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Increase in student fees proposed
By SUE WUETCHER
Reporter Editor
The comprehensive student fee would increase by $22.75 a semester for full-time undergraduates—raising it to $708.25 beginning with the Fall 2004 semester—under a proposal by Dennis Black, vice president for student affairs.
The fee would increase $16.75 per semester for full-time graduate and professional students under the proposal, bringing it to $526.25 for the semester.
The proposed increase would support state-mandated fringe benefit increases for employees in all fee areas, increased technology costs and services, increased bus contract costs and 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 $8.25 for technology, $3.50 for transportation, $3.50 for health services, $6 for intercollegiate athletics—assessed to undergraduates only—and $1.50 for campus life.
The governor's proposed budget reflects the economic difficulties the nation faces today, Black said. The SUNY system expects to receive virtually the same level of state tax support as last year, with no tuition increase being proposed. The proposed state budget recognizes an anticipated $5.1 billion state budget deficit, "that 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, increases in the comprehensive fee have been proposed at a rate equivalent only to higher education inflation," about 3 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 60 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 support state-mandated fringe benefit increases and to address a projected $241,000 increase in the current bus contract and the increased cost of maintaining campus parking lots.
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 support further investment in the Division I program that is needed to be competitive with UB's peer institutions, as well as inflationary costs associated with team travel, student recruiting, administrative support focusing on student wellness issues 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 through improved facilities and grounds for recreation and club sports.
The health services increase would support fringe-benefit increases needed to maintain staff-service levels throughout the Wellness Team.
Black noted that final comprehensive fee recommendations for 2004-05 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 March 12.
Representatives from the areas supported by student fees will meet with student leaders regarding the comprehensive fee at 4 p.m. today in 145C Student Union, North Campus
The representatives also will answer questions posed through the comprehensive fee Web site at http://www.compfee.buffalo.edu and through a comprehensive fee listserv to be held through March 12.
In addition, an assessment of student fee interests and concerns will be conducted via the My Opinion survey that can be accessed through MyUB. The results will be shared via the comprehensive fee Web site.
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.