The establishment of a professional fee for undergraduate students (except freshmen) registered in the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa College of Engineering, effective fall 2009, was approved by the University of Hawai‘i Board of Regents at its November 2008 meeting.  Highlights of the fee are as follows:

Fee Schedule

to be assessed of all sophomores, juniors, and seniors

$400 per semester: 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12

$500 per semester: 2012-13, 2013 and on

No fees during summer sessions.

Purpose

To support the following operational costs of undergraduate instructional labs in the college: purchase and upgrade of lab equipment; purchase of lab supplies; upgrade, modernize, and maintain existing labs; partial support of supervisory staff; and creation of new lab experiments. The physical and computer labs in the college are an integral part of the engineering curriculum as well as being required for accreditation.  Engineering education is more expensive than many other programs because of the physical and software labs and cannot be supported merely by general and special funds.  Professional fees are routinely required by engineering schools across the country.

Which Students Will be Charged the Fee?

• Classified undergraduate engineering students at the sophomore level and above irrespective of whether they are registered for an engineering class.
• All dual-degree students taking engineering classes, except freshmen.
• Students earning a 2^nd Bachelor’s (SB) degree; fee will be waived for SB-freshmen.
• Freshmen and pre-engineering students will not be charged this fee.

Impact on Labs

Estimated date: 2010

UH-Mānoa Units that Charge Professional Fees (per semester) as of Fall 2009

Committee