Student Tech Fee

Student Technology Fee Fact Sheet

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Overview

In 1996, the Second Substitute House Bill 2293 was approved to charge enrolled students a technology fee separate from tuition. This fee shall be used exclusively for technology resources for student use and recover costs of internet and e-mail services, computer labs, and software provided to students. A technology fee committee was established to oversee the annual expenditure plan, chaired by a student appointed by the ASCWU president, five student seats appointed by the ASCWU-BOD, and three seats determined by the University excluding employees of the Office of Computing and Telecommunication Services (CTS). The plan is focused on the future of student technology and a student-oriented approach to technology.

  • 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 have 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, 24 student computer labs had been established. Much of the revenue generated by the fee to date has been used to cover the costs of hiring student laboratory assistants who monitor and assist users in the laboratories, as well as the cost of printing materials and computers that are housed in the computer labs. One of the challenges for the future will be to schedule laboratories more efficiently to meet student demand without opening them 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 at phone: 509-963-1693.

 

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

Learn about the Student Technology Fee Council.

Student Technology Fee Council

The Student Technology Fee Council reports to the Vice President for Student Engagement and Success.

Purpose

This council provides and maintains services for general student use(s) 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.

Meetings

Next Meeting: TBD

Members

Stacy Swayze - Non-Voting Council Advisor

Marla Firman - Non-Voting Council Advisor

Kevin Lomax - Non-Voting Co-Chair

Yingbin Ge - Non-Voting Faculty 1

Grace Ke - Non-Voting Faculty 2

David Bieloh - Non-Voting Faculty 3

--------------------------------------------

Alex Matheson ASCWU Vice President - Voting Co-Chair

Voting Student Members - To Be Determined

 

If interested in becoming a member, please visit the ASCWU Student Government Webpage

 

Documents

Approved Projects Spring 2015

Recap of Tech Fee Activities 7/2008-6/2009

Recap of Tech Fee Activities 7/2007-6/2008

Recap of Tech Fee Activities 7/2006-6/2007

Recap of Tech Fee Activities 7/2005-6/2006

Recap of Tech Fee Activities 7/2004-6/2005

Recap of Tech Fee Activities 7/2003-6/2004

Student Technology Fee Fact Sheet

ASCWU-BOD and CWU Contractual Agreement

All other documents can be found in the Tech Fee section of the ITS Assistant VP for Information Technology's Library (Bouillon Hall, Room 202j)

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