Arizona Students Charged Surprise Fee

Students in Arizona's state universities may be surprised when they see their Bursar's bill. The fee is called the "Economic Recovery Surcharge" and ranges from school to school. At the Arizona State University the Sucharge is $510 for residents and $710 for non residents. The University of Arizona in Tucson is charging their students $766, $966 for non residents. These surcharges, which were announced last spring, are still a shock to students who are trying to figure out where they are getting the money for school.

As more and more departments are watching their Fall and Spring budgets slashed students are receiving less financial aid, locally and federally, and programs are forced to cut corners. But it is not as if departments have to choose between fresh milk or non-dairy creamer. Instead, departments have to choose how many students they accept into their programs, which classes they can teach, and how many hours their faculty can work (assuming not everyone is tenured). These budget cuts hurt students, faculty, and staff. And as much as the Universities -- not just in Arizona but nationally -- tout being conservative with their expenses students recognize that it is not always clear that the supplemental fees are supporting their and other's education.

As one student told a reporter for News Channel 5, "I don't know where it's going; none of that."