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Special Fees

Requests for Changes, Deletions or New Course Associated Special Fees

Requests for changes, deletions or new course associated special fees effective for the 2012-2013 academic year are due no later than Monday, November 7. These requests should be submitted electronically using the proposal form below to academicaffairs@unl.edu. These requests also included special fees for Distance Education courses. You do not need to submit requests for already approved special fees, unless you are requesting a change or deletion.

Information and materials regarding special fees are available to your staff on the website.  The specific documents are:

When submitting your request, justification must be included for each course or special fee to receive approval. Approval of special fees indicates that a course has been approved to collect fees and does not guarantee that a fee will automatically be collected. It is the department's responsibility to indicate, each semester, when approved fees are to be collected on Registration & Records' Schedule of Classes worksheet, or if during the special fees approval period, when "recommended" fee are collected.

Approval Process Overview and Timeline

Only those course-associated special fees that are published in the Schedule of Classes may be collected. Newly approved course-associated special fees that are to be collected for the first time in the subsequent fall must be published in the Fall Schedule of Classes. 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" fee are collected.

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.

 

Timeline and Approval Process

Early Fall
In early fall, Academic Deans are asked to submit requests made by their departments for changes, deletions or new course-associated special fees that are to be effective beginning with the fall term of the following academic year. The departments need to justify their requests and include supportive information.

November 7
Deans submit the requests made by their departments, including the justification and supportive information. Special fees submitted after November 7, 2011, will not be processed until spring 2012.

December 
An Advisory Committee, consisting of three faculty members and two ASUN student representatives reviews and makes recommendations on the requests for changes, deletions or new course-associated special fee requests.

January
The Senior Vice Chancellor presents the proposed fees list and recommendations to the Chancellor.

February
The Chancellor notifies the Senior Vice Chancellor of his recommended approvals and a list of the recommended approved fees are distributed to the deans, Registration and Records and President of the University system. The President submits his approvals to the Board of Regents for final approval for their April meeting.

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; personnel included in the context of the subject being taught, i.e. art models, accompanist for vocal music; food included in the context of the subject being taught such as an etiquette dinner for discussion in an employment seminar. 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 outside the context of the subject being taught, i.e. salary of instructor. (2) Food purchased for human consumption outside the context of the subject being taught, i.e. lunch purchased for students while on field trip. (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 someone 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 to be collected on a single course is $5. Special fee increases on an active course must be divisible by five.

Notification of Approval and Inclusion in 2012 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 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.)