Full time students were charged a minimum of $600 in legislative, University registration and assessed, student assessed, and departmental fees, in addition to basic tuition this semester, according to the University Web site.Legislative fees, which include instructional technology, academic excellence, and operational fees, amounted to $240. These fees were authorized by the Louisiana legislature and were approved to enhance instructional programs.
University registration fees, amounting to $155, covered the costs of items such as Colonel cards, yearbooks, testing, copies of academic documents, library maintenance and the operation of the Student Union.
Additional University assessed fees, which include fees to support the Family Resource Center, Alumni Federation, intramural programs, band, student health services, and tutoring and advising, totaled $91.35.
Student assessed fees provide funding for Student Government Association legal aid, The Nicholls Worth, Student Government Association and Student Programming Association, Mosaic, KNSU, cheerleaders, Student Educators and Leaders, the rec center, along with funding, facility and life safety programs for the Athletics program. These funds amounted to $147.
Over the years, various academic departments requested fees for courses that required extra supplies, Mike Naquin, controller and assistant vice president of finance, said. He said these fees go to specific purposes and vary in amount, depending on departmental needs.
For example, culinary students are charged up to $250 per semester to cover the cost of food and other supplies, Naquin said.
Gerard White, department head of allied health sciences, said fees for allied health sciences are used to purchase educational supplies varying from vegetables for the dietetics lab to athletic tape for the athletic training labs.
The fee paid for the use of math labs is an access fee, charged to students in order for them to receive the license necessary to access online programs, professor of mathematics and computer science, Scott Beslin, said.
Fees charged each semester are ultimately controlled by the state legislature, Naquin said. Any proposals for fees must be approved by the state.
Students are aware of extra fees imposed by their respective departments and feel that the fees are being used to provide what is needed in their classes, although they sometimes must provide additional supplies.
Janssen Robichaux, geomatics sophomore from Thibodaux, said he was charged a $20 geomatics lab fee this semester to cover the cost of equipment that they use.
Art majors are charged a lab fee also, art sophomore from Raceland Bethany Barrilleaux said. However, she is asked to bring in additional items if they are necessary to complete assignments.
In most art labs, we are asked to bring in additional supplies. They do provide us with as much as they can, but personal supplies are needed to complete projects and be successful.
