With state education funding down, students are being asked to make up some of the difference. 

At the University of Wisconsin - Superior, some of this currently comes in the form of differential tuition. Students now pay two of these fees at the cost of $207 a year. Most of the money goes to fund the Jim Dan Hill Library and another portion goes to the Career Service Center. 

These fees are set to expire in the spring. They will need to be renewed if these services are to be maintained at their current levels.

Interim Chancellor Chris Markwood says under new University of Wisconsin guidelines, each school has been assigned a year in which they are to present their proposed differential. 2011 happens to be the year for UW-Superior.

“It just happens that this is the time for us to yes renew, but if there is going to be anything added to that differential it does need to be now,” Markwood said.

Markwood says last year the administration brought a detailed proposal for increased fees to the students, and the students voted against it in referendum. This year, he says, they are asking student government to draft the proposal. 

The two questions were, “Do you want to renew the existing differentials? And do you see needs elsewhere on campus that would justify a differential, and what could students pay to support that?”

Markwood says if they are going to put together a new fee, students are going to be involved from the bottom up.

“The Key is that there be student input. We would not take a differential request to the board of regents that doesn’t have the support of student government.”

The administration sees the need for resources in four specific areas. Technology for Swenson Hall is a major concern. Current project funding does not include the technology planned to fill the new building.

“There will be areas and computer labs and classrooms that have been designed for technology that will not be there unless we can find a funding source.”

Second is the sciences. “We’re in the process of renovating many of the labs in Barstow” says Markwood. “Lab fees cover consumables like beakers and chemicals, but they can’t fund equipment or long term things such as microscopes.”

 “UW Superior will have nicely renovated 21st century labs, but they won’t have the 21st century equipment for out students to use in those labs,” Markwood said.

Third is faculty positions. He says students see a direct result of this as more faculty translates into more classes and more availability for advisors and other assistance. 

Fourth is a financial aid component which would help defer the extra fee from students who cannot afford it. 

As a starting point, they are looking at somewhere in the area of $450 per year from each student. This would bring in about $1 million in funding. 

Student Government is looking for input and suggestions on the subject. The next step will come as the first draft proposal is presented to the UW-System Chancellor’s meeting November 19th. The final proposal will need to be presented to the Board of Regents in February 2011.