The cost of attending UB could rise even further, if a proposed increase to the Comprehensive Fee is accepted.
The administration has proposed a 4 percent increase in the fee for the 2003-04 school year, the fifth such increase in five years, which would add $25.50 per semester to the current $655 fee paid by full-time undergraduates. The general fee is composed of fees for technology, transportation, athletics, student life and health services.
Dennis Black, vice president of Student Affairs, described the fee as "a moderate inflationary increase" that is necessary to cover the costs of student services for the next year.
"There isn't anything that's cheaper today than it was a year ago, and so we've got to expect that there are going to be modest inflationary increases in what we do," said Black.
The proposed hike would include an increase of $11.75 per semester for the technology fee, for which students currently pay $258 per semester. According to the proposal, the increase in technology fees will help cover the costs of providing all classrooms on campus with adequate technology.
Undergraduate students currently pay $167.50 under the comprehensive fee for intercollegiate athletics. The proposed $8.50 dollar increase in that area would provide for, among other things, further expansion of funding for women's teams mandated under Title IX provisions, according to the proposal.
Transportation service fees would also increase under the proposed hike, along with fees supporting "campus life" activities such as club sports and improvements to the Student Union.
The economy of education has not been friendly to students recently, with cuts proposed for Tuition Assistance Programs and Educational Opportunity Programs accompanying a proposed $1,200 tuition hike.
"These are dollars that aren't collected by the university, they don't go to Albany, they don't become part of the state budget," Black said. "They're spent right here on campus, on behalf of students."
However, Black said, students might oppose an increase to the comprehensive fee.
"When it comes to spending money, I don't think anybody is going to argue that necessarily more is good," he said.
Gabbie Sheinberg, a freshman economics major, said she is displeased with the quality of some services UB provides, such as the bus system, which she said is poorly run. She said these complaints make her reluctant to support a higher comprehensive fee.
"If they can't fix things with the amount of money they have now, why should I give them more money to screw up?" said Sheinberg.
Robert Batdorf, a junior majoring in international business, Spanish and economics, said he would be in favor of a comprehensive fee if the money it generates goes toward improving the transportation system.
"Obviously I hate to see fees raised, but there are obviously reasons," Batdorf said. "The (on-campus) shuttle is mediocre at best. They're really not very reliable. I think if they do expect us to pay more, they should provide better services."
While the Comprehensive Fee has been raised annually for the past five years, Black said, the dollar amount of the proposed increase for 2003-04 is less than what was proposed last year.
Student Association President Christian Oliver said he thinks the fee increase is "in line" with inflation and that it is necessary to maintain the level of service students at UB currently receive.
"Getting a $1,200 increase in tuition begs the question as to whether the increase could be waived for a year, but ultimately, it's up to the students to gauge it," said Oliver.
According to Black, students will have a chance to voice their opinions about the increase before the proposal is adopted.
StudentVoice, a marketing firm founded by a graduate of UB's School of Management, has been hired to poll the student body on their opinions on the fee increase. The Office for Student Affairs will also host an interactive, on-line question-and-answer session through UbLearns on April 8.
"We're going to spend the next two-and-a-half weeks in a consultation mode with the student body here," he said.
Oliver said the fee consultation process will happen on-line this year due to poor student turnout at previous meetings regarding the comprehensive fee increase. He said SA would send out mass e-mails and "get the word out" to students about the increase so they could voice their opinions.
After the consultation period, a report will be sent to UB President William R. Greiner, who will make the final decision on the comprehensive fee increase. The results of the student opinion surveys are not binding, according to Black.
"We'd share that information with the president, and he would have to make a judgment which was in the best interest of the university," said Black.
During the online information session, students will have the opportunity to question representatives from all of the areas that would receive increased funding from a comprehensive fee hike.
While the comprehensive fee funds student health services, that area will not receive an increase under the proposed hike.
"As it now stands, we're able to contain our costs, at least for this year, under the current fee level," said Frank Carnevale, director of Student Health Services.
If the proposed increase for 2003-04 is accepted, Black said, students will need to take advantage of the services it funds in order to make the increase worthwhile.
"You're paying for it, so take advantage of it," Black said. "Make sure you're using the services to your fullest possible capacity."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
