Binghamton University has proposed an increase in the technology fee that, if passed, will amount to a $30 raise in student tuition.

The tech fee pays for many services that are available to students, including the Pods (the campus computer labs), Blackboard and campus e-mail. It also covers the costs of any information technology, technology used in classrooms and the campus network. This year the tech fee constituted $472 of BU tuition over a year, or $236 a semester.

“We haven’t asked for an increase for five years and we have more expenses that we need to cover,” Mark Reed, associate vice president of Computing Services, said.

If approved, the new tech fee will allow Computing Services to improve wireless Internet service on campus, hire three more people to work on network infrastructure and extend Help Desk hours, according to Reed.

With state funding following a consistent downward trend, the tech fee has been stretched more thinly in recent years to cover students’ technological needs.

“We’re using [the money from] the tech fee as conservatively as we can,” Reed said. “We have a very robust and capable network on campus, but it takes money and support to keep it that way.”

Although Provost Mary Ann Swain will make the final decision regarding the increase, Computing Services is seeking student input before making the final call.

“SUNY policy dictates that we need to get student input on any fee increase,” Reed said.

Six students from various student groups on campus have been chosen to serve on a committee to hear the proposal. The Graduate Student Organization, Off Campus College, Council of Presidents and Dorms and the Student Association picked one representative each. Reed also asked a student from the Help Desk and a senior ResCon to sit on the committee.

The students on the committee have been briefed by Computing Services and will make a formal recommendation to Jim Van Voorst, vice president for administration at the end of the week.

“They have various questions and we’ve tried to provide whatever info they asked for,” Reed said. “We don’t necessarily have to take students’ advice, but my understanding is that the vice president will take it seriously.”

The committee met again last Friday with members of Computing Services and decided to recommend an increase of $12 a semester, rather than $15, which includes all of the proposed changes, except for the hiring of more full-time professional employees for the Help Desk.

Andrew Eiche, senior ResCon of Mountainview College, was part of the group that evaluated the proposal.

“A lot of this was really needed,” Eiche said. “The only thing we thought was an unnecessary cost was the cost associated with hiring another full-time employee for the Help Desk.”

Instead, more students will be hired to work at the Help Desk, answering calls from students and offering assistance with technical questions. Eiche said that student employees are well-equipped to handle the Help Desk positions, describing them as “the gateway to support.”

“The students at the Help Desk are excellent workers,” he said, adding that many of these workers are ResCons as well.

Although Van Voorst may not give his decision for several weeks, Reed is hopeful that the announcement will be in favor of the proposal and believes the increase of the tech fee is necessary.

“I think it’s the price of keeping good technology available,” he said. “I hope the students will want to continue paying for it.”