Officials say fee increase needed for 7th year in a row

The cost of attending UB may rise even more next semester if a proposal to raise UB's undergraduate comprehensive fee is passed in an upcoming administrative decision.

UB officials have proposed a five percent increase to the fee for the 2005-2006 school year, which would add $41 to the $738.25 paid each semester by undergraduate students.

If passed, it would be the seventh increase in as many years, and coupled with a proposed tuition increase of $500, and cuts in state financial aid programs, students could be facing a whole new financial burden.

The undergraduate comprehensive fee -- which goes towards technology, transportation, athletics, campus life and health services -- will total $779.25 if the increase is adopted. Some students might balk at this additional cost, but according to Barbara Ricotta, associate vice president for Student Affairs, the services that will be provided with the increases are well worth the cost.

"The rate of increase is in line with the state average," Ricotta said. "It's a reasonable increase to keep the services at the level we're at. There will also be some minor improvements around campus, the most visible being our bus service."

The largest proposed increase within next year's fee is the $11.50 per semester towards transportation, according to a memo from the Office of Student Affairs. This increase will support "an annual 47 percent increase to the current bus contract," which is a result of "the increased hourly cost per bust to provide the same level of service."

According to Maria Wallace, interim director of Parking and Transportation, the cost of diesel fuel has gone up significantly and the new $11 million contract reflects the change.

"The biggest cause for this increase is that we have a contract with a new bus company starting next year," Ricotta said. "There had been some complaints about Coach (UB's current bus company) and our contract with them was up, so we put it out for bid. The lowest contract was from Cognisa. They have an excellent reputation at other schools and should provide much better service for the students."

Student Association President Anthony Burgio said he's skeptical of the drastic increase in transportation funding.

"Why is the bus contract going up so much? I understand that usage is up and we'll have a new contract next year, but why is it such a drastic increase?" Burgio said. "That better be some pretty damn good service we'll be getting."

Ricotta said UB is considering turning some of the temporary parking lots near Ellicott into permanent parking lots, and the costs will also be covered by the increase in transportation funding.

The second largest increase, at $10.50 per semester, will go towards intercollegiate athletics, which will help fund equality in men and women's sports programs, as well as UB's still-developing Division I athletics program. As a result of the increase, the Division I program will be hiring more trainers.

Another $8 per semester will go towards building a North Campus Medical Satellite. According to Ricotta, this facility will be located in the Student Union and will provide students with extended medical care in the early evenings and on weekends.

"This will be much more convenient for students that spend the majority of their days on North Campus," Ricotta said. "Michael Hall will remain on Main Street on South Campus, but these facilities will provide physicians and nurses that can make diagnoses on North Campus, rather than making everybody go to South Campus for their medical needs."

Another $4 per semester will go towards "campus life," according to the memo. These funds would support the glass enclosure at the entrance to the Student Union. According to Ricotta, the Student Union lobby is usually cold in the winter months, due to a design flaw, and this enclosure is intended to correct that flaw and "improve temperature control" in the Student Union.

Some students, like Christine Fleming, said they wouldn't mind paying the increased fee if it meant improved services.

"It sounds okay to me, (the increase) doesn't sound like too much," said Fleming, a freshman speech and hearing science major. "If the glass enclosure makes the Student Union warmer, I'm all for it. And I don't use the health services on campus since I live in the area, but a health center on North Campus would be really convenient for my friends that live on campus."

Chris McClellan, a sophomore aerospace engineering major, also said he would be willing to pay the increased fee.

"Another $40 is not that bad for better services," McClellan said. "I say do it. I study in the Student Union all the time and it's absolutely freezing in here. I use the buses every day to get from Ellicott to the Student Union or from North to South, and I think that a medical center on North is a great idea. It's a reasonable cost to students, and I use all of these services."

Other students, like Rita Groetz, disagreed and questioned the necessity.

"I'm not a fan of the increase because for the most part, I don't think it's necessary," said Groetz, a freshman mathematics major. "I'd support additional funding for a medical center on North, but not for any of the other projects, they're not essential. We definitely pay enough money as it is. Plus, inflation hasn't gone up enough to necessitate that kind of increase for next year."

Burgio said he also questions an increase that covers projects like the glass enclosure and the medical satellite.

"I'm concerned about permanent fee increases that cover one-time capital expenditures," Burgio said. "What's going to happen when those projects are done? Why even raise the fee permanently? None of this is explained in the fee increase proposal, and you can be sure that the university won't lower the fees once they're done with these projects."

Burgio said he is also disappointed with the lack of SA involvement in the decision to increase the comprehensive fee.

"Basically, this is just part of a much larger problem," Burgio said. "UB doesn't really fully utilize or incorporate the six student governments in the long-term planning process for university, which is a misjudgment on the administration's part. We have constant contact with our constituency, so we know of their concerns. We will comprise alumni associations of future, so they really should be listening to us, the students, about issues like this."