University students have been digging deeper into their pockets to pay for the increasing costs of higher education, but today they will have the opportunity to say how much is too much.
Members of the University community are invited to attend a public hearing on proposed special fees, fines, penalties and service charges for the 2003-04 school year at 2:30 p.m. today in the EMU Walnut Room.
An 87-page packet details the special fees that include lab fees for science classes, physical education activity fees, parking fines, room rental fees and numerous other special fees.
Hilary Berkman, director of the Office of Student Advocacy, and ASUO Vice President Ben Buzbee are objecting to several of the proposed fee increases. Their main concerns are a 25 percent across the board increase in laboratory fees for art classes, a 100 percent increase in practicum fees for the College of Education, a 50 percent increase in bicycle storage locker fees and a $15 conduct administration fee for judicial hearings.
“We are very concerned with the trend of adding all these fees to individual classes when there are already resource fees for each major that you are enrolled in,” Buzbee said. “This is something that will have definite interest to students and their pocketbooks.”
Although some of the fees, such as the laboratory fees for art classes, are only increasing by $5, Buzbee and Berkman said it is important for people to realize that the special fees are another layer on top of tuition, resource fees, the energy surcharge, the technology fee, the building fee, the student incidental fee, the Student Recreation Center fee and the health service fee.
Buzbee said the special fees and fines lead to financial difficulties for students because the money is not a part of the tuition calculation, which makes it tricky for students dependent on financial aid to determine the cost of education.
“It raises the issue of students choosing their courses based on their financial ability to pay for them, and not on their overall educational goals,” Buzbee said.
However, several University staff members believe the proposed fee increases are justified.
Robert Melnick, dean of the School of Architecture and Allied Arts, said the $5 increase in laboratory fees for art classes is intended to save students money. He added the laboratory fees are used to purchase materials in bulk.
Associate Director of the Department of Public Safety Tom Hicks said the proposed bicycle storage locker fee increase is necessary because the lockers next to Oregon Hall are more than 10 years old and in need of replacement. The current fee is $25 for students, with a maximum charge of $100 allowed. The new proposed fee would bump the range up to a maximum of $150.
Chris Loschiavo, director of Student Judicial Affairs in the Office of Student Life, said the proposed $15 conduct administration fee for judicial hearings will make the process more equitable because there is already a $15 fee for cases heard in residence halls. He added that if the student is found not guilty, they will not be required to pay the new fee.
Contact the senior news reporter
at [email protected].