PORTLAND, Ore. The University of Oregon and Eastern Oregon University have an "energy surcharge." Portland State's got a "student services" fee. And every university in the state tacks on a little extra for the privilege of using the school's computer system.
Such fees have exploded in Oregon in recent years, as state support for higher education declined, and the seven public universities looked for ways to make up the gap.
This week, the state Board of Higher Education will get the first look at a plan to eliminate such fees for undergraduates within three to four years.
Student leaders praise the idea, but some university administrators including Dave Frohnmayer, the president of the University of Oregon have argued against blanket changes, saying universities need financial flexibility.
Collegiate fees exist in most states, according to a national survey done this year by the Oregon Student Association. Most often, they are associated with particular courses. Science majors, for example, are charged when their courses require pricey equipment.
Oregon has seen a rapid growth in such fees. In the 2000-2001 school year, there were only 18 fees associated with particular courses or majors; by the 2007-2008 school year, there were 75 such fees systemwide.
At the University of Oregon, that translated to $13 million in revenue in fiscal year 2007; at Oregon State, it was $12.4 million.
Fed up, students pushed a bill aimed at curbing the fees during the 2007 legislative session. That attempt was shelved after university officials agreed to set up an interim task force on the topic.
The new plan is the result.
Under the plan, students won't get back the money they've already paid in fees.
Instead, the fees will largely be rolled into tuition, and listed in advance, with the aim of future financial aid packages taking the full costs into account.
"It's an issue of transparency" said Emily McLain, the student body president at the University of Oregon, who also served on the task force. "Extra fees being tacked on after financial aid awards are sent out makes students take out emergency loans, or else they aren't able to afford the cost of tuition."
