Student Life

Student Enhancement Fee

What does an undergraduate student's enhancement fee provide?

The Student Enhancement fee of $310 is applicable to undergraduates and the funds go directly to Student Life to help subsidize important student activities such as events and concerts, cultural programs, wellness programs, and other student initiatives.

The Enhancement Fee Committee, comprised of undergraduate students and Student Life staff,
allocated around $600,000 in 2025-2026 for events and initiatives sponsored by the
enhancement fee.

Categories Include:

Go Big: These are the large-scale, fun events! The Go Big category is intended to support large events that create memorable experiences for students. Examples include festivals, concerts, comedians, and weekend activities.

Belonging: This category is intended to help students create a greater sense of belonging on campus. With deliberate attention to fostering students’ sense of connection to Saint Mary’s, events from the year that were captured by this category included enhanced welcome events, the diversity dance, the annual Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration, events as part of International Women’s Month and sexual assault awareness month, and student-driven programs such as the Black Experience and Dia del Nino. The annual Cultural Celebration in spring has become a staple of the programming calendar.

Exploration: The category of exploration includes the outdoor adventure program, which has gone on river rafting, camping, taken trips to Santa Cruz and Monterey, and off-campus glass blowing trips. These, free, once in a lifetime opportunities take advantage of the local Bay Area and beyond. The annual ski trip is a popular event and this year’s outdoor adventures included partnerships with the Black Student Union and Residence Hall Association, along with trips to TopGolf and local thrift stores.

Wellness: Supporting students’ mind, body, and soul, the wellness category is intended to support student success by offering activities and initiatives that nourish students. Wellness initiatives included increased fitness classes (yoga, Pilates, spin, etc.), a series of events during Veterans Week, guest speakers and workshops, and support for student events surrounding health and wellbeing such as the wellness fair and stress management fairs. The annual Teal Out events (sexual assault awareness) and popular finals week Smash-a-Plate support student wellness initiatives.

Student Development: The category of student development provides opportunities for students to develop their skills and talents through engaging and intentional programming. These activities are intended to enhance student engagement and have supported leadership development and student website opportunities, including a leadership conference, micro-grants for student-driven events, and the development of leadership programs.

SMC Roller Skate Night, Sofia Mastroianni

2025-2026 Enhancement Fee Proposals

The application for the 2025-2026 student enhancement fee is now open! We recommend first reviewing the application to ensure you have all of the information & materials that are requested. Utilize the chart below to prepare your application materials.

2025-2026 Enhancement Fee Application

We are currently accepting proposals for Spring '26!

What happens once I submit an application?

A member of the Enhancement Fee Committee will email you with any questions or comments.
The Enhancement Fee Committee will review the materials and determine: a) approval; b) need for further information or modification; c) denial or request to re-submit. This process takes 3-4 weeks.
The Chair, or designee, will contact the collaborators with the results of the application. If approved, details on next steps will be included.

The Enhancement Fee Committee includes representatives from Student Life departments including members of the Intercultural Center, Campus Rec & Club Sports, CARE/Wellness, Residential Experience, Student Disabilities Services, Campus Safety, and students including an at-large undergraduate student, Associated Students Vice President for Student Organizations, Associated Students Vice President for Finance, and Chair of the Campus Activities Board. The Vice President of Student Life serves as the Chair of the committee and is a non-voting member.