SAN DIEGO – A fee paid by San Diego State University students that helps fund intercollegiate athletics will increase by $80 per semester, SDSU President Stephen Weber announced Wednesday.

The so-called Instructionally Related Activity, or IRA fee, which is now $95, will go up starting next fall semester.

The money raised by the fee will be used to provide general budget support for intercollegiate athletics, fund two new women's sports, a student spirit initiative and clubs, according to SDSU.

“The increase in the IRA fee is necessary to support athletic programs at SDSU and to meet CSU-mandated gender equity goals for our women's NCAA sports programs,” Weber said in a statement. “And, thousands of our students will directly benefit from increased support for club sports and programs to foster school spirit and participation.”

The increase was recently recommended by the Campus Fee Advisory Committee.