c rf;r [mm of [h^ Sr ' 193] ' «>F ILLINOIS REPORT OF COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON STUDENT FEES September 25, 1918 To the Members of the University Senate: The following report from a committee on student fees, authorized by the Council of Administration, was presented at the Council meeting of July 9, 1918. The Council voted that the report be transmitted to the Senate without recommendation and that it should be printed for distribution to the members of the Senate in advance of tlie October meeting. This copy is sent you in accordance with this action. Very respectfully yours, Thomas Arkle Clark Secretary y Council of Administration v)^^"^ '' Urbana, June 14, 1918 To the Council of Ad?ninistration^ University of Illinois Gentlemen: Your Committee upon Student Fees begs leave to report as follows : This Committee was appointed primarily with reference to laboratory fees, but inasmuch as all student fees are a part of a general system, no restrictions were laid upon the scope of its study or the range to be covered in its findings. The first point impressed upon the Committee by the infor- mation before it was the fact that, following the change from the old-time laboratory-deposit system to the flat-fee basis, the con- sumption of laboratory materials and the wastage of breakable apparatus immediately increased, in some courses no less than one hundred percent. Another effect of the change has been, in some cases at least, a gradual but distinct letting down on the part of the University staff of that interest in and feeling of responsibility for the proper use and consumption of University property which is necessarily binding upon the institution as a whole. Both effects are so vicious in their educational and financial results as to lead the Committee to suggest a radical change at this point— and it is the principal change proposed. There are now listed in the Annual Register 239 different laboratory fees, ranging from one dollar to ten dollars, distributed among the departments as follows: Animal Husbandry 1 fee Jl.OO Bacteriology 8 fees $3.00- 7.50 Botany 30 " 1.00- 6.00 Ceramics 10 " 2.00- 8.00 Chemistry 44 " 2.00- 10.00 Civil Eng 19 " 50- 1.00 Electrical Eng 8 " 3.00- 4.00 Entomology 17 " 1.00- 2.00 Gen. Eng. Drawing 1 *' 1.00 Geology 18 " 1.00- 2.75 Household Science 11 " 1.00- 8.00 Human Anatomy 2 " 5.00 Mechanical Eng 13 " 1.00- 3.00 3 Mining Eng 5 " 1.00- 3.00 Municipal and San. Eng 3 ** 1.00 Photography 2 " 4.00 Physics 19 " 2.00 Physiology 7 " 3.50 Psychology 1 " 2.00 Railway Eng 1 " 3.00 T. andA. M 6 " 1.00- 2.00 Zoology 13 " 1.00- 3.50 In each separate course fees are laid alike upon all students regardless of the question whether the individual is careful or careless. There is, therefore, no premium upon the careful use and consumption of University property, nor is there a penalty attached to carelessness unless it be so extreme as to warrant the collection of a bill for damages. Under the flat-fee system the student argues that he has paid for all the privileges of the course, and he regards any restriction in the use of materials and apparatus as an invasion of personal rights. The Committee recognizes also the inequity of penalizing students who elect courses involving large laboratory fees. This inequity should be removed. Moreover, it is recognized that there is no uniform basis upon which the existing system of fees has been built up by the departments. The Committee therefore proposes in place of this elaborate system of laboratory fees: A. A single University Service Fee to be charged each semester to all students regardless of the courses elected. B. Departmental charges to cover abnormal use or waste of materials and abuse of apparatus. In support of recommendation A it may be pointed out that the list of laboratory fees might be indefinitely extended. For example: the use and the wear and tear of reference books in the Library or of expensive machinery in the engineering labor- atory is not different in theory from the consumption of chem- icals and of apparatus in the chemical laboratory. The con- sumption of light in the Library is not different from the con- sumption of gas or power in the laboratories, nor is either funda- mentally distinct from the consumption of hay and grain in the maintenance of animal-husbandry equipment. The proposed University Service Fee in lieu of all laboratory or special course fees has the advantage of substituting a single fee for a long list which is rapidly growing both in the number and in the magni- tude of its items. The Committee was not appointed for the purpose either of increasing or decreasing the total revenues from student fees, and the University Service Fee suggested is therefore fixed at $5.00 per semester, which according to the estimates of the Comptroller is sufficient to provide the sum heretofore collected under the head of laboratory fees, amounting last year to approx- imately ?42,000. In support of recommendation B: This merging of all laboratory fees into one general service charge does not in the opinion of the Committee sufficiently control the element of carelessness, and the report therefore provides for a system of Departmental Charges in such courses as employ materials and apparatus especially exposed to the carelessness of students, such charges to be guaranteed by the deposit of coupon books purchased at the office of the Comptroller. In this way the stud- ent is admonished in advance of the possible results of careless- ness, and, while the department handles no money, it is enabled to collect upon the spot all damage to its equipment without the ceremony and delay of the formal presentation and collection of bills, and at the same time to train the student constantly in lessons of the proper use of public property. General Principles Governing the Assessment of Fees upon Students in a Publicly Supported Institution It appears that the entire policy of laying fees upon stud ents in a publicly supported institution is involved in this question of laboratory fees. At any rate, during its discussion the Committee covered the ground of what would seem to be the principles upon which fees may be properly levied and collected from students attending a state institution such as ours. Inas- much as opinions differ as to the propriety of laying such fees, it may be worth while to incorporate in this report the principles recognized by the Committee in its discussion and findings. Aside from any attempt to realize considerable revenues from student sources, and in addition to collecting the traditional Matriculation and Diploma Fees, there are a number of reasons that amply justify a system of moderate charges, even in an institution devoted to free education. These reasons may be briefly outlined as follows: 1. While for public reasons it is not only consistent but advisable that society should provide the general facilities for education free of cost to the individual, yet it is not well for the student to enjoy unHmited advantages with no sacrifice on his own part. The practise of paying something for every privilege, as against the experience of getting everywhere for nothing, involves a principle that cannot safely be neglected in the educa- tion of the young. Therefore while an institution may make no charge for tuition as such, it is constrained in the interest of sound education and of public welfare to lay upon the student a contributory fee for certain necessary expenses incident to the processes of education; such, for example, as for heat, light, the general cleaning and care of the buildings and their equipment, and the overhead of administration. This is the so-called Incidental Fee. 2. The principle just stated applies with even greater force to those materials that may be assigned to or otherwise placed in the hands of the individual student, especially when those materials, such as chemicals and laboratory apparatus, are or may be consumed in the process. It applies equally well though not quite so evidently to other than laboratory material; for example, to reference books, libraries, machinery, and other equipment assigned to individual use. In the interest of a sound educational policy such fees should be made general, rather than specific; first, because all students make use of libraries, laboratories, apparatus, lockers, machinery, and other facilities of a semi-individual character; second, because to assess fees in proportion to the expense inci- dent to particular courses is to penalize the student who elects courses with large fees and by that much to handicap education in that particular direction; for example, music under the exist- ing system of fees. By the plan proposed the fee for this pur- pose is the same for all careful students irrespective of the courses which they may take. This is the Service Fee. 3. Experience shows that students differ greatly in the degree of care with which they make use of the materials, appar- atus, machinery, and other facilities of instruction placed at their disposal, and it would seem not only just but in every way desirable that the careless student should pay for his care- lessness upon the ground that an important part of education lies in the training to proper respect for the use and care of equip- ment and materials especially when owned by the state. Hence the Departmental Charges recommended. 4. The supervision of the health of the University com- munity and adequate provision for prompt and expert care of the sick are so vitally important to every student individually and to the work of the University as a whole, that each registered student may properly be required to contribute directly and statedly to a fund for the maintenance of a Health ' Service. Hence the Health Fee. 5. The principles as set forth under 2, 3, and 4 apply equally well to graduate students holding scholarships, fellow- ships, and staff positions, and these students should not be exempted from the payment of the Service Fee, Departmental Charges, and Health Fee, which should be paid by all students alike. 6. When the student demands or receives special individual attention, this extra service may well be charged for. Example: Examinations at irregular time, the pursuit of certain studies in irregular ways, or special service of any kind. Hence Special Fees. 7. Experience has shown that certain evil tendencies, such as late registration and the inordinate changing of study lists, may be more readily controlled by the laying of charges than by any system of rules that has been devised, and while such fees are more of the nature of fines than otherwise, they are doubtless justified by results. 8. Fees should be as few in number and as specific in char- acter as possible. Recommendations In line with the principles above stated and in lieu of all existing fees, the Committee unanimously recommends the fol- lowing system of fees and departmental charges: Paid by all Paid by grad- matriculated Paid by uate students students, grad- matriculated Paid by holding uate and undergraduate students not fellowships. under- students. matriculated. and graduate, holding {2) scholarships. not holding scholarships. and staff scholarships. positions. GENERAL FEES: Paid Once: Matric.Fee $10.00 $10.00 (1)$10.00 Diploma Fee 5.00 5.00 $5.00 5.00 Paid Each Semester: Incid. Fee $15.00 15.00 $15.00 Service Fee 5.00 5.00 2.50 5.00 2.50 5.00 2.50 -'rm. Health Fee 2.50 2.50 SPECIAL FEES: Paid Each Semester: Registration Fee for non- matriculants $5.00 5.00 As Required: r- f^ Late Reg. Fee $ 1.00 j7oo O.oo vf.oo ^00 Change of Study List Fee, per subject 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 With a maximum under single issue of permits.. 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 Special Exam. Fee, per subject 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 With a maximum under single issue of permits.. 20.00 20.00 20.00 20.00 20.00 Listeners' Fee, per course.... 5.00 S^.Q^ WSc-^ 5.00 -tm (1) Unless previously paid by the student as an undergraduate. (2) To non-matriculants registering for not more than five semester hours the Incidental Fee is remitted. Departmental Charges: In certain courses charges are laid to cover such expenses as the cost of materials abnormally used or wasted, loss of keys, and unnecessary damage to apparatus assigned for individual student use. These charges will be laid upon graduate and undergraduate students alike but will be so administered that the most careful students who are not unfortunate may have no charges to pay. Deposits to Cover Unnecessary Breakage, Damage, or Other Wastage Students taking courses (marked L. T. in the descripticjn of courses) will be required to secure at the Business Office for every such course taken a uniform laboratory ticket at a cost of $2.00. This ticket will be deposited with the instructor in charge of the course and on this basis the locker or equipment required by the student will be assigned to him. Records will be kept by the department for all apparatus assigned. At the close of each semester the instructor in charge will determine the total amount of the abnormal use or loss or unnecessary breakage on the part of every student and will apply the charges against the laboratory ticket deposited. Such portion of the ticket as represents this amount will be detached by the instructor for deposit at the Business Office to the credit of the department concerned. The remaining portion will be returned to the student and may be redeemed by him at the Business Office. Whenever these charges against any student exceed the value of the laboratory ticket deposited, whether at the time of settlement or before, the student shall be required to secure additional tickets. Method of Furnishing or Selling to Students Whenever it is found necessary or desirable for a department of the University to furnish students with materials which would normally be purchased by the students, the Business Office will upon the request of the head of the Department pay the expense incident to providing this material and will sell such items to students at cost. Departmental Appropriations for Laboratory Equipment and Supplies All revenue from fees is to be turned into the General Funds of the University, but Departmental Charges will be credited to the departments concerned as receipts. The budget of every department operating laboratories will include items covering the cost of laboratory maintenance. These items will be estimated upon the registration in the respective courses for the preceding year and on the cost of materials as at the time of presenting the budget request. Appropriations so made will be subject to revision during the course of the fiscal year on the basis of differences in regis- tration and the cost of materials and equipment. Estimate of Income From Student Fees Proposed New System as Compared With Old^ Estimate under Proposed System (On basis of 1916-17 enrollment) Matriculation 1946 — $10.00 $ 19,460.00 Diploma 993— 5.00 4,965.00 Registration Fee 687— 5.00 3,435.00 Incidental Fee] Service Fee 8623— 22.00 189,706.00 Health Fee J Late Registration 289— 1.00 289.00 Change of Study List 1066 — 1.00 1,066.00 Special Examinations 662— 5.00 3,305.00 $222,226.00 Actual Income 1916-1917 General Fees $143,228.50 Laboratory Fees 41,301.25 Locker Fees 4,249.25 $188,779.00 Increase of proposed system over old system $33,447.00 Deduct amount represented by increase in Incidental Fee from $12.00 to $15.00 8623 — $3.00 25,869.00 Actual Increase of Proposed System Over Old System $7,578.00^ (4%) 1 Counting the Summer Session as one semester. On present basis for summer session the advance of $7,578.00 would be reduced by approximately $1,300.00. \Q There is almost no limit to what might he incorporated in this report by way of discussion, hut the Committee refrains from more than the briefest outhne of the considerations which prompted its conclusions. Very respectfully submitted, Lloyd Morey Cyril G. Hopkins W. A. NOYES Isabel Bevier A. P. Carman C. R. Richards Charles F. Hottes K. C. Babcock E. Davenport, Chairman 11 3 0112105626508 rf)£ imm Of THE SEP 2 I i93i