The Office of State Inspector General reported the University spends 10 percent of its student technology fees on student wages, while some schools in the state allocate more than 50 percent of their fees to support wages despite limits stated in their written plans.
A complaint alleging the University of Louisiana at Monroe violated state law by funding salary expenses with the student technology fees sparked the office’s interest. The office reviewed state legislation and found ULM did not violate state law.
State legislation allows universities and community and technical colleges to charge students $5 per course credit hour with a $100 per semester cap.
Bob Kuhn, associate vice chancellor for the Office of Budget and Planning, said the University’s student technology fee policy is unique because it instituted a $75 maximum per semester.
The report states “the term ‘technologies’ includes, but is not limited to, instructional and laboratory equipment and the networking and supporting computer and telecommunications infrastructure necessary to support these activities.”
The report states legislation does not address the issue of student technology fees funding salaries.
“Institutions are required to develop a written plan for expending the technology fee for purposes of implementing, replacing, improving and expanding technologies to benefit student life and learning,” according to the report.
The written plans for some universities, including Louisiana State University at Shreveport, do not include limits on salary or student wage expenses.
“Of the 20 institutions reporting salary expenditures, 15 spent less than 30 percent of the total budget for salaries, while five schools spent 40 percent or more,” the report stated.
Kuhn said he cannot comment on how other schools allocate their student technology fees, but he said a report by The Advocate was misleading because the University does not use any of its technology fees to support professional salary.
“Salaries are related to faculty and staff,” Kuhn said. “That’s more of a permanent kind of position. LSU doesn’t spend any student technology fees on salary. We do not hire any professional staff.”
The University’s written plan limits the expenditures for student wages at 15 percent of the student technology fee. In the 2004-2005 fiscal year study that the office used for its research, the University reported using 10 percent for student wages.
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette falls within the University of Louisiana System’s guidelines for salary payment. ULL used 16 percent of the 25 percent limit recommended by the ULS.
Southern University’s Baton Rouge campus used 57 percent of its student technology fees to fund salaries, but its written plan only allows about 50 percent for that purpose.
LSU at Shreveport does not have a limit on how much of the student technology fees it can use to support salaries. The report states the school expended 67 percent of its student technology fees to support salaries.
—–Contact Angelle Barbazon at [email protected]