Committee votes to raise fees

Students may have to fork over a little more change when paying for college, pending an assessment from the university's Board of Trustees.

The University Fee Assessment Committee voted on raising student fees in a meeting on Friday, potentially permitting students' fee rates to increase by 86 cents. The meeting was the first of several formal steps in the process of a raise.

"In the current economy, I can see how raising student fees wouldn't be appealing," junior information technology major Chris Farabaugh said. "However, at the same time, compared to [other universities], we're a much bigger school so I can see the benefits."

If approved, parking and transportation fees will increase by 10 cents, athletic fees by 34 cents and health service fees by 42 cents. The committee voted on not raising activity and service charges, leaving the fee the same as the previous school year. Each fee assessed is based per credit hour.

The committee's proposal will eventually go through President John C. Hitt and finally on to the BOT for an ultimate decision.

In Friday's meeting, five student representatives and five faculty representatives discussed the pros and cons of the potential raises. Guests from each department also contributed to the discussion before the group came to a decision.

Student Government Association Vice President Adam Brock said he doesn't foresee anyone in the formal process not approving the committee's proposal.

"For a few of the fees I do feel there are benefits, for others I disagree with, but that's what these types of committees are for," Brock said. "The fact that there are a mixture of students and faculty and staff [serving and participating on the committee], I can only be grateful for that because I know at other universities it's definitely not like this. This is the democratic process at its finest."

As of this year, in-state undergraduates pay a transportation access fee of $9, an athletic fee of $13.10, a health fee of $9.88 and an activity and service fee of $10.79 per credit hour.

In total, students pay $42.77 in fees per credit hour. Compared to the University of Florida and Florida State University, UCF's rate comes in slightly higher. UF and FSU students pay $38.15 and $40.44 in fees per credit hour, respectively. University of South Florida students are charged $10 for athletic fees and $7 for an activity and service fee. Figures for USF's other departments were not available.

Senior finance major Blair Beeler said that a continuing rise in fees is only creating more hardship for students. Beeler said he hopes that with the increase, the student body will be able to see the direct impact.

"I know with the economy everyone has to pull back a little bit, so it sucks that students have to be the ones to absorb those fees," Beeler said. "As long as [each department] is transparent with where the money is going, I will be satisfied. I'm willing to pay more to better our university as long as we're sure that it's being done."

Brock and SGA President Matthew McCann spoke on behalf of the student body in the meeting. In the discussion, McCann said he wanted to make sure he knew where students' money was going if the fees were increased.

Brock said that while no one likes to see an increase, each year the fees have typically risen minimally in order to support such a large student body.

The committee originally proposed a 19-cent increase as opposed to a higher one in the debate on the rise in athletics fees, which Brock fought for. The proposal did not pass.

Brock said in the meeting that approximately 54 percent of the athletics budget comes from student fees and feels it is unfair for students to carry that burden.

Farabaugh said that while he thinks the university's fees may be a little high, since UCF's program is so young compared to other schools, he feels the difference in fees is a direct reflection of that.

"I can see [the athletics fee] as being somewhat of a good thing in order to really get our program going," Farabaugh said.

Brock said he will continue to advocate for what will benefit the student body as a whole, and he felt that the committee ultimately did that in its decisions on Friday.

"When I took this job, I told myself I was going to fight for students," Brock said. "Students are generally against fee increases that aren't going to directly benefit them and for some of [these proposals], I can see a direct benefit so I fought for them in that manner."