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Student Technology Fee Proposal

Since 2015, the Associated Student Government (ASG) in partnership with the Department of Student Life and college administration have been exploring the opportunities and feasibility of implementing a technology fee. For the last five years, “improving campus technology” has been an issue that student leaders have identified as one of their highest priorities for advocacy.

To ensure access to, improve the reliability of, and fully embrace the utilization of cutting-edge technology and collaboration across campus, the ASG authorized the creation of a task force in January 2020, made up of students and college stakeholders with the task of developing a fully developed fee proposal. The proposed fee level was $4.00/credit up to 10 credits with a cap of $40/quarter.

Based on the results of the June 2020 special election, the student body did not adopt the referendum. This voluntary fee would allow future student leaders the ability to allocate one-time funds to technology projects and ongoing support for technologies that impact campus life, student success and learning.

So you are fully informed, please take the time to learn more about the details of the student technology fee.  

Technology Fee Code

Election Experience Details

Students who were eligible to vote in this special election receive a digital ballot with a unique link to participate in this election experience to their college-issued email account.

Eligible students were invited to cast their vote about implementing a student technology fee beginning Winter 2021 between June 8 and Thursday, June 4 at 11:59pm. Results of the special election will be ratified at the June 15 Student Government Meeting. 

Fee Proposal Background Documents

The History of Technology Fees

In the 1990s, a technology fee was written into state law for four-year colleges and universities to ensure progressive expansion of technology usage on campus. A short time later, community and technical colleges followed by asking student governments to self-assess a similar fee. Since colleges are limited to the kinds of fees they can assess students, a student technology fee is one that must be self-assessed and approved by the student body as opposed to the approval of the student government.

CPTC has never had a technology fee and is one of only a few colleges in the state that does not have an established technology fee that supports one-time projects and ongoing support for technologies that impact campus life, student success and learning. As such, CPTC lacks having progressive technological options for CPTC students.

What is a Technology Fee?

 A technology fee is a voluntary fee assessed by the student body for the purpose of providing ongoing support for technologies impacting campus life, student success and learning. Pursuant to state law, a student technology committee provides student voice in making decisions to fund programs, projects or initiatives in line with that purpose and may be used for, but is not limited to, the following efforts:

  • Funding staff/student supported technology projects;
  • Improve access to internet resources; and
  • Creative uses of technology.

As a best practice, students are majority membership holders on the student technology fee committee and have control over where funding resides, which is identical to the process for recommending the yearly budget to the Services & Activities (S&A) fee. The student technology fee has the intent to positively impact technological developments that will help students:

  • Use current technology, as found in the workforce;
  • Gain access to technology that enhances student learning;
  • Enhance learning about technology; and
  • Improve students’ technological skills.

Funding cannot be used to fund instructional requests and the fee is eligible for cancelation through a vote of the student body.

Why a Technology Fee?

Colleges need sufficient funds to provide all of the current technology services that students require on a college campus. Though Clover Park Technical College spends every dollar available for technology, it’s difficult to keep services, training and opportunities compatible with a modern campus. Most colleges in Washington already charge a technology fee. Clover Park Technical College is one of those few that have tried to absorb the costs and not pass any on to the students. Now, there is a real danger of a diminished learning experience for our students. Instead of falling behind, we need to move forward in a partnership where both the college and students to develop a student technology fee which will allow future student leaders the ability to allocate one-time funds to technology projects and ongoing support for technologies that impact campus life, student success and learning.

Tech Fee – Work to Date

  • 2015
    • College administrators met with the Associated Student Government (ASG) to discuss supporting the development of a zero-increase fee that combined accessing CANVAS and course fees that required heavy compute use as part of instructional curriculum.
  • 2016
    • A task force was convened and created the comprehensive fee and completed a first draft of a policy and procedure code (by-laws) for a student technology fee.
    • “Improving campus technology” was first included on the ASG’s annual Student Priorities Paper. This paper represents the issues students have identified as their highest priorities for advocacy during that academic year. It has been on every subsequent priorities paper that has been produced by the ASG.
  • 2017
    • Student survey was developed with the intent of gathering feedback from students about their satisfaction with campus technology; survey was never distributed to CPTC students.
  • 2018
    • The Director of Student Life’s job description was updated to include: Serve as a major contributor in the visioning, implementation and operation of a Student Technology Fee as supported by the Associated Students of Clover Park Technical College.
  • 2019
    • Discussions resumed by both ASG and college administration about introducing a student technology fee to ensure more funding is available to allocate one-time funds to technology projects and ongoing support for technologies that impact campus life, student success and learning.
  • 2020
    • The Student Government authorizes the re-creation of the student technology task force with the intention of developing a tech fee proposal by March 2020.
    • The student body voted against adopting the referendum to initiate a student technology fee beginning Winter 2021. 

    Who Would Pay

    All students eligible for being assessed would pay the fee
    Some students will not pay the fee because of waivers and other classifications
    Students who receive tuition/fee waivers will most likely receive a lowered fee assessment

    Next Steps

  • The student technology task force will reconvene in Fall 2020 to continue to develop governing documents based on state law, statewide best practices and input/suggestions from students and the college administration. 

    What We Need From You

  • We are asking for your assistance to help students learn more about the technology fee proposal by having them: 1) visit the Department of Student Life for more information; 2) ask clarifying questions and 3) reading the FAQ’s. 

    Your assistance will help us make this a successful experience for our students. If the vote carries, it will mean more funding for much needed technology.

    Questions, Comments or Concerns? Please contact Student Life staff.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a technology fee?

A technology fee is a revenue source generated through tuition that specifically addresses the lack of funding to support the purchase of current, campus technology.

Why is this proposal being brought to students with such urgency?

Fee changes are made once a year. If we are unable to make the change for Fall 2020, it will be Fall 2021 before the change can be implemented. That’s too long to wait given the shortcomings of the current system.

What is the point of assessing this fee?

Students, staff and faculty have stated that technology at CPTC lags far behind other colleges and workforce expectations. It is hoped that by assessing this fee that CPTC will create a revenue stream to provide ongoing support for technologies impacting campus life, student success and learning.

Is this fee assessed by students?

Yes. It required a vote by the student body in order for it to pass.

What will happen if the vote fails?

CPTC will slip further behind other colleges and their ability to utilize cutting-edge technology to upgrade the hardware and software on campus as if the Technology Fee were in place.

How will this fee be regulated?

This fee will be regulated by the code (i.e. governing documents), just like the Services & Activities Fee.

What are some examples of initiatives the technology fee could support?

Great question! Based on our research of other two-year colleges in Washington State, here are a few of our favorite projects that we’d hope to see implemented at CPTC:

  • Additional support in the Learning Resource Center
  • Additional computer labs
  • Coordinated plan to upgrade computer labs
  • PT technicians to provide dedicated support for loaner laptops
  • Reduced and/or free access to printing (quarterly)
  • New innovative project proposals (one-time request)
  • Student lab assistants
  • eSports
  • Online tutoring
  • Hardware and software upgrades
  • Software
What is the code?

The code is the technology fee code. This code is a policy statement that outlines how the fee will be collected and disseminated. It also outlines the vision for the funding. It is approved and amended by the Associated Student Government.

So, it’s basically a new fee?

Yes. However, students are the deciding authority when determining how to disseminate revenue gathered from this fee.

What will the money raised by this fee be used for?

The revenue raised by this fee will be used to provide, replace or improve technology used by students outside the classroom that impacts campus life, student success and learning.

Will this fee replace other fees?

Not at this time. The college will assess the use of the fee and make budgetary determinations at a later date.

Who decided where the money will go?

A committee comprised of a majority of students will decide who and which departments will receive these funds depending upon their budget request.

What other fees do students pay?

There are over 100 possible fee types, with at least 50 of which are actively used at any one time. Most students pay between one (1) to five (5) additional fees depending upon their program. In addition to program fees, students pay a Service & Activities Fee ($10.50/quarter) and a Student Center Building Fee ($45/quarter through 2026.

How often are requests made?

Funding requests will be made on an annual basis according to the schedule outlined in the technology fee code.

Can this fee be canceled?

Yes. the fee may be canceled by a vote of the student body.

How much is the fee?

Based on student feedback which informed the recommendation made by the technology fee task force to the Student Government, the proposed fee level is $4.00/credit up to 10 credits with a cap of $40/quarter.

Will this fee be part of tuition?

While this is not technically tuition (the cost to run a class) this fee will be collected at the time tuition is collected.

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