Associated Students Inc. implemented two major changes in August. Not only did it amend its compensation method, but the 14 board members received a total pay increase of $19, 404 in scholarship funds.

Just last year, ASI was paid by stipend and as of this semester, board members are paid by scholarship through Financial Aid. The adjustment was due to discrepancies with the term “non- exempt employee” and how the board operated.

ASI Executive Director Pat Worley said the board was no longer in compliance using its old compensation method.

“We realistically found we were not meeting all the requirements of an exempt employee status for our board of directors, so we needed to stop and recognize that in reality, we didn’t have them classified correctly. We weren’t managing that in line with current state and federal regulation,” Whorley said.

The amount of money each board member makes is dependent on Sacramento State’s Cost of Attendance, an estimation of how much the average student pays while attending Sac State. Cost of attendance is calculated by the school’s financial office.

This year’s estimation was $18,990.

Each member will receive the following percentage of the estimate: 75 percent for president, 63 percent for executive vice president and vice president of finance, 56 percent for vice president of University Affairs and Academic Affairs and 28 percent for directors.

Most members will benefit from the pay increase.

The following is a comparison of how much members were paid last year and how much they’re paid this year: $12,000 to $14,243 for president, $10,200 to $11,964 for executive vice president and vice president of finance, $10,200 to $10,635 for vice president of University Affairs and Academic Affairs and $3,600 to $5,318 for directors.

Since the money is considered financial aid, some members who already have financial aid may encounter issues, said Director of Financial Aid Craig Yamamoto.

“We may have to adjust their financial aid if the financial aid rules stipulate much,” Yamamoto said.

Andres Perez can be reached at [email protected].