Montana State University-Billings

Campus Name: Montana State University-Billings

Full Time Mandatory Fees (12-18 credits) Per Semester

FY 2001-2002

MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY BILLINGS

FISCAL YEAR 2002

PROPOSED MANDATORY FEE INCREASES

This is needed to help fund repair and replacements in the residence halls, student union building, Apsaruke Hall and other auxiliary buildings. Currently the amount in the building fee only funds the bond payments. We need to develop a regular funding source for the repair and maintenance of these facilities.

Computer Fee

The reliance on computers and technology in the labs and classrooms continues to increase. This increase in the Computer Fee is needed to keep up with the increasing need for technology. With an increase in use of technology, there are increased operating costs, replacement costs, upgrade costs, and bandwidth costs.

Equipment Fee

The equipment fee is for instructional equipment. There are significant needs in this area. The most apparent need is laboratory equipment in the sciences. There are other needs in all other areas for lab equipment, classroom equipment, new desks, tables, etc.

Library Fee

The library fee is a fee that was proposed to the Regents by the students of MSU-Billings to address the funding needs of the library. This fee was approved as a temporary fee and was to be eliminated when additional revenue sources were identified for the library. It does not look like there will be additional revenue sources at this time, however, this is MSU-Billings proposed change to be in compliance with the agreement that the library fee would be temporary.

Athletic Fee

Additional scholarship dollars are needed for Womens Softball and Men and Womens Soccer.

Student Activity Fee

The decrease is a transfer of funds from the Student Activity Fee to the Recreational Activities fee below, in accordance with the Student Governments wish to budget for Recreational Activities separate. The increase in FY03 is to provide additional funding for requests submitted to the Student Government.

Recreational Activities

This is the effect of the above explanation where the Student Government wishes to separate the Recreational Activities Budget from the Student Activity Fees. The additional dollar in FY03 is to assist in the operating expenses of the Recreation Activities Budget due to the decrease in external revenue and the increase in use by campus users.

Academic Building Fee

The Physical Education Building has significant deferred maintenance problems. The state only minimally funds the maintenance of the PE building. They believe it is more of a student use building rather than an academic building and that the students should pay for a portion of the maintenance. This increase will help address some of the maintenance issues.

Tech Replacement Fee

There is a significant amount of technology on this campus that will eventually have to be replaced. The Board of Regents approved a student fee and bonding for the initial equipment required for the implementation of the Banner Administrative and Student system. They took out all of the funds that would have replaced this equipment. The replacement of this equipment is essential and an ongoing requirement.

Student Union Use Fee

The Student Union Use Fee is to fund the operations and maintenance of the Student Union Building. The University has taken the Board of Regents policy on noncompetition with the private sector very seriously and has significantly reduced the use of the Student Union Building by outside users, thereby reducing the revenue stream that use to help support the SUB.

New Academic Support Center

The Academic Support Center is designed to provide support services for all students to improve their chance for academic success and improve retention. The center provides individual as well as small group study, tutorials, and classes designed to improve students academic skills. Staff members are available to assist students with class schedules, retention issues, and other support as needed. The Academic Support Center houses the Writing Lab and the Math Lab, two facilities used by students at all academic levels for tutor assisted help with writing, composition, and mathematics. The Center also houses tutorial and skill building software and audio and visual instructional tapes for individual skill development. The Center is estimated to serve 1,200 to 1,500 students annually, including students from very diverse backgrounds and in need of support and assistance transitioning to a University learning environment.

Board of Regents policy requires the elimination of the mathematics and English course fees previously used to support the Math and English Labs. This new fee of $2.80 per credit hour replaces the math and English course fees. The actual increase in cost, given the elimination of the math and English course fees, is $1.29 per credit hour.

If the Regents approve this fee, MSU-Billings will not request an increase in tuition to offset reduced course fees related to Math and English Lab fees. This would change the $1.40 tuition increase to $.18 tuition.