Club fees add barriers for students

San José State’s Division of Student Affairs addresses rules surrounding new semester and yearly club fees.

With the fall semester underway, clubs have begun the year with introducing membership fees and some maintaining past fees.

Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs), a part of the Division of Student Affairs, offer students a way to get involved on campus through academic, sports or religious groups, according to the Student Involvement webpage.

Stephanie Rudd, an RSO student engagement coordinator, explained what rules are in place for student clubs who choose to integrate fees.

“Membership fees are allowed and organizations have the power to decide how much they want to charge and what the fees will be used for,” Rudd said.

Though organizations have the authority to charge fees for entry, she said charges could have an impact on student involvement. 

“When I meet with student organization leaders, I review their constitutions and make sure the fees are not substantial and explain to student orgs that putting a fee to join can create some barriers for students,” Rudd said.
Clubs geared towards specific majors have taken note of this and have reflected it in its prices.

The SJSU Chemistry Club introduced its membership fee last spring and is now continuing it during this fall semester.

The club brings students together who are willing to explore the world of chemistry outside a classroom setting, according to the club’s website.

Victoria Nguyen, president of the SJSU Chemistry Club and chemistry student, explained the fee student members are paying to enter.

“The club fee is $5 for one semester, $10 for the whole year,” Nguyen said. “Since the Chem Club already struggles to attract new members, $5 was a good trial amount to start with…”

Because the club is relatively new to the membership fee and has shown to work, the club doesn’t plan on raising the fee soon.

Nguyen said both the semester and yearly fee gives student members access to volunteer opportunities throughout the semester.

Being involved in any co-curricular activity is shown to benefit students in their career aspirations, according to a 2020 research study conducted by Ohio State University.

“The club fee not only helps fund club activities, such as the winter formal event, it also enables us to accurately count the official number of members we have,” Nguyen said.

In the past, Nguyen said the organization had to estimate who was active in the club but with the new fee they are able to keep track of that.

Skyler Burgess, social media manager and a member of the SJSU Chemistry Club, discussed what active engagement in the club has gained him even with a fee.

“The events and volunteer experiences I’ve enjoyed and connections I’ve made, I feel, are more than worth $5 a semester,” Burgess said.

It has been proven that participation and engagement in a learning environment is connected to success, according to a 2023 journal article on the dynamic of student behavior and student environment.

However when money is involved, some students feel added pressure to participate actively.

Sara Berarducci, a first-year electrical engineering student, explained how fee memberships affect participation.

“You’re not going to get your money’’s worth out of it unless you know the club well and know you are going to be deeply involved in it,” Berarducci said.

In a 2016 journal article about the relationship between financial strain and academic and social strain in undergraduate students, found perceived stress impacts how students connect socially.

“I think students just join clubs for experience and to meet people who are interested in similar things and if you have to pay a membership fee, it’s less worth it,” Berarducci said.

A 2021 study from Sage Open Medicine on understanding the effects of money related stress on student wellness, concluded financial stress impacts student’s social lives.
“Some of them have $50 fees for a year and it’s like at that point I’ll join some other club that doesn’t require me to pay,” Berarducci said.

SJSU’s Management Information Systems Association (MISA), an organization that prepares students for careers in fields of business and technology, is one of the student organizations which charges a greater fee.

The club’s membership fee begins at $25 per semester and $45 for a year which would allow students to gain access to exclusive events, according to the SJSU MISA Club website.

Lilith Kelly, a first-year applied math student, acknowledged why fee memberships exist for student organizations. 

“I’m aware that these memberships are one of the main ways that clubs get funding,” Kelly said. “But at the same time it’s not completely accessible to students who don’t have the money to pay for that.”

Some students also question whether the benefits justify the membership cost.

She added how the possibility of paying to be a member just for exclusive perks is not worth it.

“I don’t like it when it’s a membership fee just to be a part of the club,” Kelly said. 

With this being a concern for some students, the SJSU Chemistry Club understands the struggle for students paying the fee.

“If someone is unsure if they’re able to pay, the club is open to discussing it with them,” Burgess said.