Undergraduate students may notice their fall fee bills have increased since last semester — a continuing trend at the University.
The LSU Board of Supervisors approved a 5 percent fee hike for flagship campus students at its June 22 meeting. The Student Excellence Fee will see a $270 increase, totaling $575 for undergraduate students. Fee charges for the 2016 fall semester amounted to $1,384.70 for students enrolled for 15 hours, and will now total over $1,600 for full-time in-state students. University fees are not covered by TOPS.
According to the Office of Academic Affairs, the funds will be utilized specifically for hiring faculty and increasing graduation rates.
“The fee approved by the LSU Board of Supervisors is geared directly to improvements in the classroom,” the Office of Academic Affairs said in a statement. “LSU is competing with universities across the country to retain and attract top faculty to provide teaching and research opportunities for our students. These fees will go to helping to attract and maintain our faculty, in addition to instruction and support services of the University.”
Student fees will be applied to services such as tutoring and counseling, according to the OAA. These improvements would address requests like classroom refinements, software and hardware upgrades.
According to data from the University’s fee schedules, from 2013 to 2017, total fall fees increased $677 for students enrolled for 15 hours. The total fees of $987.70 in fall 2013 have now shot up to $1,664.70 for the upcoming semester.
Fees for the 2017 summer semester accumulate to $664.20 for students taking six hours, which is considered full-time during the summer. As previously mentioned, fees are $1,664.70 for the upcoming fall semester. And preliminary fees for the spring semester total $1,671.45 for students taking 15 hours, totaling over $3,300.
The University’s required fees costs have steadily increased over a period of time for undergraduate students. From the fall of 1990 to fall 2017, required fees have increased from $103.75 to $631.70.
Required fees do not include the Student Excellence Fee, Academic Excellence Fee, Technology Fee, Building Use Fee or Operational Fee. Required fees go toward the LSU Student Union, maintenance funds, the Student Health Center, Student Government, Student Media and other student services.
According to data from the Office of Budget and Planning, in the fall semester of 1989 the required fees cost was $90.75, and the following 1990 spring semester it was $114.75. Fee charges for that academic year, including the summer of 1989, amounted to $252.25.
By the fall of 1999, students were paying $201 in required fees, more than doubling 1990’s fall fees.
Required fees eclipsed $1,000 annually for the first time for the fall 2013 and spring 2014 semesters, excluding the summer semester.
A common concern among students is whether or not fees will continue to rise in the future. However, some are willing to pay if it means a better education.
“I believe that the fees are outrageous, but if that is what it takes to ensure that we as students obtain a high quality education, it’s all worth it,” undeclared incoming freshman Alex’Cia Buie said.
As the University’s fee charges grow, it is possible for the trend to continue.
“It depends on state appropriations,” according to the OAA statement. “If state support increases, then there would be no need to adjust student charges.”
