MU's 'hidden' fees can be a surprise
by Ty Scheets, posted Dec. 9, 2009
Between tuition, room and board, food, and other expenses, there are several fees that have an impact on student bank accounts. What some may not notice are hidden fees charged by the university. For instance, fees are issued to cover construction costs on campus, which includes projects like the Student Recreational Complex and the new Brady Commons.
MizzouRec
MU held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the renovated Student Recreational Complex in August 2005. The project added around 115,000 square feet onto the building and transformed the total size to more than 290,000 square feet. Equipped with a 50-meter competitive pool, a club pool, climbing wall and fitness machines, students now boast about having one of the top recreational centers in the nation. In September 2005, Sports Illustrated on Campus voted MizzouRec the No. 1 recreational center in the nation.
“At first everyone was skeptical of the enormous plasma screens, because they were unheard of on a college campus,” said Cathy Scroggs, vice chancellor of student affairs. “But, after a while you started to see them show up in more and more facilities across the nation.”
Yet, all of these changes did not happen overnight. The planning began in 1996 when a group of concerned students met with administration to express interest in improving Brewer Fieldhouse.
“The gym seemed to be crowded throughout the day, especially late in the day and the early evening,” said Jeff McNeill, a 2002 MU graduate. “I remember how frustrating it was to wait in line twenty minutes for a bench or a machine.”
After much debate, MU officials decided that Brewer Fieldhouse was in need of several changes to keep up with the growing population of students and their needs. So a referendum was put before a student vote.
The Missouri Student Association, a liaison between the students and the university, administered the referendum ballots. The referendum involved three options, said Rich Anderson, fiscal officer of student affairs. Option A included the 50 meter diving pool and added $75 onto each student’s bill. Option B would have cost $50 and wouldn’t have had the diving pool or the competitive pool, and Option C was to not make any changes.
On Oct. 22, 2001, polls opened and 4,141 students cast their votes, with 65 percent voting to increase fees by $75 to renovate the facility. As a result, for the next 30 years, students will be paying for the $43 million in renovations.
“I attended several meetings when they were in the architectural planning of the new building and I was really impressed with the turn out. People seemed to be anxious to get things going,” Scroggs said.
Although, the project is not without criticisms. During the deliberations several opposed the project, saying it was senseless spending and that prices for faculty passes for the complex would increase dramatically. Others proposed cutting back on the construction and using the saved money to benefit the college in more educational ways.
While the $75 increase covered construction costs, currently students pay a total of $133.11 per year. Yet, there are some exceptions.
“The fees only apply to students that are enrolled in more than six credit hours. Students that aren’t enrolled in more than six have the option of purchasing memberships to the complex,” Anderson said.
This allows part-time students, or those who do not spend as much time on campus, an opportunity to avoid paying for something they would not use.
Following the decision, several amendments were made that would change the way students at MU voted on referendums. Since the project would be finished in 2005, those voting would have graduated and future students would have to pick up the tab.
“The board now says that a 3/5 majority must be reached, and if you vote on an issue you have to pay,” Anderson said.
The new Brady Commons
The renovations to Brady Commons are another project that required student funding. However, it is also being financed with some additional help. Half of the costs are being covered by the university, the other half by the students. This project will double the size of the previous Brady Commons area and is predicted to cost $60 million overall.
Consisting of two separate phases, the first was billed to students last year when it opened. The second phase, currently under construction, will be added to students’ tab when it opens in 2011. The construction taking place has several students annoyed and many find it a distraction during class.
“I think that the construction is a huge hassle,” said Alyssa Rizavi, an MU freshman. “Half the road is blocked when I’m on my way to class, plus the jackhammers and stuff make it harder to pay attention especially in my classes in Strickland (Hall).”
However, when comparing the cost of renovating the 42-year-old building to other colleges, students may change their minds about the construction. Missouri University of Technology- Rolla currently charges students more than $100 dollars for its new 105,000-square-foot Havener Center. While MU will charge $48 dollars for a space with more than double that area—220,000 square feet. It is a $35 increase from the previous commons area and student union construction costs.
“Knowing what is being done to improve the school and what it costs us as students is something that we need to be aware of,” Rizavi said.
With so many different renovations and improvements, students can be active in MU decisions that will affect the education and pocketbooks of future MU students.
{back to homepage}
