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Student fee hike proposed
Increase would support improved technology, parking services
By SUE WUETCHER
Reporter Editor
The comprehensive student fee would increase $25.50 a semester for full-time undergraduates—raising it to $680.50 beginning with the Fall 2003 semester—under a proposal by Dennis Black, vice president for student affairs.
The fee would increase $17 per semester for full-time graduate and professional students under the proposal, bringing it to $504.50 for the semester.
The proposed increase would support state-mandated fringe benefit increases for employees in all fee areas, required upgrades of police offer status, increased technology costs and services, improved parking and transportation services, and contribute to enhanced athletic and recreation programming.
Fees would continue to be prorated on a credit-hour basis for part-time students and the current waiver policy will be maintained. Individual student government mandatory activity fees would continue to be assessed in addition to the comprehensive fee.
The proposed per-semester increase includes $11.75 for technology, $4 for transportation, $8.50 for intercollegiate athletics—assessed to undergraduates only—and $1.25 for campus life. There would be no increase for health services.
The governor's proposed budget reflects the economic difficulties the nation faces today, Black said. The SUNY system expects to experience a significant decline in state support in the budget, and students face a tuition increase for the first time in seven years. The proposed budget recognizes an anticipated $10-$12 billion state budget deficit, "which will certainly impact all of us in the year ahead," he said.
"To continue to offer the programs and services UB students need and expect, even in these challenging times, additional comprehensive fee revenues have been proposed at a rate equivalent only to higher education inflation," about 4 percent, he said.
The fee increase for technology would provide a dedicated source of funding to maintain and replace equipment in the existing technology classrooms and to progressively increase the number of technology-enabled classrooms to meet increased demand. Only 50 of the approximately 150 classrooms on campus are technology-enabled. It also would assist in the acquisition of electronic materials for the University Libraries.
The transportation increase would provide funds to maintain and enhance operations, including addressing the increased cost of maintaining campus parking lots, as well as implementing recommendations from the recently completed Parking and Transportation Study.
Among the recommendations in the study to be implemented are developing and executing a strategic communication-and-promotion plan; adding signage on lighting poles to distinguish lot areas/zones, installing ADA-compliant blue light phones in strategic locations, erecting more bus/shuttle shelters and reinstituting the Parking Committee and purchasing updated parking-system equipment and software
A portion of the increase would fund increased operating costs pertaining to the bus contract, state-mandated fringe-benefit increases and upgrades of police officer lines.
The intercollegiate athletics increase would be used to supplement legislative gender-equity funding and support expansion of women's varsity sports to bring them on par with the men's sports.
It also would be used to pay for inflationary costs associated with team travel, student recruiting, administrative support and student payroll within Recreation and Intramural Services. In addition, it would support the purchase of new equipment for the fitness center and expansion of recreational programs.
The campus life increase would fund state-mandated fringe-benefit increases, and enhancement of club sports and activity areas in the Student Union and Harriman Hall.
Black noted that final comprehensive fee recommendations for 2003-04 will be made after student consultation before the end of the semester and exams. Students may comment via email to compfee@vpsa.buffalo.edu through April 11.
Representatives from the areas supported by student fees will answer questions posed through the comprehensive fee Web site http://www.ub-judiciary.buffalo.edu/compfee.shtml, and through an on-line discussion to be held on Tuesday.
In addition, an independent marketing firm will conduct an assessment of student fee interests and concerns, and the results will be widely shared.
More information on the comprehensive fees, the proposed increases and the waiver process is available at http://www.compfee.buffalo.edu.
Comprehensive fee adjustments, if adopted, would be reflected in student account statements distributed to all returning and new students in mid-July, Black said.
"UB desires to remain as one of the nation's best buys in higher education and will continue to be a major public university and the premier public institution in the Northeast with continued student support," he said.