Comprehensive Fee Consultation Process Underway:
Proposed Comprehensive Fee Increase Information

March 21, 2008

Dear UB Students and Student Leaders:

In an effort to provide for student consultation and to assist you in planning for next year, the University is now providing information on anticipated rates for 2008-2009 student fees.

To continue to offer programs and services that our UB students need and expect in the current State, SUNY and UB budget climate, increases in the Comprehensive Fee have been proposed. The Comprehensive Fee components include support for the following: technology; student health; transportation and parking; campus life; transcripts; university police; and intercollegiate athletics and intramural services (undergraduates only).

Effective fall 2008, the University at Buffalo proposes increasing the Comprehensive Fee for full-time undergraduate students increase by $51.25 per semester and for graduate and professional students by $37.00 per semester to cover the additional cost of providing existing and enhanced services. If this proposal is adopted, the Fee would be $905.00 for full time undergraduates and $683.25 for full time graduate and professional students per semester. The total proposed increase consists of a 3.6% increase in accordance with the Higher Education Price Index (HEPI) to cover mandated increases such as negotiated salary and benefit costs, required operating contractual agreements that are not provided for in the University's base budget, and compliance with state and federal requirements. The proposed additional 1.9% increase would fully cover the remainder of mandated costs as well as support modest program enhancements in strategic initiative areas such as the Counseling Center so as to hire additional counselors. The total proposed increase would be 5.5%.

A Technology increase of $20.25 per semester will address some of the increased costs for the continuing acquisition of necessary electronic materials in the University Libraries as well as address inflation for Information Technology contractual increases for campus wide software and hardware licenses.

A Transportation increase of $4.75 per semester will support state mandated negotiated salary and benefits not provided for in the University's base budget, increased costs to the current bus contract; fuel, and parking lot maintenance. In 2007, approximately 3 million students were transported on UB's transit system. Parking lot maintenance costs continue to increase on an annual basis in support of snow removal, lighting, repaving, and striping.

Intercollegiate Athletics increase of $14.25 per semester (undergraduate only) will support required operating contractual increases. Increases in the cost of attendance has increased Grant in Aid costs for both men's and women's sports. Funds will also address transportation increases due to rapidly rising costs for team travel as well as compliance with Title IX requirements.

A Campus Life increase of $3.00 per semester will support state mandated negotiated salary and benefit increases not provided for in the University's base budget and other contractual increases.

A Health Services increase of $9.00 per semester will support state mandated negotiated salary and benefit increases not provided for in the University's base budget. The demand for services has increased in all four areas: health, counseling, wellness education, and disability services. Additionally, there will be a strategic investment in Counseling Services to hire three additional counselors to respond to the increase in demand for these services at UB.

College Fee and Transcript Fee increases are not being proposed as these rates are set according to SUNY policy.

Final UB student Comprehensive Fee recommendations for 2008-2009 will be made after student consultation, sometime before the end of the semester. The student consultation process is based on recommendations developed by the State University of New York (SUNY).

More information on UB's student Comprehensive Fee, proposed increases, and the waiver process, is available at www.compfee.buffalo.edu.

Several opportunities for student comment have also been established. Student and student leader comments on the proposed Comprehensive Fee adjustments are encouraged via compfee@vpsa.buffalo.edu through April 4, 2008. Additionally, representatives from the areas supported by student fees will be answering your questions through a Comprehensive Fee website and through a Comprehensive Fee listserv to be held through Friday, April 4, 2008. Details can be found on the Comprehensive Fee web site and will follow in upcoming Spectrum ads. In addition, we will conduct an assessment of student fee interests and concerns via the My Opinion survey which can be accessed through MyUB. The results will be shared via the Comprehensive Fee website.

Comprehensive Fee adjustments, if adopted, would be reflected in Student Account statements distributed to all returning and new students in mid-July. UB desires to remain as one of the nation's best buys in higher education and will continue to be a major public university and the premier public institution in the Northeast with continued student support.

Sincerely,

Satish K. Tripathi, PhD
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dennis R. Black
Vice President for Student Affairs

cc: John B. Simpson, President
James A. Willis, Executive Vice President for University Support Services
Patricia G. Armstrong, Director of Admissions
Andrea Costantino, Director of Student Life
Elias G. Eldayrie, Associate Vice President and Chief Information Officer
Warde Manuel, Director, Division of Athletics
Barbara J. Ricotta, Associate Vice President for Campus Life
Michael E. Ryan, Vice Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Education
Susan M. Snyder, Director, Health Services. Student Health and Wellness
Sean P. Sullivan, Associate Vice President for Academic Planning and Budget
Cheryl A. Taplin, Senior Associate Vice Provost/Director, Student Academic Records and Financial Services
Maria Wallace, Director, Parking and Transportation Services
Student Response Center
Reporter
Spectrum

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