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Frequently
Asked Questions
About
Advising Fees
Updated:
03/31/2006
Why
do we have an advising fee and when did it begin?
In the spring of 2001, the College Deans and the Provost decided to recommend
advising fees. There were growing concerns that we would have to cut back
on services such as advising if the state legislature made cut backs in
the funding of Higher Education. (This was visionary on the part of the
administrators as you see what is happening with our budgets for next
fiscal year.) Therefore, in order to continue providing the advising services
of the newly reorganized advising structure and to be able to enhance
services in the future, the advising fees became effective with registration
for Spring 2002.
What
process was used to get the initial fees approved?
Once the initial fee amounts were determined by the Deans and Provost,
estimates for total income were calculated based upon prior years enrollment
figures. Then the Financial Affairs office reviewed the costs associated
with advising (salaries, fringe benefits, operating expenses, etc.) and
projected total expenses. The initial fee proposal was reviewed and voted
on by the UTSA Student Fee Committee and moved forward to the Regents
and ultimately the Legislature for final approval.
Why
didn’t this go before the students for a vote?
This fee is considered an “incidental” fee and does not require a fee
referendum. However, all fees administered through Student Affairs are
reviewed by its Student Fee Committee before final approval by the President.
Who
makes the decision about the amount of the fee—like increases?
There is a Fee Advisory Committee that is chaired by an administrator
in Student Affairs. The committee strives to meet twice an academic
year but most importantly in early fall to review any proposed fee increases
for the next academic/fiscal year. (For example, the committee meets
this fall 2004 to determine advising fees effective fall 2005.) The
committee then makes a written recommendation that is considered by the
Vice President for Business Affairs, the Student Affairs Fee Committee,
and the President, who makes the final approval.
Why
did the committee recommend a fee increase for fall 2003, did one occur
for Fall 2004 or when will another fee increase be likely?
UTSA is growing at an unprecedented rate. In order to keep in sync with
our mission to provide advising services with no unreasonable delays,
we must keep our advisor loads low, such as one advisor per 350-400 students.
This ratio is in keeping with the recommendations of the National Academic
Advising Association (NACADA). Thus, if growth continue, more advising
staff is needed. The
fees were not increased for Fall 2004 and an additional fee was added
for B.A.A.S. program advising (a new degree program for fall); however,
some increases are likely to be proposed for Fall 2005.
Update: The
Advising Fee Advisory Committee recommended that the School of
Architecture fee be raised from $50 to $60 beginning Fall 2005. This was
necessary to support an additional fulltime advisor for the rapid growth
of undergraduates in the School of Architecture. All other advising fees
remain the same for the 05-06 academic year.
Who
are the members of the Fee Advisory Committee?
The first fee committee (2002) consisted of four Students, one Faculty
member, two advising center Directors, the Executive Director, Director
of Student Affairs Budgets, Financial Affairs Associate Vice President,
and Financial Affairs Assistant Vice President for Budgets. The students,
faculty member, and financial affairs members have voting rights. The
2003-04 committee expanded its student membership. The 2004-05 committee
members are being confirmed over this summer.
Update: Click
here to see the 04-05 committee members.
What
other UT System schools charge an advising fee?
When we started this in 2001, only the University of Texas-Austin charged
an advising fee. Since then other Texas schools have implemented advising
fees such as Texas A&M-College Station, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi,
Sam Houston State University and Texas State University.
What
exactly does the fee fund?
About 85% of the fee income funds advising staff salaries, the cost of
their benefits (Medical, Dental, Insurance, etc.), and wages for any temporary
clerical help (student assistants, work study, etc.). Only about 15% of
the funds cover maintenance and operations such as telephones, computers,
copying, professional development, publications, general office supplies.
Can
the university take the money and use it for other purposes?
No.
Can
the fee be waived and who makes the decision to waive it?
The fee cannot be waived. All degree-seeking students at UTSA pay advising fees. The only exception
is if a student has been admitted as “degree-seeking” but really intends
to be here in a “non-degree” status. They are just taking courses for
their own professional development or to transfer back to another institution.
To change to this status, a student must go to the Office of the Registrar
in the JPL Building and file a form. Once the status is approved and
changed prior to the semester's census date,
then the fee can be refunded. Students inquiring about fee waivers should
contact the supervisor (or director) of their academic major advising
center.
How
much is the fee and how is the fee listed on my bill?
The Fiscal Services (or Bursar) codes listed on the bill via ASAP (web)
are the following:
ADVISING
UNIT |
FEE
CODE |
04-05 ADVISING FEE (per each semester’s
registration and one-time registration for a summer term.) |
Freshmen
with a major or College |
UNFR
|
$82
|
Freshmen
with no major or no college (undecided) |
UNDA
|
$82
|
College
of Business |
COBA
|
$75
|
College
of Engineering |
COEA
|
$71
|
VP
– B.A.A.S. Program |
COAA
|
$71
|
College
of Public Policy |
COPA
|
$70
|
College
of Education & Human Development |
COHA
|
$67
|
College
of Liberal and Fine Arts |
COLA
|
$63
|
College
of Sciences |
COSA
|
$62
|
School
of Architecture |
COAR
|
$50
|
Am
I charged every time I meet with an advisor?
No. The charge comes at the time of registration. It is a per semester
charge. Therefore, you can meet with an advisor as many times as you need
each semester as schedules permit.
Where
do I go to express my concerns about this fee?
Students may contact the Office of Academic Support and Undergraduate
Studies at 210-458-5191 or by emailing the fee committee chairperson,
Linda.Chalmers@utsa.edu, or the Dean
or Associate Dean of their unit by email or phone (See Advising
Center Directory.),
the Associate Vice President of Academic Support and Undergraduate Studies
by letter or the fee committee members by letter sent to the committee
in care of the fee committee chairperson, who will see that the concerns are sent
to each committee member.
Where
do I go to express my concerns about the advising services I receive?
The proper “chain of command” is to first address the concern with the
Advising Center supervisor. (See Advising Center
Directory.) After meeting with the supervisor, if you want to go forward
with a concern by contacting the designated reporting authority listed
in the Directory for each advising unit. If the concern is in general
and not specific to an advisor or a center, you may submit a letter to
the
Associate Vice President of Academic Support and Undergraduate Studies for
review by the University Advising Council.
What
is the University Advising Council and who are the members?
The Advising Council was established in 1998 as The President’s Council
on Academic Advising. It became the Provost's Council on Academic Advising
from 1999-2002. For the current year and forward it is the University
Council on Academic Advising. The charge of the council is to provide
advice and recommendations to the Provost/Vice President for Academic
Affairs and the Vice President for Student Affairs on policies and procedures
for the operation of undergraduate academic advising at UTSA. Approximately
21 members sit on the council who are students, faculty, staff, advisors,
and administrators.
To
see the council members for 2003-2005 click here.
Comments?
Please send an email to Linda.Chalmers@utsa.edu
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