Differential Tuition

Complete Differential Tuition Report
& Fiscal Projections Printable Version (PDF:136k)

School of Architecture and Urban Planning
Differential Tuition Report for 2006-2007
 

Background

The Desktop Differential Tuition Program for the School of Architecture and Urban Planning (SARUP) was initiated in the Fall 2006 semester. It is being phased in over a two year period and is a replacement of the e3 Laptop Computer Leasing Program formally managed by UWM’s Department of Information and Media Technology (I&MT). The rationale to switch from the Laptop Computer Leasing Program to the e3 Desktop Program was based upon the technical needs of the students, increasing costs to the laptop program and curriculum and pedagogical concerns.

The e3 Laptop Program was started in the Fall of 2002 as a means to provide enhanced computer technical support to Architecture students in a uniformed and cost effective way. The large volume purchasing power of the program allowed the students access to the latest software in the field and laptop computers configured for their needs. The $525 per semester cost allowed for the laptop computers to be turned over every two years and software updated as needed. However, after two years experience with the program some concerns were emerging.

The laptop computers were well received by the students and proved to be very useful tools for the undergraduate, entry level students. Unfortunately the more advanced students who had the greatest computer needs found the laptops lacking sufficient power to support their large and complex files. Additionally faculty discovered that an unintended consequence of the laptop program was a dilution of the Studio based culture of the Architecture program. This change had a negative impact on the basic pedagogical thrust of the Studio culture. The third, and perhaps final problem with the laptop program, was a pending $100 per semester rise in costs announced by I&MT. After a three year test a review of the program was required.

Differential Tuition Desktop Program

The Department of Architecture undertook a review of the e3 Laptop Program and found need to alter or replace it. After a number of meetings, much internal exploration of alternatives and vetting of proposals the recommendation was made to switch to a desktop oriented program which would address the problems identified with the Laptop Program. Additional changes were to implement a differential tuition program to pay for the program, have SARUP assume administration of the program from I&MT and enhance technical support for Architecture students.

It was projected that a fee structure of $11 per credit for all courses and an additional $30 per credit for most courses between the 200 to 800 levels was required to fund the program. It was determined that at such a level the cost to the average student would actually be lower then what the current Laptop Leasing Program costs were per semester.

A number of Town Meetings were held to inform students of the recommended switch, keep them informed and receive feedback regarding the various components of the proposal. Documentation was also posted to the School’s web-site. The final configuration of the proposal was to.

• Phase out the laptop computers over a two year period.
• Implement the Studio Desktop Program over the two year period.
• Provide furniture and cabling support in each respective Studio.
• Provide software for the new desktop computers.
• Acquire additional technical support personnel for computer labs, selected
studios and output devices including the new Rapid Prototyping Lab.

The draft and final proposals were presented to campus and student groups for review.
Student government was also approached for review, comment and approval. In March of 2006 the proposal was presented to the UW System Board of Regents for final approval. Major supporting points for Regent approval were the acknowledgement of student support for the change as well as the documentation showing that the costs for the average student would significantly be reduced over the duration of their studies at UWM. A copy of the proposal is attached to this report.

Program Implementation

Approximately one half of the Studios were converted to the Desktop Program during the 2006 summer. This entailed ordering and installing computers, computer desks, security hardware and Ethernet jacks and cabling. The desktops were also loaded with appropriate software and prepared for the Fall semester. Approximately one half of the laptop computers were also taken out of service and sold by I&MT. The remaining laptop computers were purchased from I&MT by SARUP and collected, inspected, reprogrammed and redistributed to Architecture students who would not be in desktop equipped Studios. This had been the procedure previously in existence for the I&MT managed Laptop Program.

The summer of 2007 saw the completion of the transition to a complete Desktop Studio Program. The remaining Studios were converted to desktop facilities and the remaining laptop computers were collected and sold back to SARUP students and a few campus departments. The revenue realized from the sale was deposited into the Differential Tuition Program. The Fall of 2007 was the first semester where the Desktop Program is fully implemented.

A SARUP Differential Tuition Advisory Committee was developed and recommended to the campus Student Association. The Committee was approved in the Fall of 2007. A list of Committee members is attached to this report.

Financial Implementation and Position

A new, separate 131 fund account was established to service the Differential Tuition Program. This was done to provide transparency of the revenue and expenditures for the program for review and oversight. Appropriate courses were identified for inclusion in the program for the Fall 2006 semester and the charges reflected on the student’s PAWS accounts and announced in the Schedule of Classes.

It was acknowledged that initially the Program would incur much more expenses then the revenue would recover as the computers needed to be ordered and the Studios converted before any revenue was realized. Campus Administration was informed of this and agreed to allow the Program to run a negative cash position for its first few years. An early estimate of this initial “backstop” to the Program, developed in the Spring of 2006, is included with this report.

The initial year of the Program (Fiscal Year 2006-07; FY-7) saw expenditures of $725,381.58 to convert the Studios, order half the computers and related software and secure staffing. Revenue was $431,682.80, which included $69,200 for the sale of phased out laptop computers. This created a program cash position of -$293,698.78. As noted above, campus will allow a negative cash position for several years until the revenues balance out the expenditures. This is an acknowledgement that there were considerable start-up costs for the Program. Attached is a ledger showing the actual expenses and revenues for FY-7 as well as fiscal projections for the next five years.

Fiscal Projections Printable Version (PDF:44k)

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