Students will vote during the March 26-28 online elections on an assessed fee referendum that if passed will cost students carrying less than seven hours in fall and spring semesters and less than four hours in summer semesters 50 cents per credit hour. The University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Friday to grant Nicholls students the opportunity to vote on the referendum, which could cost part-time students a maximum of $3 in fall and spring and $1.50 in the summer.

If approved by the student body the fee will go into effect for the summer 2007 semester and will go towards the Student Government Association to fund services it provides such as the use of the copy machines, legal assistance and free scantrons and pencils distributed during finals as well as funding regular operations.

SGA Advisor Eugene Dial, vice president of student affairs and enrollment services, said all students have access to these services, but the students who the fee is aimed at do not pay any fees to the SGA. Students carrying seven or more hours during the fall and spring semesters and four or more hours during summer semesters do, however, pay for these services. They pay a $5 assessed fee to SGA in the fall and spring, while students carrying four hours or more in summer semesters pay $2.50.

“It (the fee) allows for the part-time students to contribute to the operations of the student government from which they receive a lot of benefits,” Dial said.

The fee would also permit any Nicholls student to be a part of SGA, Dial said. Currently only students carrying seven or more hours can serve on the SGA Senate.