Instructionally Related Activities (IRA)
Charge/Mission:
An advisory committee on instructionally related activities was formed to advise the campus President regarding both the level of the fee and allocation of fee revenue. This appointment reflects the responsibility to counsel applicants regarding proposals toward meeting the criteria for instructionally related activities as defined in Education Code Section 89230 and in the University document, "Instructionally Related Activities Advisory Board Operating Policies and Procedures", as amended April 27, 2015.
Forms and Documents:
2024-2025
- 2024-2025 IRA Budget
- 2024-2025 IRA Memorandum
- 2024-2025 IRA Supplemental Budget Request Form (Closing February 15th, 2025)
- IRA Change of Purpose Request Form (Closing February 15th, 2025)
Other
Description of Membership:
The advisory committee is composed of: two (2) administrators and two (2) faculty members appointed by the University President and four (4) students appointed by the Associated Students President.
Faculty members are appointed for a term of two (2) years and representation is rotated between the academic colleges. An administrator representing the academic division of the University serves as the representative of the President.
Committee Classification:
Advisory to the President
Announcement:
2024-2025 IRA application opens: Friday February 2nd, 2024
2024-2025 IRA application deadline: Friday March 1st, 2024
IRA Contact:
Tim Szczepanski
IRA Board Secretary
email: tim.s@csun.edu
Callie Juarez
President's Representative
email: callie.juarez@csun.edu
Frequently Asked Questions:
IRA is an abbreviation for Instructionally Related Activities. It is a student fee designed to provide for out-of-class experiences for students participating in an academic program, discipline, or department where those experiences are integrally related to one of its instructional courses. Such activities are deemed essential for providing a quality educational program and constitute a vital and/or enhanced instructional experience for students.
It was established by the CSU in 1978 to support activities considered instructionally related:
- intercollegiate athletics;
- radio, television and film projects;
- music and dance;
- drama and musical productions;
- art exhibits;
- forensics;
- publications including periodic newspapers and other laboratory experience basic to journalism
- and literary training, and
- other activities associated with other instructional areas which are consistent with purposes
- included in the above. From the outset, Model United Nations and agricultural judging were
- included in this category.
Also in 1978 and since, IRA precludes use for:
- athletic grants-in-aid
- “matters which are tuitional” (sic)
- faculty compensation
- purchase or rental of films
- at CSUN, faculty travel
Matriculated CSUN students pay $23 per student per semester (including summer $22 per student). In addition, the CSUN Associated Students contribute approximately $750,000 each year in support of IRA activities.
Unlike other student fees, only faculty can request IRA funding. Applications for the subsequent academic year typically are available in late February and must be submitted at an announced date in March. During the course of the subsequent year, faculty can request funding for activities that had not been anticipated during the annual process and can ask for amendments to their annual allocation. Additionally, please note that Supplemental and Change of Purpose requests are due by February 15th.
A handful of allocations are determined by policy-driven formulae (administrative fees, copyrights and intercollegiate athletics). The allocation of the rest of the fee is managed by the IRA Advisory Board which comprises four students, two faculty and two administrators. They consider requests and make recommendations to the campus president (or her or his designee) who makes the final decision.