What Are Students Paying Into?
Each semester, University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) students are charged a flat University Program and Facility Fees (UPFF), also known as student fees. Often, students don’t know exactly where these fees are going or who decides how their money is spent.
The funds generated through UPFF are essential to provide services that enhance the student experience, support student success, and contribute to overall well-being. Facilities and services covered through UPFF include campus recreation, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), and more.
UPFF amounts are split into two categories. The first, Fund A, covers programs and activities managed by student groups and represents about 4% of the semesterly UPFF bill. Fund B is the second category, representing about 96% of the bill. The money is used to fund staff salaries, make bond payments, and cover maintenance-related operating costs.
The Student Government Association (SGA) at UNO advises the university on how to allocate Fund A revenue based on annual budget requests and uses the revenue to cover operating expenses.
SGA actively works to keep fees as reasonable as possible, ensuring that every dollar a student pays is invested in something they can benefit from during their college enrollment.
Understanding Fund A: From Request to Approval
Board of Regents Policy (BOR) 5.9.1 and UNO policy require the allocation of Fund A monies to be restricted to the following three organizations on each campus: (1) student government, (2) student programming, and (3) student newspaper (also known as Tier 1 organizations).
According to Board Policy, the organizations receiving Fund A support “must benefit a broad-based student population.” Student governments may not distribute Fund A monies to individuals, except in the form of wages for services performed, nor to groups or organizations that are not established by and under the direct control of student government.
BOR policy also requires campuses to establish and adhere to a review and approval process for all student fees, including Fund A fees. The Student Activities Budget Commission (SABC) at UNO is a body made up of students, faculty, and staff to manage the Fund A approval process. In the spring, student groups that would like to receive Fund A fees present their requests along with past spending histories before the SABC. At the end of the presentations, SABC approves the final Fund A budget and recommends it to the Student Senate. Once the Student Senate approves the budget, the final document is then voted on by students at large through the annual SGA elections, sent to the Associate Vice Chancellor for the Division of Student Life and Wellbeing, and then to the Chancellor for final approval.
Regarding UPFF assessments and allocations, as in all other matters, the University of Nebraska does not discriminate on the basis of gender, age, disability, race, color, religion, marital status, veteran status, national or ethnic origin, or sexual orientation.
Student Fee Allocations
The table below shows the approved allocations of UPFF Fund A for FY 2025-2026. These allocations have been approved by the Student Activities Budget Commission (SABC) and the Student Government Association Senate in accordance with NU Board of Regents policies. This fee is “Per Student Per Semester Assessment”; the figure is an approximation based on projected enrollment for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. Approval of this referendum has reduced the fee from $26.48 to $20.02, resulting in a $6.46 per-student reduction.
While most students pay a fee that supports Fund A, those who wish to opt out may submit a formal UPFF Fund A Fee Refund Application.
| Total | $723,513.56 | $20.02 |
| Organization | 2026-2027 Allocation | Portion of Student Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Student Government Association | $464,075.16 | $12.84 |
| Student Government Association – General Budget | $89,214.00 | $2.47 |
| Student Legal Services | $218,589.76 | $6.05 |
| American Multicultural Students (AMS) | $21,559.00 | $0.60 |
| First Generation Student Association (FGSA) | $23,741.40 | $0.66 |
| International Student Services (ISS) | $19,959.00 | $0.55 |
| Network for Disability Awareness (NDA) | $17,459.00 | $0.48 |
| Queer and Trans Services (QTS) | $25,944.00 | $0.72 |
| Women and Gender Equity Center (WGEC) | $47,609.00 | $1.32 |
| Other Student Fee-Funded Organizations | ||
| The Gateway - Campus Newspaper | $134,438.40 | $3.72 |
| Maverick Productions (MavPro) - Campus Programming Board | $125,000 | $3.46 |
*Totals may vary due to rounding.
The Student Government Association maintains direct care and control of its student agencies, which operate as official entities of SGA under its Executive Branch and receive funding through the SGA budget.
Purchasing Process
Each entity operates under rigorous governing documents, internal procedures, and financial policies. Advisors are responsible for monitoring expenditures to ensure alignment with university expectations and that funds serve the broad-based student population, in accordance with the Board of Regents policy 5.9.1.
Financial transactions, reconciliations, and budget oversight are managed in collaboration with each Tier I organization's professional advisor and the Business Office Administration Technician. Tier 1 organizations are subject to the policies outlined in their internal operating procedures and in those of the university and UNO Student Organizations, Inc.