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Policy 1304 – Student Technology Fee Program Plan

Revision Date: 3/20/2012

Original Effective Date: 10/7/1999

Responsible Office: Office of the President

Reference: Act 1450, L.R.S. 17:3351.1, University of Louisiana System Policy FB-IV.V.-1

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

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.

DEFINITION

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.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Authorization:

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

Fee Assessment:

The Student Technology Fee shall not exceed five dollars ($5.00) per semester credit
hour per quarter, and shall not exceed $60 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 (2/3) 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.

Administration:

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 (1/2) of
the full Board membership; the quorum must also include at least one-half (1/2) of
the total student membership on the Board.

Plan:

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.

Goal 1: The Student Technology Fee Program shall be dedicated to supporting and improving
student life and learning and to preparing students better for the workplaces of the
twenty-first century.
- 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 once each Academic
  Year to consider and act on proposals submitted to the Board to acquire, install,
  maintain, or enhance efficient use of technology.
Goal 2: The Student Technology Fee Board shall oversee the collection and expenditure
of the Student Technology Fee.
- Objective 2.1: The Comptroller and President’s Office shall ensure that the collection
  and expenditure of the Student Technology Fee adhere to established accounting practices.
- Objective 2.2: The Comptroller and President’s Office shall provide a financial report
  to the Student Technology Fee Board at its regularly scheduled meetings.
- Objective 2.3: The President’s Office shall not disseminate any proposal for consideration
  that does not insure a twelve-month project completion date or states an alternate
  timeline and justification for such.
- Objective 2.4: The President’s Office shall not disseminate any proposal for consideration
  that does not identify the faculty/staff member(s) in charge of proposal completion
  and implementation.
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 3.1: The Student Technology Fee Board shall assess at least annually the
  impact of the technology acquired, installed, maintained, or enhanced.
- 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 benefited by the expenditure of the Student
  Technology Fee revenues.

Expenditures:

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 (2/3) 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.

All projects should be complete within twelve months of their funding date. If valid
reasons for an extension occur, written approval must be gained from the Chair and/or
members of the STFB. If the magnitude of the project prohibits a twelve-month completion
date, the proposal should so state with a projected timeline included.

It is incumbent upon the recipient of STFB funds to monitor the expenditures and progress
of projects to ensure timely completion and implementation. The President’s Office
should be advised in writing when the project is complete.

Appropriate expenditures include the following categories:

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.

The following categories of expenditures are prohibited:

Expenditures for salaries of existing staff or supervisory personnel.
Purchase of technology for faculty or staff that is not in direct or indirect support
of the student body.
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 for each year 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.

Amendment to the Student Technology Fee Plan:

The Student Technology Fee Plan may be amended upon a vote of at least two-thirds
(2/3) of the members of the Student Technology Fee Board and of a majority of the
SGA.

Revisions:

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

Exceptions:

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.

Used/Replaced Equipment:

Requests for used equipment in the three general student labs will be made to the
Office of the President. Equipment to be used directly by students or for their benefit
will receive top priority. Should the equipment be no longer usable, it will be declared
surplus property or be used for parts if appropriate.

Other:

Equipment purchased with Student Technology Fee funds will become the property of
the department purchasing the equipment. When replaced, the old equipment can be transferred
or declared surplus property utilizing appropriate university forms. Departments are
encouraged to transfer usable equipment to areas of the university that will directly
or indirectly benefit the students.

October 7, 1999
Revised April 18, 2002
Revised January 21, 2004
Revised October 19, 2006
Revised November 3, 2009
Revised March 20, 2012