Student Engagement and Success

Student Technology Fee Fact Sheet

Background

On March 25, 1996, the Governor of the State of Washington approved the Second Substitute House Bill 2293 enabling technology fees, separate from tuition fees, to be established and charged to each enrolled student at institutions of higher education with the written agreement of respective student government associations and the governing board of each institution. Any technology fee could not exceed one hundred twenty dollars ($120) for a fulltime student; a part-time student would be calculated as a pro rata share of the fee charged to a full-time student.

Revenue from this fee shall be used exclusively for technology resources for general student use. The student government association shall approve the annual expenditure plan for the fee revenue. Three and one-half percent (3-1/2%) of revenues from the technology fee shall be deposited into the institutional financial aid fund under RCW 28B.15.820.

The technology fee is charged to student to recover, in whole or in part, the costs of providing and maintaining services to students that include, but need not be limited to: access to the internet and world wide web, e-mail, computer and multimedia work stations and laboratories, computer software, and dial-up telephone services.

The Board of Directors of the Associated Students of Central Washington University chose to implement a graduated fee payment plan for full-time students with freshmen being required to pay the mandatory student technology fee of $25.00 beginning Fall, 1996. By Fall, 1998, all students were required to pay the mandatory $25.00 student technology fee. This includes students at the University Center Locations.

A Technology Fee Committee was also established as an oversight committee to fulfill the role of Section 1, Subsection 5 of the Second Substitute House Bill 2293: The Technology Fee Committee shall be chaired by a student who is appointed by the ASCWU President. Five (5) additional student seats shall be appointed by the ASCWU-BOD. Three (3) other seats shall be determined by the University, but shall not be filled by anyone who is employed through the Office of Computing and Telecommunication Services (CTS).

The Technology Fee Committee shall be advised by a non-voting administrator from CTS (or other expert source deemed equivalent by the Director of CTS). The annual expenditure plan shall come before the ASCWU-BOD for final approval. All supplemental funding and non-annual funded projects shall be left to the jurisdiction of the Technology Fee Committee. The chair and the advisor of the Technology Fee committee shall make quarterly reports to the ASCWU-BOD.

The University has kept its commitment to technology by providing two (2) full-time technology service employees for student needs out of state funded resources, not from the student technology fee revenues. The University also acquires, updates and maintains computer workstations in the computer labs out of state funded monies. Computer laboratories in the residence halls are outside of the resources generated by the technology fee and questions and concerns regarding these labs should be directed to the Office of Residential Services, Button Hall, phone: 963-1831.

A Strategic Plan was presented to President Nelson during Winter Quarter 1997 and a revised plan was submitted Spring Quarter 1998. It focused on future plans for student technology and detailed the change toward a student-oriented approach to technology.

Benefits of the Technology Fee

The number of academic computer laboratories and accessibility to them has been greatly expanded from the 11 computer laboratories established by the University prior to the establishment of the Student Technology Fee. As of summer 1998,27 student computer labs had been established. Much of the revenue generated by the fee to date has gone to cover the costs of hiring student laboratory assistants who monitor and assist users in the laboratories, and the cost of printing materials the students have produced. One of the challenges for the future will be to more efficiently schedule the laboratories in order to meet student demand without opening laboratories when it is not necessary. Students are now able to connect directly to their network account providing a more client-server environment. Any questions or concerns should be directed to the Associated Students of Central Washington University, SUB 116. MS: 7448, phone: 963-1693.

Request for Waiver

The legislation did not provide for the ability to waive the student technology fee for any students. The Technology Fee Committee discussed this issue and determined that no request for waiver would be accepted and/or approved. Central Washington University's Assistant Attorney General, after consulting with the Attorney General's education authority in Olympia, agreed that there could be no request for waiver accepted and/or approved. Students with concerns in this area may write to the Associated Students of Central Washington University to express their opinion to the Student Technology Fee Committee at techfee@cwu.edu.

Central Washington University
Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management