Fourth Estate/Andani Munkaila
Mason Student Government requests the release of the mandatory student budget from the university.
BY ANDANI MUNKAILA, SOCIAL MEDIA AND GRAPHICS EDITOR
The Mason Office of Strategic Budgeting & Planning has been requested by student government to release the 2023-24 mandatory student budget. The release of this budget would serve as a step to bring more transparency between the University and the public.
According to the Office of Strategic Budgeting & Planning mission statement, “responsive and financially transparent operations and activities…” are a core value of the department.
Mason Student Government requested that the university disclose the budget of each department receiving funds from mandatory fees.
Junior Gabriel Curtis, the Secretary of Administrative and Financial Affairs, explained that while the university disclosed the amounts of mandatory student fees each department received, detailed budgets were not made available.
“Regarding the Mandatory Student Fee, the university has disclosed how much [of] mandatory student fees different departments receive. A request was made for the budgets of these departments… this information has not been provided.” Curtis said.
Student Body President Paul Wyche confirmed that the university has no legal obligation to release the requested material.
“While the Student Government has not been provided with the requested information… the university isn’t obligated by any law to provide said information.” Wyche said.
According to the Code of Virginia, universities are only required to provide information regarding in-state tuition and reduced rate tuition eligibility.
Wyche expressed that disclosing budget information aligned with his administration’s Mandatory Student Fee Transparency Initiative. This initiative aims to offer Mason students a precise understanding of how their tuition is allocated.
“We want to make sure that [the] programs being funded are what students actually want,” Wyche said. “We want to make sure every dollar a student spends on fees and tuition each semester is used as efficiently as possible.”
Wyche further said, “We are currently in the ‘waiting for a reply or meeting’ phase, arguably the longest phase.”
As of Dec. 18, George Mason University has yet to provide the specific materials as requested by Mason Student Government.
