Your fees. Your choice.
A student election is coming up the week of April 26 where you’ll be asked to vote on four referendums affecting student fees.
Student Government has been working hard to make sure all current and future students are included in the services offered and that they stay relevant to the needs of changing enrollment. After much research and data, Student Government recommends voting YES on each of the following proposals.
Vote #1: Student Activity Fee
Vote #2: Recreation Center Bond Fees
Vote #3: Recreation Center Non-Bond Fees
Vote #4: Health Services Fees
Student Referendums FAQ
Here are answers to some of the questions you might have.
A formal vote in which the student body is asked to approve or reject a specific proposal that directly affects students, most often related to student fees, student government policies, or major campus initiatives.
- Ensure student voice and majority consent, especially around fees.
- Promote transparency and collaboration of students with campus leadership.
- Provide legitimacy for decisions that impact the student experience.
- Maintain services for you and future students.
- To maintain inclusivity as RRCC changes, so that online students are now included in the student fees.
Vote #1: Student Life: Student Activity Fee Referendum
This fee will allow Student Life to expand programming, including events and services, to include online students. Existing programming will not be cut but will be accessible to online students.
Vote #2: Student Recreation Center Bond Referendum
This referendum allows the bond, or loan, that was used to build the student recreation center, to be paid off on time and without having to use reserves that would reduce other student services.
Vote #3: Student Recreation Center Operating Referendum
This fee is intended to maintain and potentially expand hours and offerings of the Student Recreation Center. The fee will also expand access for online students to both the Student Recreation Center-Lakewood and the Arvada Fitness Center.
Vote #4: Student Health and Counseling Center Referendum
This fee is intended to expand mental health services by adding a new full-time counselor. The counselor may offer virtual services.
Without the proposed fee increases, certain student service hours and programs would be reduced, as existing funds are not enough to cover rising costs. This could impact areas such as student activities, campus programming, support service hours, staffing, and resources that contribute to the overall student experience. The impacts for each fee are identified below:
Vote #1: Student Life: Student Activity Referendum
Student clubs, leadership programming, Student Government, Phi Theta Kappa, New Student Orientation, student employee opportunities, and student activities could be reduced from their current programming and offerings to students. Possible service hours could be affected at both campuses. In addition, online students will not have access.
Vote #2: Student Recreation Center Bond Referendum
The bond payment must be made regardless of whether this fee passes. Without the new fees from this vote, the bond would be paid using reserves that could otherwise go to student services.
Vote #3: Student Recreation Center Operating Referendum
Student Recreation Center and the Arvada Fitness Center hours will be reduced, and programming will be cut including offerings of fitness classes, adventure trips, sports, and experiences. It will also prevent us from maintaining or updating fitness equipment and facilities. In addition, online students will not have access to the facilities or offerings.
Vote #4: Student Health and Counseling Center Fee Referendum
General and behavioral health services at both the Lakewood and Arvada campuses will be cut, including mental health counselors, leaving students without much needed care.
These referendums are about investing in the student experience now and for future student generations. Your vote ensures student voices are heard, helps sustain important services, and gives you the opportunity to leave a meaningful legacy at RRCC.
These referendums impact students taking classes in‑person, online, as well as future RRCC students. If approved, online students will gain access to student services and resources supported by these fees. Notably, 73% of RRCC online students live within 15 miles of campus, meaning many are likely to benefit directly from access to on‑campus services and facilities. To maintain inclusivity as more students choose online, virtual students are now included in the student fees.
RRCC has made it clear that student fees and programming have been operating under unsustainable fiscal conditions, and that long-overdue improvements are necessary to better serve students.
As representatives of the student body, we want to make sure that any discussions about student fee increases would match the needs that students have expressed. Moving forward, we want the student services we depend on to be sustainable.
In collaboration with RRCC leadership, we, the Student Government, spent the past six months reviewing the realities of enrollment, demographics demonstrating increased online participation, and the needs students have expressed.
We believe that we have crafted the referendums in a way that represent an investment in our community and empower our student body to give future students a chance to have access to helpful services.
The student fees fund Student Life, Student Recreation, and the Student Health and Counseling Center.
Student Life includes:
- Student clubs, leadership programming, student government, PTK, new student orientation, student employee opportunities, and student activities.
Student Recreation Center includes:
- Student Recreation Center & Arvada Fitness Center
- Facility Spaces: Gym courts, Fitness Studios, Rock Wall, Lounge Spaces, Rest & Relaxation Lounge, Weightlifting Area, Cardio Equipment Ara, Functional Training / Stretching Area, Massage Chris, Gaming Lounge, Locker Room Facilities.
- Programs: Rock Wall, Adventure Trips, Sport Clubs, Intramurals, Wellness Offerings, Group Fitness, Personal Training
The Student Health and Counseling Center:
- The center provides general medical services including behavioral health counseling to students.
Yes. While this is your right, we have taken careful consideration in crafting the fees and would recommend four yes votes to move us to a uniform and equitable system for these fees and to allow for sustainability of these important resources for students. If you are having doubts about any part of this, please reach out and ask us any questions.
Email: RRCC.StudentGov@rrcc.edu
No. As the student fees are managed now, the fee will be included for all students.
New fee structures would go into effect July 1, 2026.
We have sought to propose increases that will make these services sustainable for multiple years. Student referendums are pursued and managed by the student body. If students feel more resources are needed to meet their needs, you always have a say and student fees can be revisited once per year. If you are impassioned to join this process, consider joining Student Government! Come to three consecutive meetings to become a member.
In April 2014, Student Government held a referendum to construct and operate a new Student Recreation Center. In April 2012, Student Government held a referendum to open and operate our Student Health and Counseling Center.
The vote will be marketed for 30 days from March 27th until April 25th. The vote will be open for 7 days from April 26th to May 2nd. The vote will be digital and anonymous. Professional campus staff will count the votes.
You will have results via email within 4 days of the conclusion of the vote.
All RRCC students can vote, including online RRCC students.
Vote #1: Student Life: Student Activity Referendum
The Student Activity Fee Referendum changes who pays and how much. Instead of a fee based on the number of credits students take, there will be a flat fee per semester, which aligns to other fees. For some students, the new fee amount of $47.95, will represent a decrease compared to what they currently pay for this fee of $71.37.
For example, the current fee is $7.93 per credit, so someone who takes 9 credits per semester is currently paying $71.37, and if the referendum is approved would just pay $47.95 regardless of how many credits the student takes.
Vote #2: Student Recreation Center Bond Referendum
The Recreation Center Bond Fee Referendum will increase the amount of this fee and will also change who pays. Currently, this fee is charged to students who take courses on campus. If approved, the referendum would also allow RRCC to charge students who take courses online. The Proposed Fee will be a flat fee of $73.50 per fall and spring semester and $44.10 per summer semester.
Vote #3: Student Recreation Center Operating Referendum
The Recreation Center Fee Referendum changes who pays and how much.
Similar to Vote #1, if this referendum is approved, more students (including those who only take online courses) will be paying this fee and would gain new access. By increasing the number of students paying this fee, the amount per student is decreased to $55.65 for fall and spring semesters and $33.38 per summer semester.
Vote #4: Student Health and Counseling Center Referendum
The Referendum on Health Services changes the amount of this existing fee. The fee currently is charged to all students, except those who are concurrently enrolled. That part won’t change. It is currently $29.32 per fall and spring semesters and $14.64 for the summer semester.
If approved, this fee would be increased to $50.70 for the fall and spring semesters and $25.34 for the summer semester.
For all four referendums, students who are concurrently enrolled will not be charged the fees and will not have access to these services.
