STUDENT TECHNOLOGY FEE PROGRAM PLAN

LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITY

The Student Technology Fee Program shall be dedicated to the acquisition, installation, maintenance, and efficient use of state-of-the art technology solely for the purpose of supporting and improving student life and learning, and to the preparation of students for the workplaces of the twenty-first century.

For the purposes of the Student Technology Fee Program, the term "technology" or "technologies" shall mean computer hardware and software (and the networking and supporting computer and telecommunications infrastructure, including the costs of renovation, upgrading, or preparation of existing facilities), laboratory instruments, or discipline-specific equipment.

Authorization:

All Student Technology Fee Program funds shall supplement and not replace currently allocated funds for technology, in accordance with provisions of Act 1450.

The Student Technology Fee shall not exceed five dollars ($5.00) per semester credit hour per quarter, and shall not exceed $100 per quarter. The Fee shall be assessed on all regular and interim courses. In accordance with L.R.S. 17:3351.1, assessment of the Fee may be terminated by a two-thirds () vote of the members of the Louisiana Tech Student Government Association, and a majority of the University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors. Based on the SGA's Constitution, any recision might also require a majority vote of students in a referendum.

Student involvement is critical to the successful administration of the Student Technology Fee Program. Accordingly, the Student Technology Fee Board shall oversee the Student Technology Fee Program at Louisiana Tech University, with student membership accounting for a majority of the Board membership. Business may not be considered at any Student Technology Fee Board meeting without a quorum comprising at least one-half (½) of the full Board membership; the quorum must also include at least one-half (½) of the total student membership on the Board.

The Student Technology Fee Board has adopted the following goals and objectives for administering the Student Technology Fee Program. Proposals for expenditures of Student Technology Fee Program revenues shall specify how the goals and objectives of the Program Plan will be advanced if the expenditures were made.

Objective 1.1: The Student Technology Fee Board shall solicit proposals from interested units, organizations, and representatives to acquire, install, maintain, or enhance efficient use of technology.

Objective 1.2: The Student Technology Fee Board shall meet at least one time each Academic Quarter to consider and act on proposals submitted to the Board to acquire, install, maintain, or enhance efficient use of technology.

Objective 2.1: The Assistant Vice President for Administrative Affairs and Comptroller shall ensure that the collection and expenditure of the Student Technology Fee adhere to established accounting practices.

Objective 2.2: The Assistant Vice President for Administrative Affairs and Comptroller shall provide a financial report to the Student Technology Fee Board at its regularly scheduled meetings.

Goal 3: The Student Technology Fee Board shall ensure that the technology acquired, installed, maintained, or enhanced through the expenditure of the Student Technology Fee Program funds is responsive to the students' life and learning experiences at Louisiana Tech University.

Objective 3.2: The Student Technology Fee Board shall identify and prioritize appropriate trends and projects at least annually to ensure that students' life and learning experiences at Louisiana Tech University are optimally benefitted by the expenditure of the Student Technology Fee revenues.

All expenditures made from the Student Technology Fee Program shall be authorized by a majority of the members of the Student Technology Fee Board and approved by the President of Louisiana Tech University. With a vote of at least two-thirds () of the members of the Student Technology Fee Board, followed by approval of the President of Louisiana Tech University and the University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors, up to forty percent (40%) of the annual Student Technology Fee revenues may be used to secure debt. All recommendations for expenditure of funds are subject to approval by the President of Louisiana Tech University.

• Hardware and software acquisitions, including but not limited to network and Internet connections to provide or enhance student access.
• Equipment to provide state-of-the-art multimedia classrooms.
• Provision of non-credit instructional programs for students to maximize their use of the technology resources of the University.
• Current equipment for instructional laboratories and studios to provide or enhance appropriate teaching and learning environments in various academic disciplines.
• Personnel costs for new positions required for the support and maintenance of new and expanded student classrooms, laboratories, and learning centers. Personnel expenditures should be focused on student employment and generally shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the annual Student Technology Fee revenues.
  

• Expenditures for salaries of existing staff or supervisory personnel.
• Purchase of technology for faculty or staff.
• Expenditures for travel or training costs of faculty and administrators, unless directly related to the acquired technology.
  

Audits:

All Student Technology Fee revenues shall be placed in a restricted account. Expenditures shall be limited to those projects in full compliance with the Student Technology Fee Program Plan. Louisiana Tech's Internal Auditor shall provide annual fiscal and compliance audits of the Student Technology Fee Program. The Student Technology Fee Board shall evaluate the Program's effectiveness at least annually. The results of these audits and evaluations shall be reported to the Student Technology Fee Board, to the SGA Council, to the President of Louisiana Tech University, and to the University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors. Any non-compliance finding shall be reported to the President of Louisiana Tech University and to the President of the University of Louisiana System.

The Student Technology Fee Plan may be amended upon a vote of at least two-thirds () of the members of the Student Technology Fee Board and of a majority of the SGA.

The Student Technology Fee Plan may be revisited upon the request of a simple majority of the members of the Student Technology Fee Board.

Any requests for exceptions to these policies and procedures may be submitted to the President of Louisiana Tech University and to the University of Louisiana System Vice President of Finance for consideration on a case-by-case basis.