Resource fees to become more transparent

Sen. Vicki Walker of Eugene suggests plan, OUS Board takes action for students

By: Lauren Dillard

Posted: 1/8/08

Some fees at OSU are set to become a little bit clearer thanks to an idea brought to the Oregon University System Board.

On Friday, Jan. 4, the board voted unanimously to pass the proposal that will roll resource fees into tuition costs.

Resource fees include fees such as those in place for technology and university programming.

"Students have seen the rise of these fees as a result of state disinvestment in postsecondary education that has left our universities under-funded and with no choice but to nickle and dime students for more money," said Oregon Student Association Board member Monique Teal.

"The Oregon Student Association decided to take action to ensure that these fees were not barring students from access to our universities."

That means student financial aid packages will include the cost of these fees, which at OSU can mean hundreds of dollars.

The University Honors College at OSU charges a $250 per term, totalling $750 per year in resource fees. The fee goes toward courses and unlimited printing for UHC students.

OSA introduced this proposal as a means to make student fees at all Oregon universities more transparent.

"Often when we ask students about their programmatic resources fees, they don't know what we are talking about, which is exactly the reason we're organizing to make them more fair for students," said OSA Board Chair Emily McLain.

"We have a major problem when students are taking out emergency loans because they didn't know about a fee and cannot factor it into their financial aid package."

Some OSU student fees are not included in the proposal. Incidental fees, building maintenance fees and Student Health Services will not be rolled into tuition like the programmatic resource fees.

Some schools will be allowed to use "differential tuition," which allows schools to charge higher rates of tuition for certain programs such as business, engineering, honors and medicine. However, the school must undergo consultation with students, and funds must be set aside before this can happen.

"While this proposal isn't the be-all and end-all solution to access to college in Oregon, it is certainly a step in the right direction, and students are happy to be a part of this process."

Lauren L. Dillard, Editor in Chief

editor@dailybarometer.com, 737-3191