COGS News
December 2001
University Administrators agree to December 12 forum on International Student Fee' after public pressure
University administrators agreed to participate in a question-and-answer session regarding the new $40 "foreign-student fee" only after an organizing effort led by COGS representatives. The forum, which includes Dean of International Programs Steven Hoch and Director of the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) Gary Althen, is scheduled for Wednesday December 12th, from 7 to 8 p.m. at the International Center Lounge. International Programs (IP) will be sending out an email to all international students with details on the forum. However, the IP email will likely neglect to mention how the forum only came about after student organized around this issue.
Here's some background information on the forum and the new international student fees at the University of Iowa.
UE Local 896 - Campaign to Organize Graduate Students (COGS), received numerous calls and e-mails from international members who were concerned, confused, and angry about the implementation of this "surprise" fee. Kristin Solli, the International Student Representative for UE Local 896 - COGS, immediately began investigating this fee after it was implemented. As a part of the response to this fee, a meeting to discuss how to respond to this fee was organized by Kristin Solli on Nov. 12. All COGS members and members of nationality organizations were invited. Other than information gathering, it was decided a forum, complete with a question-&-answer session with Steven Hoch and Gary Althen, was necessary.
At this forum, 3 main concerns of these students are expected to be addressed.
- How will the money from the fee be spent? How will these services directly benefit those who pay the fee?
- The decision to develop and implement the fee was not well communicated to all students affected by this fee. For instance, an OISS email in the early stages of planning for this fee was sent only to nationality student organization leaders instead of to all international students affected. How can we prevent such "surprises" or lack of accountability in the future?
- Many students are worried by what seems part of a troubling trend where the university separates student fees from tuition and then requires specific student groups to "pay their own way."
At first, Dean Hoch declined to attend the proposed forum. After this inquiry, OISS sent out an email to all international students with information on this fee. This revised sheet can be found at http//www.uiowa.edu/~intl/OISS/documents/FeeInfoSheet.pdf. Later, perhaps after the Iowa City Gazette published a newspaper article about the fee, Dean Hoch did invite Kristin Solli to a meeting where she outlined the previously expressed concerns. Only at this point did he agree to attend the December 12 forum.
The presence of International Students at the University of Iowa is a contribution to the intellectual life, research progress, educational mission, and diversity of departments all across campus and throughout the Iowa City community. The University of Iowa's official policy stresses their commitment to diversity. However, singling out international students to bear the cost of these benefits suggests that the university does not see international students as community assets. Furthermore, by increasingly forcing different groups of students to "pay their own way" undermines the principles of affordable public education treasured throughout the United States, but especially in Iowa.
Strong attendance at the forum is crucial. It would show that international students demand and will have campus representation. Please pass this information on and encourage all students to come.
Editor's Note: While educational administrative fees are not issues that COGS can bargain over (due to state law), COGS encourages diversity in its membership and at the University of Iowa and wants to help make sure the university administration hears and addresses our members' and international students' concerns.
