Welcome

The purpose of Student Technology Fees (STF) is to provide funding for critically needed investments in technology that have direct impact on the quality and relevance of the university students’ educational experience. To ensure that the funds directly benefit students, students are actively involved in decisions regarding how the funds are used. The use of STF funds to upgrade technology throughout the university has benefited undergraduate and graduate students’ academic experience in various ways. With updated technology, they have been able to participate in state-of-the art instruction and research activities. The expansions of the university’s network access, and upgrades to classrooms and computer labs have been key projects for producing these benefits. In addition, technology enhancements also elevate the status of the university, allowing it to continue recruiting top-level students.

The Board of Regents of the University System of Maryland endorsed the concept of student technology fees as a way of funding badly needed investments in technology that will have direct impact on the quality and relevance of students’ educational experience. In 2002, a two-year ramp-up of the Technology Fee was approved for the University of Maryland College Park to collect for FY03 a $50 Technology Fee to be paid by all full-time undergraduate students and a $25 Technology Fee to be paid by all part-time undergraduate students, rising to a total fee of $100 to be collected from each full-time undergraduate student in FY04 and $50 from each part-time undergraduate student. In FY05, graduate students were added to the STF funds since they would also be benefiting from the use of the funds. This resulted in an adjustment to the fees. Fees have increased in FY05, FY07, FY08 and FY09. For FY09, the STF will be $115 per year for full-time students and $57.50 for part-time students. The focus of the increase in FY09 will be to upgrade the campus wireless network.

The purpose of the Campus Student Technology Advisory Committee (CSTFAC) is to provide recommendations to the Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost and the Vice President and Chief Information Officer about topics such as student technology fee rates and projects that will provide enhancements to the campus-wide student technology environment.