Students at state colleges and universities will be able to opt out of some fees under a plan approved by the Idaho State Board of Education last week.
According to the Moscow-Pullman Daily News, the new fee structure allowing students to opt out of fees for activities, clubs and on-campus organizations goes into effect in the 2022-23 school year. Students who decide to opt out of those fees will receive a refund from their school.
Student fees — particularly the ones that go to support extracurricular activities, clubs and cultural events — have long been a source of debate in Idaho as lawmakers and administrators struggle to keep the state’s higher education institutions affordable and robust. Officials spent the spring and summer evaluating which student fees could be optional, and how all the fees should be labeled.
The new plan breaks the fees into four categories. The student enrollment, engagement and success category goes partly toward scholarships, and the institutional operations, services and support category helps fund maintenance. The student health and wellness category of fees helps cover the cost of fitness centers and counseling. The last category — student government fees — pays for student government and helps subsidize student clubs, organizations and activities. A portion of the student government fee is now optional under the new plan.
The state board also approved an online undergraduate program in cybersecurity management at Lewis-Clark State College. The new degree incorporates cybersecurity and business management. It will be available in collaboration with other state colleges and universities. (AP)
