Wake the Lake is your chance to revitalize the student experience at the University of New Orleans not only for yourself, but for generations of future Privateers. Help us create something special for the future of our University and let's WAKE THE LAKE!

On November 7 and 8, all current Privateer students will have the opportunity to vote on the student-experience fee that would bring:

• Division I Football.
• Division I Women's Golf.
• Division I Women's Soccer.
• A Privateer Marching Band.
• Additional support for: student activities, intramural sports, club sports, diversity programs and student retention at the University of New Orleans.

Click here to view our Town Hall Presentation on Wake The Lake.

A yes vote enhances your student experience and benefits the University of New Orleans in multiple crucial ways.

• Football Boosts Enrollment
  Studies have shown that when Universities commit to adding football, enrollment climbs. Six schools similar to UNO (Georgia State, Incarnate Word, Old Dominion, UNC Charlotte, UTSA, and South Alabama) have added NCAA Football in recent years. Those schools averaged a 37.8% gain in enrollment in less than 10 years. Studies have shown that for every additional student-athlete from football almost two extra regular students enroll in school.
   
• A Football Stadium on the Lakefront / Other Facility Improvements
  As part of the Wake the Lake Project we will pursue the construction of a state of the art 20,000 seat football stadium on East Campus near Lakefront Arena and Maestri Field with plenty of space for parking and tailgating. The facility would also be able to bring in additional revenue for the University of New Orleans by hosting concerts, high school sports, professional soccer and more!  The potential football stadium would be privately funded and not take any resources from the student-experience fee.
   
• The Addition of Two Women’s Sports
  Before football’s first snap, the University will bring back its Women’s Golf program, and add Women’s Soccer for the first time – creating plenty of opportunities for young women to earn degrees and participate in Div. I athletics. 
   
• The Creation of a Privateer Marching Band
  The city of New Orleans is defined by its music. Imagine seeing the Privateer Marching Band marching down St. Charles during some of Mardi's Gras' biggest parades like Bacchus or Zulu, or along City Park Avenue on Endymion Saturday. Help us make that dream a reality.
   
• Intramural and Club Programs
  Would benefit from the increased enrollment by having more funds available both from a general increase in tuition revenue by the University, and from the increase in student-experience fee revenue. One percent of all income raised by the new student experience fees would go directly towards Intramural and Club programs at the University of New Orleans. In the first year this is projected to be around $40,000 - which can be used to purchase equipment, awards, and to cover travel costs to national intramural and club tournaments.
   
• Campus and Neighborhood Transformation
  A revitalized University of New Orleans campus would provide renovated and new residence halls for future Privateer students, and create compelling opportunities for local bars, restaurants and entertainment venues to build and invest in the Gentilly, Lakeview and Pontchartrain Park neighborhoods - all just minutes away from campus, also enhancing the student experience.
   
• Creation of Multiple Employment Opportunities
  With the addition of football, women's golf, women's soccer and the creation of new restaurants, bars and entertainment venues in the area there would be plenty of employment opportunities created both within the University and outside of it. The Athletic department would add multiple full time positions, internships and graduate assistantships.
   
• Leave a Permanent Legacy 
  This is your chance to create a lasting legacy at the University of New Orleans! When this student-experience fee passes, we will recognize every student in perpetuity - details to come. Young alumni will receive complimentary tickets to Privateer football games.

The short answer – probably nothing! The long answer:

• All UNO students currently pay a student-fee that varies both by the type of student (part-time or full-time), and by number of hours enrolled.
   
• You will vote on changing that sliding fee to a flat $300 per semester for part-time (under 12 hours a semester) students, or $400 per semester for full-time students (12 or more hours a semester). 
   
• Almost 80% of students do not pay this fee out of pocket right now, it is often covered by various forms of financial aid.

The current student athletic fee is on a sliding scale based on the number of hours you have enrolled in at the University of New Orleans.  

The scale is as follows:
•  1-3 hours:           $31.94
•  4-6 hours:           $62.34
•  7-9 hours:           $78.10
•  10-11 hours:       $93.98
•  12+ hours:          $100.00