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