Special Fees Definitions and Guidelines
According to the Board of Regents policy RP-5.9.3 Reporting of Laboratory Fees, "a laboratory fee i.e. special fee, is defined as a charge made to students to underwrite, in whole or in part, the cost of services, rentals, and consumable supplies utilized in a laboratory environment." PROFESSIONAL FEES are distinct and separate from special fees which are associated to a course number. Please contact Academic Affairs regarding the approval process of professional fees. In preparing your request, keep in mind the following definitions and guidelines.
Definition of laboratory: Laboratories for which fees may be charged include any space in which students work with equipment and materials to enhance their skills. Examples include but are not limited to writing labs, non-general use computer labs, design labs, studios, chemistry labs, biological labs and engineering labs.
Expenses for which course associated laboratory (special) fees may be charged: Expenses associated with a laboratory which are to be recouped through course associated special fees are limited to either (1) unique costs, that is, unusual and particular costs associated with that course or (2) physical materials which the student consumes during or takes away from the course. Examples of these expenses include (but are not limited to): rental and gas for a van for a course requiring a field trip, supplies to be consumed during a printmaking course, educational tests to be administered by students in a course on educational measurements, specialized software needed by students who are studying graphic design or textiles. There may be Distance Education courses that require course associated laboratory (special)/course fees.
Expenses for which course associated laboratory (special) fees may not be charged: (1) Personnel. (2) Food purchased for human consumption. (3) Expenses for computers, printers, general purpose software and other equipment used in general use laboratories will not be supported by course associated laboratory fees. Colleges are expected to utilize their portion of either the Student Technology Fee or the equipment funds distributed by the Senior Vice Chancellor for these types of expenses. Contact the Office of Academic Affairs regarding technical fees.
Justification: The justification should be specific and clear to somone not familiar with the course. List examples of consumables. If software, state why it is particular to the course. If equipment, state why unique to the course.
Minimum course associated special fee and increase: The minimum fee that may be requested is $10. Limit increases in existing courses and new special fees for a course to increments divisible by five.
Notification of Approval and Inclusion in 2008 Fall Schedule of Classes
A committee composed of students and faculty will review requests for changes, deletions and new special fees. Once reviewed, recommendations will be submitted to the Chancellor for his recommended approval to the Board of Regents. The Chancellor's recommended approvals are then forwarded to Registration & Records, indicating the "recommended" special fees to be collected. If the Board of Regents denies any request at the April meeting, Registration & Records is notified of fees that cannot be collected. IMPORTANT: Approval of special fees indicates that a course has only been approved to collect fees and does not implicate that a fee will automatically be collected. It is the department's responsibility to indicate, per semester, when fees are collected on Registration & Records' Schedule of Classes worksheet, or if during the special fee approval period, when "recommended" fees are collected. (Click for overview of this approval process.)
Contact Gail Hackwith with any questions regarding Special Fees:
Office of Undergraduate Studies
201 Seaton Hall (0683)
(402) 472-1928
Fax: (402) 472-1910
ghackwith2@unl.edu
