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Tuesday, 6/24/97 Proposed course fee hike rejected by student advisory group TECHNOLOGY: Expenses for improving computing systems thought too high

By Frances Lee Summer Bruin Senior Staff Technology is not free, nor is it cheap. UCLA, the university that helped develop the Internet, is once again trying to be on the cutting edge. But this time, students may have to bear the cost of going "high-tech." Citing reservations about the fee proposal and implementation strategies, members of the Student Fee Advisory Committee (SFAC) voted earlier this month not to support the proposed Course Materials Fee for Instructional Technology Enhancements in the College of Letters & Sciences. Since the committee is an advisory one and can only make recommendations, the final decision on whether or not the fee will be implemented rests with the chancellor. Although the SFAC felt that the university and students should increase their support for expanded technology, they determined that the proposal itself was "insupportable." Of the 10 SFAC members present, six voted against the proposal, while four abstained. "(SFAC) was skeptical of what would be accomplished," said Academic Affairs Commissioner Max Espinoza, "and whether students would get their money's worth." In a letter to Chancellor Charles Young, SFAC Chair Lynn Swartz noted that committee members recognized the value of technological enhancements, but had problems with the proposal itself. Of particular concern was that the fee proposal did not conform to the UC Office of the President's (UCOP) guidelines for implementing course materials fees. The UCOP policy states that course materials fees can only be charged to "provide a special supplemental educational experience of direct benefit to the student." In the letter to the chancellor, Swartz stated that concern was raised over whether students would receive "explicit value for the money paid" for the technology fee. According to the proposal, money collected from the fee would be used to develop web sites for every course, as well as offer virtual office hours for classes and provide enhanced drop-in computer and science labs. The proposed fee would have "established a sustainable funding source for improvements to student computing," said Marc Mayerson, assistant dean of social sciences. In the past, he added, departments had to rely on a variety of "temporary" sources to fund technological improvements. "In order for us to make advances in computing enhancements (for students)," Mayerson said, "we've got to have a sustainable source (of income)." Depending on the number of credit hours taken, the fee could range from $9 to $13 per undergraduate course in the College of Letters & Sciences, with South Campus classes being assessed the higher fees. Supporters of the fee have maintained that it is a small price to pay for entering into the information age. Opponents have argued that offering web sites and virtual office hours will change the way professors teach and create more work for teaching assistants. "The proposal appears to have good intentions," Espinoza said. "If anything, it will make the classroom experience a better one. "But at the same time, there was concern over students bearing a significant burden in terms of cost," he added. Previous Daily Bruin Story Administration considers per-course fees, April 30, 1997 Previous Daily Bruin Stories: Administration considers per-course fees