The past and current status of the student activity fee is reviewed from the perspectives of the legislature, state agency or state board of control, case law, and institutional trends. The analysis is based upon four national studies, a review of case law, and a campus model for the administration of student activity fees. Various states have enacted legislation that either specifically defines the role of the state in the student fee process or gives power to statewide or local boards of trustees to set fee policies or guidelines. Differences of authority that exist among several states are briefly described, along with definitions of student activity fees and their use in different states. The legal issues include: a college's right to assess mandatory student activity fees, students' claims that their First Amendment rights are violated because of the college's opposition to the funding of particular groups and activities, the allocation of student fees, and the constitutional validity of collection schemes. Information is presented on the results of a survey of colleges concerning student activity fees policies and practices. The survey questionnaire and a list of court cases are included. (SW)