A new mandatory fee of $184 per student may be implemented for those in the School of Management (SoM) as soon as Spring 2009, after school officials hear the students' opinions in two scheduled open forums this week.
An open invitation was sent out via e-mail to all SoM students, to whom the fee would apply. According to 2008-to-2009 school year statistics, there are 3,271 undergraduates, 507 MBA students and 168 students in the Master of Science program. This would bring in a total close to $600,000 if the fee were collected from a majority of the students to compensate for the nearly $1 million dollar budget cut from the school. An investment would go into the school's Career Resource Center, which is vital to the future careers of students, according to officials.
The two forums will be held on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. in Jacobs 106 and on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. in Alfiero 104. The proposal will not be official until the students get a chance to voice their curiosities, opinions and possible objections to the proposed fee, according to Arjang Assad, dean of the School of Management.
"The reason we are running the forums is we want to hear from them. We are listening very carefully," Assad said.
Assad stated in the letter that SUNY-wide budget cuts have caused "unprecedented financial difficulty" for the university and the management program.
The fee is cited in a statement to all SoM students to be necessary in keeping the high quality of education within the program and to keep the Career Resource Center (CRC) within the management program open to students.
The CRC is open to those with approved majors within the School of Management. According to the SoM Web site, it is the primary resource for students to explore careers and to develop individual approaches to the job search.
"For any business school it's an integral component to provide these kind of services to students," said Arjang Assad, dean of the SoM.
The SoM is the only school at UB to offer its students major-exclusive career services, but operates in the same vein as the university's Office of Career Services in offering networking opportunities, job preparation and internship opportunities.
Money has recently been diverted from operating the CRC to the hiring of teaching professionals, according to Associate Dean of Academic Programs in the School of Management, Katherine Ferguson, after the current university-wide hiring freeze.
Assad and Ferguson explained that he has spoken with student leaders about the fee and has heard no objections so far.
"We have already met with club presidents and student leaders, anyone who is a president of a student organization," Ferguson said. "The most important outcome [of the meetings] was the powerful endorsement of the fee."
Assad explained that he expects support from students on Wednesday and Thursday after officials have explained why the new fee is necessary.
Rohini Gupta, a junior marketing major and a member of the co-ed business fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi, is "absolutely for the fee" because of the resources the CRC offers her. She explained the organization has ties with the CRC in hosting the SoM Annual Career Fair.
"The CRC is one of the most important resources of the School of Management. I've always had great experiences with the CRC from having my resume edited or just answering any questions that I have," Gupta said. "I feel that without the CRC the School of Management would lose it's edge over many other schools."
Tana Dippolito, a senior marketing major, is also in support of the proposed mandatory fee that will help prolong the career preparation services of the CRC.
"I participate in the Practice Interview Program [of the CRC] as an interviewer. I feel that the CRC is a huge resource to School of Management students," Dippolito said. "I feel that if we, as students, do not support the $184 fee the CRC will be forced to close, making the value of our degrees decrease."
If students and the department accept the fee, officials will work with the university to include the fee within Student Account statements, so that it can be considered in financial aid packages.
"We anticipate the feedback will be positive," Assad said. "One thing we are sensitive to is what student concerns might be. It's hard to know what they might be until we have a discussion with students."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
