U of S : Communications : OCN : Nov 28, 1997

Last week, the Fees Authority (see September 5, OCN), established in August of 1996 to respond to student concern about the proliferation of fees, announced the launch of a web site for the Central Registry of Fees - the compilation of fees (other than tuition) that may be charged to students.

Its url: http://www.usask.ca/registrar/feesregistry/.

Authority chair Dr. Roy Billinton, of Engineering, says "the Registry may not yet list absolutely all the fees that are levied on students, but we want students and faculty to become aware of its existence and availability on the web."

The gathering of fees information into the Registry, he adds, constitutes a "milestone," a putting in order of an original total of 500 or so separate fees that students are subject to.

The Authority, which considers requests for fee hikes and new fees before recommending them to the Board of Governors for approval, is a successor to COFTIT, the Committee on Fees and Tuition Implementation Team, which was chaired by then-Commerce dean John Brennan.

Approximately half of the original fees were for copying charges, many of which were for specially prepared course notes.

More adherence to copyright

Now, all copy fees have been rendered into fees for (sometimes less expensive) materials instead of copying charges. And there's an enhanced adherence to copyright law, because notes and manuals are generally sold through the Bookstore and therefore not listed in the CRF.

The Registry site was created, and will be maintained, by the Office of the Registrar, as changes are approved by the Board of Governors.

Sharon Scott, coordinator of promotions and web development, Office of the Registrar, notes that the CRF site is located in that Office's Fee Information Site [http://www.usask.ca/registrar/current_fees/], which contains fees information on such areas as methods of payment, international students, miscellaneous fees, etc.

Billinton says it will be a continuous process to maintain the Registry.

"Meanwhile, we encourage faculty and staff to voice any concerns they may have about it and to advise us of any fees that we may have not have been notified of when compiling the Registry."

In addition, Colleges, Departments, and campus units are asked to submit fee changes or new fees for the 1998-99 academic year by April 1, 1998.

* The members of the committee include three students - Natasha Stinka (USSU), Cory Bayly (GSA) and [tba] (joint appointee of USSU and GSA); two administrators - Cheryl Brooke (Education) and Don Steponchev (Physical Education); two faculty - Garry Gable (Music); Roy Billinton (Engineering), who chairs the Fees Authority, and Lorne Koroluk (Dentistry), the Budget Committee's representative. Administrative support is provided by Rick Jamison, director of Budget Management.

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