The Associated Students of Michigan State University, or ASMSU, collects $18 from every student each semester as part of tuition. $1.25 of that goes toward buying USA Today subscriptions for every student. With a predicted enrollment of 94,621 for the 2016-17 fiscal year, that leaves ASMSU with more than $1.5 million to spend within their organization.
This year, ASMSU was not able to release individual salary information because of restrictions under FERPA. However, their 2013-14 budget does show individual salaries.
This fiscal year, about $276,000 of ASMSU’s budget will go towards paying employees in the five different sections of ASMSU. Here’s a look at how ASMSU is paying its staff of more than 30 students.
1. ASMSU Central Staff
Total Payroll: $89,861
What you could buy with that payroll: About 28 platinum meal plans
ASMSU’s chief of staff, a student position, is responsible for overseeing the central staff, the highest paid department in ASMSU. The central staff consists of seven different departments: human resources, marketing, public relations, liaison for diversity and inclusion initiatives, controller, information technology and an internship program. In ASMSU’s 2013-14 budget, the chief of staff is the highest paid position in the department, earning $8,910.
2. Red Cedar Log
Total Payroll: $60,257.50
What you could buy with that payroll: About12 designated single dorm rooms
The Red Cedar Log is the official yearbook of MSU, and ASMSU allotted about 12 percent of their budget to this publication in 2016-17. The Red Cedar Log employs various student staff members to produce the yearbook, including an editor-in-chief who made $7,560 in the 2013-14 fiscal year. Other paid positions on The Red Cedar Log staff include business manager, managing editors, copy editor, design staff, photography staff, journalism staff, photography interns, journalism interns and distribution interns.
3. Office of the President
Total Payroll: $57,777.50
What you could buy with that payroll: About 1,031 new iClickers from the Spartan Bookstore
All of the positions in the office of the president department are filled by students who are elected to that position by ASMSU’s general assembly of representatives. Aside from the president, the office also includes five vice presidents: one for academic affairs, finance and operations, governmental affairs, internal administration and student allocations. In their 2013-14 budget, the president’s salary is listed as $10,350 and the vice presidents as $8,910 each.
4. Business Office Manager
Total Payroll: $45,100
What you could buy with that payroll: About 44,100 cookies from Insomnia Cookies
In the 2013-14 fiscal year, the business office manager was a full-time position a salary of $35,700. The department includes other administrative assistances, but the business office manager is the primary position.
5. Governmental Affairs
Total Payroll: $23,710
What you could buy with that payroll: About 135 student season passes to MSU football
The office of governmental affairs is concerned with civic engagement on campus, especially getting students registered to vote and informing students about issues related to upcoming elections. This department includes a community liaison and and state liaison position, both of which were paid $6,300 in the 2013-14 fiscal year.
