The student fee advisory subcommittee approved $17.30 in fee increases for all students and gave the go-ahead for two new fees for nursing students.
It also declared that one fee increase needs approval by a student referendum at its Wednesday meeting.
The subcommittee an 11-member group of student leaders faculty members and
administrators is the second step in the fee approval process.
It hears proposals concurrently with the student fee audit committee — made up of students — and before the Tuition and Fee Advisory Task Force which provides recommendations to the chancellor.
The Student Transit Fee's 7 percent increase request was the largest of the four considered Wednesday. If implemented the fee will be raised $6.50 to $104.25 per student next year.
The subcommittee also approved a $4 increase to the Campus Recreation Fee and a $6.80 increase to the Carolina Union Fee.
The School of Nursing proposed new fees for nursing students one for undergraduates and the other for graduate students. The school's representative Bev Foster cited orientation and exit testing expenses as part of the need for a fee.
The subcommittee must wait for Foster to present to the student fee audit committee before it can be unanimously approved.
Last week the subcommittee tabled a request by child care services. This week Roger Patterson associate vice chancellor for finance and co-chairman of the committee" said the increase requires a student referendum.
""The student body has certain fees that have to go out on referendum"" Patterson said.
We approve those fees contingent on the passage of the referendum.""
The subcommittee meets weekly at the start of each school year. Only one more meeting is scheduled this year.
Patterson said this year's increase requests have not been exorbitant.
Many increase proposals include salary increases as a major factor. N.C. law mandates an annual 3 percent salary increase for state employees.
""The requests are not really all that large"" Patterson said. It's just about the inflation rate.""
Margaret Jablonski" vice chancellor for student affairs and a subcommittee member" said most fee requests that pass through the subcommittee are valid demands.
""Our job is to review — do they meet criteria set forth by policy for fee increases?"" she said.
The subcommittee's policy requires organizations to account for their spending during the past two years as well as their planned budgets for the following academic year"" with and without the additional fees.
""I think that different organizations have done a good job in limiting the requests"" said Tabatha Turner, a subcommittee member and senior associate director for scholarships and student aid.
No one wants to put an unfair burden on students. … The organizations who make fee requests limit it as much as possible"" in some cases even less than the increases for salaries.""
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