Associated Students Inc. legislation is in the works that would give members a pay raise and compensate them through scholarships instead of stipends.

ASI President Jesus Andrade proposed the legislation that will raise the income of both executive officers and directors: $12,000 to $16,800 for president; $10,200 to $13,200 for executive vice president and vice president of finance; $10,200 to $11,400 for vice president of University Affairs and vice president of Academic Affairs; and $3,600 to $6,900 for all other directors.

ASI is funded through a $120.50 per semester student fee.

Taxes will not be deducted from members’ income.

Executive Director Pat Worley said according to the ASI Operating Rules, the president evaluates the level of compensation the board receives.

Worley said board members can be treated as employees, but by stipend, they are classified as exempt hourly waged employees.

As the board’s committee has been meeting, it found ASI is no longer meeting all criteria, because being on ASI is not meant to be a 40-hour week job, Worley said.

“The board has not received a raise in five years. We feel that it is time to increase compensation, especially with the high cost of living, tuition, books, rent,” Andrade said.

Director of Arts and Letters Christina Romero also said it is time for a raise.

“Due to the cost of living increases in California, the cost of fees constantly increasing, and the heavy amount of work executives and directors take on while in office, I do believe it is time board members receive an increase,” Romero said. Andrade said ASI asks board members to do a lot more than what they compensated for. He said ASI has the budget to give raises.

He said on top of being paid more, office hours of board members will be expanded, as well as their participation with ASI.

ASI had two options to choose from in which it could be paid: scholarship or hourly pay.

There are three types of scholarships: institutional, departmental and community.

Director of Financial Aid Craig Yamamoto said if ASI votes to be paid by scholarship, the organization will assemble a committee and select the recipients.

Institutional and community scholarships do not apply to ASI. Institutional scholarships comprises of a committee of faculty, staff and students, while community scholarships are selected from outside the university.

“All scholarships are coordinated through the Scholarship Office and the Financial Aid Office; this is a requirement for federal and state financial aid programs to coordinate financial aid award packages which include scholarships,” Yamamoto said.

Romero said if ASI chose hourly pay, it would be contradictory to ASI standards because it’ll take away from hour flexibility.

“We would have set hours, and wouldn’t be able to serve the students the same,” Romero said.

Executive Vice President Curtis Grima said in an e-mail interview that he would support the proposal if the board of directors supports it.

“ASI board members work up to 40 hours a week, and they deserve adequate pay,” said Grima.

Grima also said in his four-year involvement with ASI, the board members’ pay has not been reviewed.

As senator of Associated Students of University of California, Davis (ASUCD) and paid by a stipend, Albert Parnell said being paid by scholarship seems beneficial.

“I believe that the scholarship method will be great, because it does not take money out of students’ hands that they need,” Parnell said.

Parnell said because ASUCD falls under the 501 section of the IRS, they are tax exempt.

He said ASUCD receives a $99 stipend every two weeks.

Unlike UC Davis, Associated Students of California State University, San Luis Obispo, are paid by scholarship, a method that students also find worthwhile.

“I feel that it (scholarship compensation) is more fair to them (associated students) in that manner. Not only does it ensure that the money is properly spent, but also it helps to ‘weed-out’ some people who might run for office for the wrong reasons,” said Lindsey Bauer, board of director of engineering.

Only four officers of Associated Students of San Luis Obispo State receive a scholarship for being in office. Those who serve on the Board of Directors or on Executive Staff are not paid, Bauer said.

She said she does not think any of the Board of Directors mind the fact that they are not paid.

“Our positions don’t require the same level of commitment as the officers. We understand what we are getting ourselves into before we run for office,” she said.

At the next board meeting tomorrow, ASI will vote on the legislation. Romero will abstain from voting, due to her running for presidency for the upcoming election.

Andrade said a speaker will discuss the pros and cons of using the scholarship method at the meeting.

Jacqueline Tualla can be reached at [email protected]