Student Technology Fee Procedures

I. Purpose

 

Collectively, the students and faculty of University of Central Missouri recognize and acknowledge the following:

 

• Technological skills developed at the University provide fundamental advantages in career development; and
• UCM has many pressing fiscal needs that make it impossible to maintain a state-of-the-art technological environment for academic programs within the current budget;, and
• Student access to current technology across digital platforms, virtual services, and physical environments is essential; and
• An annual revenue stream, provided through a dedicated Student Technology Fee (hereafter referred to as STF), must be established to ensure student
  access to innovative and evolving technology resources.

Therefore, to provide broad access to technology that supports instruction, engagement, and student success, to offer a competitive career development advantage to students who attend the University of Central Missouri;, and to dedicate sufficient funding support these technology resources and platforms, the Student Technology Fee (STF) was established. The fee is not intended to be a “use fee” and, therefore, is assessed to all students based upon the fee structure identified herein.

 

II. Policy

 

Each college study will provide the provost with input on student technology needs through its dean. The provost will regularly review the Student Technology Fee rate and distribution and recommend adjustments as needed. The provost will submit recommendations to the president and UCM Board of Governors for approval of the fees to be assessed during the annual budget cycle.

 

III. Procedure

 

Planning Within Each College and JCKL Library

 

Each College and library will annually develop plans to address its technology, software, digital platforms, and equipment needs.  Coordination between colleges and the library regarding technological needs is encouraged and can yield “economies of scale” on enterprise licenses and purchases. College and library plans for STF expenditures shall be shared by the deans with the provost each fiscal year to ensure consistency with campus-wide technology strategies and compliance with university procurement and fiscal policies.

 

Allocation of Funds

 

The provost will allocate student technology funds to each college and the library after centralized university-wide technology licenses have been budgeted. Each college dean shall
allocate student technology funds to their component departments as appropriate.

 

Modification of Student Technology Fees

 

Proposals to modify the Student Technology Fee (STF) rate or distribution will originate through the provost. The provost will evaluate proposed adjustments and submit formal recommendations for action by the President and Board of Governors. The Board of Governors must approve any change in the STF rate before it is implemented.

 

Fee Refunds

 

Student refund requests will be processed in accordance with current University policy.

 

Revenue Accumulation

 

It is possible and proper for a college or department to accumulate and expend STF revenue over several years to make large technological equipment purchases. However, this multi-year purchase must comply with the laws of the State of Missouri. Any plans for the carry-forward of STF funds or multi-year purchases must be documented and justified by the dean to the provost.

 

Fund accumulations that have not been justified at the end of a fiscal year may be swept by the provost into the central university STF account.

 

Categories of Expenditure on STF Revenue

 

STF revenue expenditure must be for technology that directly affects student learning. The general categories of allowable expenditure include computer hardware and software, other technological equipment, maintenance of technology, student hourly compensation, and licensed digital platforms or enterprise systems that directly support instruction, advising, and student success. Examples of allowable purchases are:

• Computer Hardware and Software:

○ Scientific laboratory instruments and other related items used in student labs
○ Computers, hard drives, network cabling and devices, modems, printers
○ Software licenses and upgrades, computer programs such as compilers
○ Multimedia products, simulators, graphics packages, diagnostic software
○ Utility packages, productivity tools, security systems
○ Membership in vendor academic programs, which provide access to technology
○ Purchase of subscriptions to external resources available via the web
○  Online course delivery tools, virtual lab environments, and other digital learning platforms
○ Artificial intelligence tools, data analysis software, or other emerging technologies that enhance student engagement and learning

• Other Technology Equipment

○ Scientific laboratory equipment and general laboratory testing equipment
○ Diagnostic hardware
○ Art studio and digital music technologies
○ Audio-visual or media-production equipment for instructional use
○ Student-facing technology that expands or enhances access to instructional tools and digital learning environments (e.g., checkout equipment, collaboration tools, or classroom devices used directly by students)  

 

Non-Allowable Uses of STF Revenue

The following are examples of non-allowable uses of Student Technology Fee (STF) Revenue:

• Full-time personnel and, personnel recruiting expenses
• Students working in othe departmental or school functions
• General furniture or general office supplies
• Vehicle rental or travel
• Facilities remodeling
• Equipment not used by students to fulfill academic requirements.

 

Support for Centralized Student Computing

 

To support university-wide student technology needs that are unaffiliated with a particular college (e.g., the learning management system (LMS), online collaboration platforms, university network, open computer labs, the library subscriptions and laptop lending program, the Honors College, the Learning Commons, and other centrally managed student-facing technology usage), the provost may appropriate and distribute a poertion of the base Student Technology Fee (STF) revenue for institutional use. Requests for such funding, along with their justification, will be submitted to the provost for consideration. The provost’s office will maintain an annual report on distributed STF funds expended.

 

Revision History:

Approved by the Provost. June 2000.

Revisions approved by the Provost. September 2015.

Edited for web links, formatting, and plain language. Approved December 2015.

Previously annotated as VII.18. Student Technology Fee Procedures. Renamed Student Technology Fee Procedures for alphabetical listing, grammar and spell check, and transitioned into policy library April 2017

Revised and updated March 13, 2026 to appropriate reflect up to date procedures.