berman@pilot.njin.net (A. Michael Berman) (01/17/91)
A couple of months back I requested information on fees for computer
use in higher education. Here were the results I got. Thanks to
everyone who participated.
MICHAEL BERMAN, GLASSBORO STATE COLLEGE (BERMAN@GLASSBORO.EDU)
Results of Survey on Student Fees for Computer Use
1. Does your school impose any computer charges directly on
students?
2. Which of the following fees are imposed, and how high are they:
a. Computer-using courses have lab fees
b. Fee per use, e.g. for printing
c. Computer tax on all students
d. Students must buy a computer
3. Have fees such as described above been considered on your
campus? What arguments have been advanced for/against?
4. Any other comments?
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COMPILED RESULTS
There were 45 responses in all representing a total of 42
institutions, 5 of which are technical schools. Although the
majority of these are located in the United States, the sample
included 2 universities from Canada, one from Copenhagen, and one
from Edinburgh.
In response to question 1, "Does your school impose any computer
charges directly on the students?" there are 17 schools which do
not impose any charge whatsoever and 25 schools which do.
Of the 25 schools having existing fees:
2.a There are 7 schools with computer-using courses with lab fees
and these range from $10/class to $6/credit to $50/semester.
2.b There are 13 schools with fees per use; 9 schools charge for
laser printing ranging from $.5 to $.50/page, 3 schools charge for
using PCs ranging from $1 to $6 per hour, and one school charges
$10/semester on accounts for Student Non-Sponsored Research.
2.c There are 10 schools which utilize some kind of computer tax on
students. Seven schools have fees per semester or twice per year
ranging from $10 to $100/semester while 2 schools hide the tax as
part of their tuition. And one school taxes graduate students $100
to $120/year for "Research Costs".
2.d. There are only two schools which require that the students own
their own computer. One incorporates the cost of the computer into
the tuition and the other school only requires them for three
majors and guarantees a 50% discount.
Of the 17 schools which do not impose any computer charges directly
on students: 4 have considered some kind of fee in the past and
have decided against them, 5 are in the process of discussing the
implementation of fees, and 8 have not discussed the possibility of
fees at all.
*****************************************************************
REPLIES:
NJIT
1. Yes, there are fees.
2. Students required to have a PC-XT or PC-AT compatible, which
they gradually pay off as part of their tuition (for each credit
$8.65 is deducted from total cost, which is $1100 for the AT & ?
for the XT).Mainframes (Vaxen) are accessible for accounts of
students with certain majors (comp sci, physics, electronics) on
the main machine (njitx) with other machines (hertz, mars, njitc)
Unsure of fees, but presume it's part of the tuition.
1. Yes, there is a charge of a semester maintenance charge for free
NJIT PCs supplied by NJIT directly to the students.
4. Interested in improving control techniques to minimize abuse of
services and facilities. Opinion-cost should be covered in tuition
fees; interested in results
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, Seattle
1. Yes, there are minimal fees.
2. There are various "open" micro (PC/MAC) labs which minimal
charges such a $1/hr (although it may now be free). Use of Laser-
writers is charged at cost to discourage free xeroxing.
FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, Melbourne, Florida
1. No, there aren't any fees.
3.There is currently a discussion on campus regarding adding some
kind of lab fee (for computer-using courses) or computer tax (for
all students) to support the computer services.
4.Students are often time-limited to 2 hours at one session on the
mainframes. Hence the need for every student to have a PC of their
own. Students largely must buy their own software. FIT is
private, and therefore the larger tuition budget makes more
computer resources available at no additional cost to the students
above tuition.
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK
1. No, there are no additional computer fees, it is all part of the
tuition package. (which is great for comp sci majors, but what
about the hypothetical art major who never uses them?)
4. Considering how much interest and principal is being paid on
computing by all 50,000 students, and the ratio of term paper
typers there are to main frame accessors, the result is very
expensive. If the computer department at a given school were
small, such a system would not only be fair, but imperative; at a
larger school, where the cost of the administration of such a
system would outweigh the cost of using the "let's buy it, make
everyone pay for it" philosophy of computer purchasing, I feel that
a segregated tax-those-who-use system would be foolish.
MIDWAY
1. No, the school does not impose any computer charges directly on
students.
2. They used to have personal computing accounts where each student
had $400 of "virtual money" which s/he could spend on mainframe
computing, and any charges higher than that had to be paid in real
$$$. Since most people never used that much, last year we switched
over to AFFAC (apparently-free, fully-allocated computing) which
means that as long as you don't use oodles of disk space and CPU
time without a good reason (e.g. classes, research), you don't get
charged for anything (i.e. your tuition cover it). PCs (mostly
MACs with few PS/2's) are available for free use to registered
students, faculty, and staff.
3.There is no discussion regarding fees. He thinks that most
students feel that after shelling out $12k+ for tuition, they
shouldn't have to pay any more for computing. Many end up buying
PCs from the Campus Computer Store (part of consortium), but most
use the campus cluster for printing (free laser writers) if nothing
else.
4.In addition to providing computers for students to use, the Univ.
has just completed wiring most of the buildings and all of the
residence halls with LocalTalk and ethernet cabling. This means
that students, profs, can connect their PCs to the campus network
and access fileservers, the minis and mainframes, and (with NCSA
Telnet or Mac/IP), other machines on the Internet. This makes
communications very convenient.
1. No, there are no direct charges on students.
3. Students get $400 worth of computer time on the university
system per quarter. In addition, any courses requiring access
provide it to students enrolled in the course. This is all free
(in tuition).
4. I can't fill you in on how the U of C decided on this policy.
My guess is they would be objects of scorn, and derision it they
chose to do otherwise--considering the school's rep and endowment.
NYU (& BERKELEY)
BERKELEY-
1. Yes, there is a direct charge.
2. Although the business school had lab and there was a room for
teaching, there was a concession in library that was pay for use -
$6/hr. However, anyone could get mainframe account with a faculty
sponsor or CS and math and engineering student automatically given
account.
NYU-
1. Yes, there is a direct charge
2. Although there are e-mail mainframe accounts for all and free
PC's available, there are concessions of $4/hr with a 15 page/hr
print limit.
4.suggestions- free mainframe accounts to everyone; PC's that are
used for course work when not in use for that course work should be
available to the campus community
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
1. No, there are no charges.
3. Fees considered: argument for labs with micros which are lacking
Arguments against: problems with administration's current funding,
other worthwhile endeavors could use funding also, space
4.Others who have tried fees: Illinois gets complaints from
legislators, Indiana Univ.'s Pres. has realized that the modest fee
hasn't really increased total funding, and Michigan is the only
place he knows of that is using them without battle.
INDIANA
1. Yes, computer charges are directly charged in the form of a
special fee.
2. Fees- lab fees in courses that require special software; fee per
use in printing ($.10); tax- technology fee per semester
$15/Freshmen, $40/Sophomores, Juniors, and grad. students,
$30/Seniors; students in certain schools must own a computer
(Business, Library, Public & Environmental Affairs), but get %50
vendor discount through school
3. arguments- biggest problem w/technology fee is status as fee;
grad. assts. are fighting for inclusion of fee in tuition since
that's not covered under remission, but the Univ. won't guarantee
funds if fee is incorporated into tuition.
4. other- students complained about fee at first, but are used to
it now; report on computing center is available
CASE WESTERN UNIVERSITY
1. Yes, there is a charge for laser printing.
2. just above
4. Computer time should be in the price of tuition. Computer time
shouldn't be considered the same as textbooks, since you don't have
the option of keeping the computer after you use it.
NEW MEXICO TECH
1. Yes, there are computer charges directly on students
2. Computer-using courses have lab fees of $10/class acct. with
printing included (no tax or mandatory purchase of computer).
4. Comments- special class acct. called the `snsr' for Student Non-
Sponsored research at $10/semester, only to be used at off-peak
hours with a monthly limit.(mostly frivolous game-playing)
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
1. Yes, there are computer charges directly on students.
2. There is a $100/semester computer tax on each undergraduate
engineer.
3. Arguments against- students already pay tuition, costs are high,
why make some students pay extra
Arguments for- eng. students use it and should pay for it, fees
needed to maintain resource, precedence for this in other
departments w/special fees
ILLINOIS at URBAN-CHAMPAIGN
1. Yes, there are computer charges directly on students.
2. there is a computer tax on all students of $10/semester and are
being raised to $15
4. Comments- big uproar when tax was first imposed, but has
subsided; includes access to labs and an account
WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY (Kalamazoo)
1. Yes, there are computer charges directly on all students prior
to which only some courses had fees covering labs and an account.
FT pays $50 for fall & winter, $25 for Spring & Summer
PT pays $25 for fall & winter, $12.50 for Spring & Summer
2. must pay for laser printing
SCHOOL OF ICS, GEORGIA TECH
In the process of revamping their Hardware/Architecture curriculum
and are considering imposing a lab fee on the Hardware Lab courses
(interested in outcome of survey)
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO AT COLORADO SPRINGS
1. Yes, there are charges directly on students
2. There is a lab fee of $6/credit (max $18/semester) for courses
using departmental lab equipment
????
1. No, there are no charges on all students because they want to
encourage use not scare students away with charges.
4. Comments- They run an "open shop" with students doing all
computer center work, which promotes thinking with little abuse.
There is charge $50 to run lines to dorm rooms.
CENTRE, UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH
1. Yes, there is a charge on all students
2. Computer tax
3. There are fees called "Research Costs" on grad. students of
about $100 - $120/yr.
UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN
1. No, there isn't a charge on all students
3. Fees have been considered to be able to buy a laserwriter for
student access (which would charge by page).
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA - LINCOLN
1. Yes, there is a charge on all students.
2. Fees are imposed on laser printing $.50/page.
3. There is encouragement for students to buy own PC, but no
requirement.
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
1. No, there isn't a charge on all students.
3. Extra fees would be an outrage with such high tuition. Funds
come from department budget or grants.
QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY
1. Yes, there is a charge on all students
2. Laser printing is charged and Applied Science (Engineering)
students are "strongly encouraged" to buy IBM PC clone.
3. The only extra fees legal here and probably all of Ontario,
where all the universities are essentially "public" (tax-
supported), are those where the student gets to take something away
with them.
CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
1. (Says No) but yes, there is a charge on all students
2. Students are charged a "lab" fee for any lab course although
most aren't using computer facilities.
3. Currently considering a fee charging all students to require a
computer usage fee to all students.
(interested in results)
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS at BOSTON
1. Yes, there is a charge on all students.
2. Computer-using courses have a $25 lab fee.
3. Other fees are not being considered.
CALIFORNIA POLY STATE UNIVERSITY, CSC
1. Yes, there is a charge on all students.
2. Computer-using courses have lab fees, there is a $.25 fee for
laser printing, and students pay $10 for lab maintenance.
UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA, CANADA
1. No, there isn't a charge.
3. Fees haven't been considered.
CARNEGIE MELLON
1. No, there aren't any fees.
3. Fees haven't been considered.
4. He believes that students who use more should pay more.
OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE, Los Angeles Ca.
1. No, there aren't any charges.
3. Once considered limiting connect time on terminals, but dropped
that idea.
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
1. No, there aren't any charges.
3. Discussion of a fee for College of Engineering.
UNIVERSITY WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE
1. No, there aren't any charges.
3. Fees haven't been considered.
YALE
1. Yes, there is a charge.
2. Fee for laser printing.
3. No discussion on any other fees.
??????????
1. Yes, there is a charge.
2. Fee for laser printing at $.5/page, color copy at $1/page.
3. No other direct fees considered.
4. Interested in results
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
1. Yes, a charge of $225/term is hidden in the tuition.
2. Accounts cost $65/term, students are eligible for $25/month
computer money to pay for using the Terminal System for email &
conferencing, and the tax is mentioned above.
???????????
1. Yes, there is a charge.
2. All students pay an additional tuition charge of $1/credit to
support computer services, which are distributed to labs.
VICTORIA
1. No, there are no charges.
4. Three years ago they used funny money used for connect time and
cpu usage to limit waste of resources and non computer science
students who wanted a user code were charged real money.
PSU
1. Yes, a charge has recently been added with student resentment.
2. Fee replaces funds that normally came from the general fund all
tuition went into and is supporting administrative facilities not
public labs.
STOCKTON
1. No charges on students.
4. Discussion over instituting a fee schedule, but decided money
for workstation should come from a general schedule and not from
the department since staffing is handled by college
SAINT ANSELM COLLEGE
1. Yes, there is a charge.
2. A fee of $50 for students taking computer courses.
4. Feels fees on those who are using is fair.
BOEING/GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECH
1. Yes, there is a charge hidden in tuition.
2. Students have units called banana (basic across network
allocation...) with different resources charged at different rates.
3. Pro-kept computers free, helped track system usage, made abuses
easy to spot
Con-plenty of resources for everyone, extra tracking involved,
funds could run out before completion of project
4. Computing resources should be readily available to all students,
though rules should be set up to help eliminate abuse; buying
computers should be encouraged through an active educational
discount program.
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
1. Yes, policies and fees are determined by department providing
service.
2. The Humanities charges a membership fee of $25/quarter and laser
printing charges of $.10/page. Drop-in users pay $2/hr and
$.50/page.
3. The general philosophy is that computing services should be like
library services: an essential academic tool that is freely
available to anyone at the Univ. It would be nice to make some
money back on printing, but not worth the hassle of keeping track.
UNIVERSITY OF WAIKATO
1. No, there aren't any charges
3. The idea comes up occasionally.
4. There is also constant noise about moving toward insisting that
people have their own equipment before trying to enroll.
SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY
1. No, there aren't any charges because there are no provisions for
these fees at the school.