40% going to the Student Activities Board (SAB). This year, the total student activity fees amounted to approximately $205,000. The year before, it was about $207,000, and two years ago, it was around $203,000. These numbers fluctuate based on student enrollment: higher enrollment means a larger budget, while fewer students result in less funding. SGA allocates these funds to various campus clubs, and, per Thiel, 90% of the fees go back into the clubs. If there is a remaining balance, SGA uses it for capital projects. Past projects include repainting the outdoor basketball court, installing the clock by Chambers Lawn, and placing a bench near the Bobcat statue. If no capital project is selected, the funds are used to sponsor events like Blue and Gold or Westmoreland Reads. Thiel encourages students to visit SGA and suggest where the remaining funds should go. 

“This is all student driven,” said Thiel, who has worked at Pitt-Greensburg since August 2012.

He noted that there has been a net decrease of $58,000 compared to when he first started.. 

“I’m proud of how SGA has been able to make those cuts fairly and to not affect the clubs as much as it could have. That being said, I’m not saying they’re not affected,” he said. “Any student who wants to ask where their money is going, I’ll be happy to sit and talk with them. It’s a very transparent process.”

If you’d like to learn more about the student activity fees, you can visit Thiel in his office at 219 Chambers Hall or email him at ajt58@pitt.edu. To make suggestions to SGA, they can also be found in Chambers Hall.