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Student fee revisions approved

April 16, 2004

KALAMAZOO--Acting at its April 16 meeting, Western Michigan University trustees approved a series of recommendations designed to revamp the University's fee structure and offset the cost of personnel- or equipment-intensive course offerings.

Trustees approved elimination of a $100 Entering Student Development Fee that was put in place last year. The fee applied to all incoming freshmen and transfer students.

In a separate motion, trustees approved establishment of a one-time $500 Records Initiation Fee beginning with the fall 2004 semester. The fee will be assessed on new University students taking four or more credits, including new freshmen and graduate and transfer students as well as all continuing freshmen.

The Records Initiation Fee will be used for the establishment and support of a new academic records system that will protect student identities by eliminating the use of Social Security numbers in University records, which a state law mandates. The new system also will benefit students by providing integrated Web course registration, online grade and program review, automated degree audits, student account receivables and the provision of an individual electronic portfolio that will follow students' progress throughout their University careers.

Trustees also approved the adoption of a series of targeted fees to offset specialized instructional costs. Such costs include those incurred by offering remedial and repeat courses as well as courses that use special instructional equipment or supplies or are taught in small class sessions. The fees, which will be in effect for the fall 2004 semester, include the following.

$100 Remedial Fee assessed on courses needed to make admitted students ready for college-level work.

$150 Course Repeat Fee assessed anytime students take up a seat in a course they've already taken.

$150 Graduate Adjustment Fee for undergraduates taking graduate-level courses.

$40 Professional Course Fee for 300- and 400-level courses in business and education.

$60 Intensive College Fee for 300- and 400-level courses in the colleges of Aviation, Engineering and Applied Sciences, Fine Arts and Health and Human Services as well as science and personnel-intensive courses in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Media contact: Matt Kurz, 269 387-8400, matt.kurz@wmich.edu

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