Instructionally Related Activities (IRA) Fee

The IRA fee is a campus-based mandatory fee that must be paid to apply, enroll in, or attend the University every semester for all students. A breakdown of all mandatory fees is linked at the bottom of this page. The IRA fee is charged to students as one fee, but is distributed in the following manner per semester:

• 0-6 Units: IRA Rate $201.00
  • Athletics = $156.51
  • SHIFT (Sustainable Humboldt Innovation Futures Trust) = $8.00
  • IRA Committee = $19.18
  • Jack Pass = $17.31
• 6.1+ Units: IRA Rate $337.00
  • Athletics = $262.41
  • SHIFT (Sustainable Humboldt Innovation Futures Trust) = $13.41
  • IRA Committee = $32.16
  • Jack Pass = $29.02

Per California Education Code 89230, programs requesting approval for funding from IRA funds must meet one of the following criteria to be considered eligible.

Intercollegiate Athletics

• Costs necessary for a basic competitive program including equipment, supplies, and scheduled travel not now provided by the State. Athletic funding from the IRA fund is guaranteed per student-approved referendum.

Radio, Television and Film

• Costs related to the provision of basic “hands-on” experiences not now provided by the State.

Music and Dance Performances

• Costs to provide experience in individual and group performance (including recitals) before audiences and in settings sufficiently varied to familiarize students with performing.

Drama and Musical Performances

• Basic support of theatrical and operatic activities sufficient to permit experience with performance, production, set design, and other elements considered a part of professional training in these fields.

Publications

• Costs to support and operate basic publication programs, including a periodic newspaper and other laboratory experiences related to journalism and literary training.

Forensics

• Activities designed to provide experience in debate, public speaking, and related programs including travel required for a competitive debate program.

Art Exhibits

• Support for student art shows given in connection with degree programs.

Other Activities Activities associated

• Activities associated with other instructional areas, which are consistent with the purposes included in the above, may be added as identified and approved by the campus President.

Other Programs and Considerations

• A program that does not meet one of the established categories (1-9 above) may be considered an IRA-eligible program if the program is a primary component of a class in which academic credit is earned at Humboldt and is closely related to and/or in support of the classroom study.

Students at Cal Poly Humboldt contribute $32.16 (for students with 6.1 units+) or $19.18 (for students below 6 units) to the Instructionally Related Activities (IRA) committee allocation every semester. Each spring, the committee calls for and reviews applications for funds from the IRA Fee revenue. The fee enriches the campus community and enhances the educational value of our degrees, but it isn’t covered by tuition or individual course fees. 

The committee is chaired by the Associated Students President or their designee. It includes five students appointed by the Associated Students President, along with three faculty members and two administrators appointed by the University President. Ex-officio members include the Director of Athletics, the Executive Director of Associated Students, and the Vice President of Enrollment Management or their designee.

Each spring, the committee reviews funding requests using the following criteria:

Educational Impact

• Demonstrated educational benefits of the program
• Clearly identified student learning outcomes
• Overall educational value to the University
• Importance of the program to the University as a whole

Student Engagement

• Direct participation by students (number of active participants)
• Indirect benefits to the broader student community
• Overall cultural contribution to campus life

Program Efficiency & Financial Responsibility

• Cost per student participant (past and current)
• Comparison of program costs to similar offerings at Humboldt
• Efforts to generate additional income to support the activity
• Use of IRA Fee support versus General Fund appropriateness
• Total revenue maximization efforts
• Additional sources of funding already supporting the program

Program Quality & Sustainability

• Innovation and introduction of new ideas
• Program continuity over time
• Cost/benefit effectiveness of the program

IRA Guidelines 101: https://hum.link/IRA101