The $250 Records and Documents Fee at Iowa State University is charged to new students only, but why is this the case, and where do the collected funds go?
Together, as a one-time charge, the Records and Documents fee is assessed to students in two categories. Students considered degree-seeking are charged $250 to their U-Bill, while non-degree-seeking students are charged $75.
The idea of the fee is to help fund the operating account of the Iowa State Office of the Registrar in various areas as they apply to student needs.
“It really stays in house within the registrar’s office, but then it covers lots of things within the registrar’s office,” Michelle Hertzke, associate registrar, said.
Some examples of what the fee covers for students are the Workday system, official transcript processing, enrollment verification, schedule changes, graduation evaluation and commencement.
“This fee is very specific to student record-related processes or requests,” Hertzke said.
The assessment of the fee is not use-based and is seen on a student’s U-Bill in the first semester of enrollment at Iowa State.
“When you first start to enroll, there’s a lot that goes into getting your record ready for you to register for classes, and then there’s a lot that goes into getting your record ready and verified for graduation, applying for graduation and potentially attending commencement,” Hertzke said.
Making free schedule changes could be a good method to improve the utilization of services provided by the fee.
“We have students who, for many reasons, make lots of schedule changes, so they’re really taking advantage of that flat $250,” Hertzke said.
According to the university website, fees before 2017 were assessed separately by use for schedule changes, transcript requests, administrative processing and graduation application charges.
Applicable fees for the 2016-17 academic year, according to the Iowa Board of Regents, were assessed at the following amounts:
- Schedule changes after 6 days of class – $12
- Transcript – $16
- Graduation and degree application – $75
- Fax – $7
- Special Handling (for processing official documents) – $5
The first-ever Records and Documents Fee was implemented in the 2017-18 academic year at an amount of $130 for degree-seeking students, and $50 for non-degree-seeking students.
“It really is a benefit for them with that flat rate instead of paying individually for all of their transactions,” Hertzke said.
Consolidation of the charges is seen across the state for similar purposes. According to the Iowa Board of Regents, matching fee amounts and titles are seen across the three regent universities in Iowa. In the April meeting of the Board, no changes were proposed to the amount of the fee at any of the three universities.
For more information, visit the mandatory fees website.