Sonoma State University (SSU) administrators are considering another fee for "Academic Success" that would make up for the school's budget shortcomings.

According to the Press Democrat, the Academic Success fee will add about $500 on top of campus fees that are already among the most expensive in the state university system. A proposed budget from Gov. Jerry Brown is an increase of $142 million for the 23 schools that make up the California State University (CSU) system.

Brown's proposed budget does not reach the CSU board's enrollment demand of $237. At about $250 per semester, the Academic Success fee will cost students an additional $2,000 for four years of schooling.

"It would be in response to the dip in state funding," provost Andrew Rogerson told the Press Democrat. "One hundred percent would be used for academics."

The fee would be used to hire professors, offer more classes for courses that are highly demanded and other ways to help students graduate in four years. If approved, it would take effect for the next fall semester. Rogerson said the proposal has not been decided on and the school's administrators are still seeking input on the subject.

"We have yet to receive a detailed plan as to what the Academic Success fee will include. Such a plan is expected from the Provost's office in the next few weeks," said Mac Hart, SSU president of Associated Students. "In the meantime we are conducting extensive outreach throughout campus to get input from students as to their perspective on the issue and if a fee is the type of solution they are interested in pursuing further."

Full-time undergraduates currently pay $2,736 per semester in addition to $902 in campus fees. The campus fees already rank third most expensive in the CSU system. Administrators insist the fee hikes are to benefit the students' experience, but some students do not see it that way.

"It isn't petty money," Pauline Meehan, a junior criminal justice major told the Press Democrat of the additional $500 annual charge. "They keep raising and raising fees and we don't see anything from it. I don't see why they can't make what we're paying now work."

SSU director of financial aid Susan Gutierrez said financial aid packages are covering less and less and would likely not include the new fee. The Cal Grant from the state does not cover campus fees, just tuition. Only with a federal Plus Loan can families get the additional fees included in their financial aid packages.

"Given the current state of the economy, it's been very difficult in the last six or seven years for families to pay for college," Gutierrez said. "The portion that students and families are paying is going up, and the state is paying less."