UG defends hike in administrative fees

Feb 05, 2018 News

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–says move approved by recognised arm of the Council

Although the University of Guyana Student Society [UGSS] has expressed dissatisfaction with the move by the University of Guyana [UG] administration to institute increases to multiple administrative fees, the university, through its Public Relations Department, is insisting that UGSS had a hand in the process.
In a lengthy statement, it revealed that the new administrative rates for the provision of services for prospective and current students and graduates at UG were approved at a Special Meeting of the Finance and General Purposes Committee [F&GPC], since June 1, 2017.
The F&GPC is a statutory arm of the University Council. According to the administration, the Council itself includes representatives from the UGSS, the Ministries of Education and Finance, the private sector, the Guyana Trades Union Congress, civic bodies, the campus unions, and the administration.
The immediate past president of the UGSS, the administration informed, participated in the meeting that approved the new fees. Although a UGSS representative had admitted to this development, the representative also made clear that the current reps for UGSS were only made aware of the intention to raise fees on January 8, last, and thus the decision taken by the Administration is viewed as “disrespectful”.
The rep noted, too, that the current UGSS had fully disapproved of the raise in administrative fees at a meeting on January 25 [2018] and thus stated its disappointment ahead of the implementation of the increase.
But the administration, in its statement, underscored that the increase was imperative since apart from tuition and facilities fees, there are other expenses associated with studying at the university.
“These are commonly called Administrative Fees, and they cover a wide range of services, including fees for processing applications for degree, diploma and certificate programmes [adjusted from $500 to $1000], and late applications [adjusted from $2,000 to $3,000], late registration [adjusted from $10,000 to $12,000], supplemental examinations [adjusted from $1,500 to $5,000].
“The cost of personal transcripts…[has moved from $3,000 to $5,000],” the administration outlined.
It also noted that “some services that were entirely free, now attract a fee. Included here are the re-sit examinations, which now cost $6,000 and letters for students that are used for visa applications and other purposes; they now will attract a charge of $5,000.”
But according to the administration, students will only be required to pay the fees if they access the associated services. It was noted that the new administrative fees will not affect all students.
“Indeed, some fees do not affect current students; they affect graduates seeking transcripts and other services. A significant proportion of the requests for transcripts come from graduates residing abroad, and dispatching those transcripts carries additional costs,” the administration highlighted.

In defending its decision, the university sought to inform that administrative fees were last adjusted by the University about a decade ago.
“A comparative analysis of administrative fees being paid at other local tertiary institutions reveals that the new UG fees are far from exorbitant. As adjustments to service fees are being made at the University of Guyana at this juncture, it must be underscored that over the past two years, students at the University have been witnessing numerous improvements that directly enhance their learning environment and educational experience,” the statement added.
Among the improvements listed by the administration are the construction of a modern Student Social Complex that would be commissioned by the start of the 2018- 2019 academic year; air conditioning of the George Walcott Lecture Theatre [GWLT] and the Small Lecture Theatre [SLT] and the installation of new bathrooms in the GWLT; improved Wi-Fi access at Turkeyen, Tain, and the Dennis Irvine Hall, new PA systems in the lecture halls, and placement of fans in classrooms; extended service hours of the Registry and the Bursary, including opening on Saturdays, and partnering with GTT to offer Mobile Money to enhance services to students; provided $100,000 each to 13 students [and three staffers] who were fire victims in Cummings Lodge and in Berbice.
In addition, the University started an Etiquette Training Programme for Student Leaders, paid for from the Vice-Chancellor’s Fund, with 56 student leaders being the first beneficiaries; the creation of the Undergraduate Research Programme; hosted successful inaugural student research conferences at Turkeyen and Tain, and funded students to travel to attend conferences in Trinidad, Florida, Georgia, and elsewhere.
The University boasted of being able to process and dispatch transcripts for current and past students within 72 hours of request, opened a new Registry Building with larger space for the delivery of enhanced student services, and a fully-air conditioned new classroom building called the SEBI Building; began offering counselling and medical services monthly to students at the Berbice Campus and the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education Centres at Anna Regina, New Amsterdam and Linden; and improved the facilities at the Denis Irvine Hall of Residence at Goedverwagting and the New Building Society Hall of Residence at the Turkeyen Campus.
According to the administration, the new administrative fees were approved by the F&GPC last year with the understanding that they would be instituted during the 2017-2018 academic year. It also pointed out that it was envisaged that with additional resources, student services at UG will be further enhanced during this year and beyond.
Vice Chancellor Professor Ivelaw Griffith said, “While none of us wish to add to the costs of our students’ educational experiences, the practical reality is that running the university costs, The government subvention does not, and cannot be expected to, cover all the costs.”
He added, “For instance, when the new Student Social Complex is opened later this year, the university will have to bear additional costs of utilities for the facility. Moreover, that is not the only new or renovated facility for which we have to cater.”
Even as the administration reiterated that “at no point did the Vice-Chancellor, the Registrar or any other senior official act unilaterally in instituting the revised fees,” it was revealed that the new rates initially were to take effect from January 1, 2018, but “they were deferred to be effective from March 1, 2018 after formal and extensive engagements with the current UGSS President and Executive Members in a spirit of genuine and transparent collaboration.”

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