Supplemental Course Fees

Supplemental course fees must be proposed by the department, approved by the College, and then approved by the University's Miscellaneous Fees Committee. Approved fees are included in the course descriptions available to students on ISIS at the time of registration. Fees are collected by the Registrar's Office through the University billing system and returned to departments. No fee may be collected directly by instructors or staff, and no materials may ever be sold directly to students by instructors or staff (see "Text Books and Instructional Materials").

Departments may request a supplemental course fee only to cover specific costs associated with a course-for example, educational materials, equipment, and supplies. A course fee may not be used to develop general revenue. The revenue generated may not be used for purposes other than the stated course-related costs. If fees in excess of need are collected, the department must reduce or eliminate the fee in subsequent semesters.

Procedures for Obtaining Approval of Supplemental Course Fees

Course fee requests must be submitted a year in advance of implementation. The department submits the "Request for Supplemental Course Fee" form to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Curriculum early in the fall semester for fees to be implemented in the subsequent academic year. Fees endorsed by the College are forwarded to the University's Miscellaneous Fees Committee for consideration. Only fees approved by the University committee may be implemented.

Each request must include a budget detailing the costs to be covered by the fee and the unit's estimate of the fee needed, based on data on enrollment figures and specific costs for the last five years. (If the fee is requested for a new course, enrollment and costs must be estimated.) The proposal specifies the length of time the fee would be imposed. Fees are approved for a maximum of five years; renewal may be requested a year before the fee is due to expire.

The Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Curriculum may consult the Executive Committee and the Educational Policy Committee on fee proposals.

Supplemental course fee request forms are available at the Registrar's website at: http://www.registrar.uiowa.edu/forms/webcoursefeerequestform.pdf

Field Trips

A field trip is an off-campus educational/instructional experience provided by UI faculty to students that involves travel for the group. Field trips can be an important pedagogical tool in many courses. Faculty members are encouraged to include field experiences in their courses when appropriate and feasible.

The field trip is an extension of the classroom, and brings with it all the responsibilities faculty have in the classroom. The instructional activities and setting during the field trip must conform with principles of academic freedom and with University policies, including those concerning alcohol and drug use, smoking, the Iowa gift law, and the policy on sexual harassment and consensual relationships. All University rules on field trips must be followed (for more information, contact the Office of Risk Management and Insurance, 335-0010).

In some courses, the field trip will be mandatory; and in some cases, all course credit will be generated via a field trip. In any course that includes a required field trip, there must be adequate information for students prior to registration. The course description must include the duration and cost of the field trip and must clearly indicate that the field trip is required. Information on optional field trips should also be included in course descriptions, if possible. In either case, all costs for the field trip must be prorated per student, and students may only be charged for those fees and expenses directly related to their own experience. Student fees may not cover faculty members' or other expenses. When a field trip is optional, the instructor must ensure that students who participate in the optional field trip receive no direct grade advantage.

All field trip fees must be billed through student U-bill accounts; neither faculty nor the department may collect field trip fees. The department will create a General Organized Activity Fund (240) with a department-designated Grant/Program ID to account for field trip revenues and expenses. Departments are encouraged to work with the UI Foundation to develop additional funds that can be used to subsidize field trips for all students.