D. Mandatory Student Fees Policy.
Introduction
In November, 1990, the Iowa State Board of Regents approved the establishment of a mandatory student health fee to provide basic health services equitably to all students while placing the University Student Health Service on a sound financial basis. In May 1991 the Regents approved a mandatory student computer fee. The computer fee supports instructional computing demands by providing financial support to improve the quality and quantity of student computing resources (facilities, equipment, and services) and library and other information sources. Like tuition, neither the mandatory health fee nor the mandatory computer fee is calculated on the basis of actual use of facilities. An administrative review committee has been established to assist in the application of University policy to individual student circumstances.
In 1999, the Regents approved the redirection of the student activity fee and the student services fee from tuition to separate fees. All funds collected through the student activities fee are allocated through UI Student Government. The student services fee currently supports a portion of the costs for recreation programs, campus transportation, and access to Student Publications Incorporated (The Daily Iowan). Like other mandatory fees, the student services fee, student union fee, and student activities fee are apportioned on the basis of the number of semester hours.
Consolidated Health Fee
Every student registered for five (5) or more semester hours is assessed the student health fee regardless of whether he or she actually uses Student Health Service even if he or she has made alternative arrangements for health care. Students who are registered for credit in a University-approved off-campus program (for example, student teaching practicum, and study abroad courses not part of an exchange program) are exempted for the semester(s) of documented absence from campus during which they do not have access to the University Student Health Service.
Mandatory Computer Fee
Students registered less than full-time are assessed a portion of the full-time student computer fee. The fee is waived for qualified quarter-time and above graduate research assistants, teaching assistants and graduate fellows. Advanced University technology resources supported by the mandatory fee provide a broad range of benefits to students, from electronic class registration to access to the Internet, and a student’s use of privately-owned computer equipment to complete class assignments does not exempt the student from the mandatory fee.
Mandatory Student Services Fee, Student Union Fee and Student Activity Fee
Every student registered is assessed the student services fee, student union fee, and the student activities fee proportionate to the number of hours enrolled. Students may be exempted from these fees if they can document an absence from campus due to registration in a University-approved off-campus program (Study Abroad or practicum in another state, for example). Students not exempted from the student activities fee may seek a refund of a portion of the fee (see Student Government Activity Fee Refund/Reallocation below).
Appeal Process
To avoid being charged for any or all of the mandatory fees listed above, students eligible for a mandatory fee exemption must notify the University of their exceptional circumstances by submitting an appeal form. Forms are available in the Registrar’s Office, 1 Jessup Hall. Appeal requests will not be accepted after the last day of classes of the academic term for which the appeal is made. Appeal forms filed before the deadline will be examined by an administrative review committee, which will then grant or deny each request. Committee decisions will be communicated to the student petitioner in writing.
Student Government Activity Fee Refund/Reallocation
Each semester students pay a Student Activity Fee. A portion of the Student Activity Fee is allocated to General Student Organizations. The University has determined that its mission is served if students have the means to engage in dynamic discussions of philosophical, religious, scientific, social and political subjects in their extracurricular campus life.
Registered students may request a refund or reallocate the portion of the fee allocated to General Student Organizations. A request for a refund will be credited on the student's University Bill each semester, while a request for reallocation will be designated to a campus-wide service chosen each year by the Partnership for Student Governments at Iowa (PSGI). To avoid automatic allocation for the 2007-2008 academic year, request forms must be submitted to the University Billing Office, Room 5 Calvin Hall no later than September 21. Requests for a one semester refund/reallocation will not be allowed except for new students registering for second semester only who submit a request form by February 15. Additional information is available from the University of Iowa Student Government, 260 IMU, 335-3859.