CBFRC Summary: September 14, 2018

Present: Libby Caruso, Eileen Daniel, Peter Dowe, Kathy Groves, Crystal Hallenbeck, Teresa Major, Karen Riotto, Jim Zollweg and Melissa Wight

Regrets: Dillon Thompson

• The committee membership was reviewed and members discussed the following:
  • Ms. Riotto stated that Mr. Henry has a teaching conflict with the meeting time this. academic year, so we will need to find a new faculty representative to replace him. Dr. Zollweg stated he would reach out to the Science Chairs for recommendations as many of the Science courses have fees.
  • Dr. Daniel stated the Dr. Banerjee has a teaching conflict with the meeting time but believes that it is just for the fall. If the conflict is just for the fall, we will hold Dr. Banerjee’s place and she can rejoin in spring.
  • Ms. Riotto will reach out to the BSG President regarding who the undergraduate representative is. Especially because one of the outstanding items is related to BSG.
• Ms. Riotto reviewed the Charge of the committee. In addition, Ms. Riotto stated that in order to improve communication regarding the fee-based budget presentations this year, the presentations will occur during a Joint Planning and Budget Committee meeting. The presentations are scheduled for Thursday, February 21, 2019.
• Ms. Riotto reviewed the following outstanding items:
  
  • The committee was given the task last year of establishing a Campus Based Fee Policy.
    The committee developed this policy last year and it is in the final stage of the approval
    process, which is approval by President’s Cabinet.
  • As part of the committee’s review of assessment criteria, the committee recommended
    that BSG re-evaluate their criteria. Based on the timing of our report and the review of
    President’s Cabinet, the response was there was not enough time for BSG to do any
    follow up work. The proposal is that this committee will make a formal request to review their assessment criteria and make recommendations for changes to go into effect fall 2019. Ms. Caruso will follow-up with BSG regarding this request.
  • Requesting Advancement reevaluate the naming of the Gift to the Fund for Brockport. We can formalize a request that they do so and that they report back by a certain time. If
    a committee member needs to participate in conversations with Advancement regarding
    this request, Ms. Major has been designated to do so.
• Ms. Riotto stated a request has come in from Dr. Peterson that the committee follow up on the technology fee particularly in regards to the double technology fee for the online programs and if the increased revenue is funding the intended purpose. This would involve a discussion with Bob Cushman about the justification and utilization of the double technology fee and Dr. Daniel will be the designated committee member in those discussions.
• Ms. Riotto stated that SUNY updated SUNY Policy #7804: Fees, Rentals and Other Charges. This policy really influences the work that this committee does. Ms. Riotto requested that committee members review this policy by our next meeting. A few items noted within the policy were:
  
  • We need to ensure that our review process of broad based fees aligns with the May 3,
    2018 policy update and our local process is in agreement with the SUNY policy.
  • The Career Services fee has changed whereas before they could not have any payroll
    lines against the fee but the policy has changed that with approval from SUNY, it could
    be possible.
  • Some of the dollar amounts for the maximum amount allowable for a miscellaneous fee
    have changed.
• Ms. Riotto reviewed the items the committee will be working on this fall:
  
  • The Call Letter for the Budget Presentations. We also need to make sure the Call Letter
    aligns to the new SUNY policy. Due to time constraints, the request to BSG to re-
    evaluate their assessment criteria will be moved forward from the fall 2017 report to the
    fall 2018 report. The focus of our next meeting will be on the Call Letter.
  • Broad Based Fee Waiver Policy is now required for all SUNY schools. This policy is to
    tell students and the public under what circumstances might we waive fees. Brockport
    does not waive fees so the policy will list the fees and state we will not grant the waiver.
    Ms. Major drafted the policy document for the committee and requesting clarification
    whether the $25 health fee should be charged to the students in the Washington Program
    and Study Aboard. Members discussed this and determined with logistics, the Study
    Aboard students may have difficulties obtaining the online services and should not pay
    for the fee, but the Washington Program would be able to access the online services and
    should be charged the fee. This would be implemented for fall 2019.
  • Members discussed evaluating the fees for Drop/Add, Commencement and Credit-By-
    Exam and whether the fees should be increased. This will be revisited after members
    review the updated SUNY Policy: Fees, Rentals and Other Charges.
• Ms. Major stated that the fee descriptors have been updated for the website. She will email
  members the fee descriptors.
• Ms. Hallenbeck provided the committee with the response from SUNY regarding the course based fees requests that were submitted. Since many science fees were requested last year, SUNY reviewed the science fees and questioned why there are two fees on courses, one for field trips and another for equipment. SUNY has stated they would like one comprehensive fee for the courses and this needs to begin fall 2019.
• Ms. Hallenbeck reported that she would be working with Dr. Heyning as Dr. Heyning is looking into all of the course fees and if the revenue from those fees is actually needed if budgets are carrying funds over year after year. This will be a lengthy process but Ms. Hallenbeck wanted to update the committee that this review will be taking place.
• Ms. Riotto stated all of the fee requests for the fall were approved; we are awaiting a response on the spring fees. Ms. Riotto will be emailing Josh Hagar to remind him that our submission included both fall and spring, not just fall as some other institutions do. 
• Ms. Caruso stated that the Med Charge is not as successful as anticipated. One factor is that
  many students are on Medicaid and do not have a copay so they opt to have their prescriptions sent to a pharmacy. Ms. Caruso will the conducting research with Wegmans regarding how many prescriptions aren’t picked up and with other college directors to see how they operate, as The Health Center will have to make a decision on whether they request the charge to be changed from opt in to opt out as opt out is the successful model or if on campus prescriptions are eliminated.

Campus Based Fee Review Committee Action Plan List

Committee Members: Libby Caruso/Eileen Daniel/Peter Dowe/Kathy Groves/Crystal Hallenbeck/Teresa Major/Kathy Peterson/Karen Riotto/Dillon Thompson