Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Tech Fee?

UWT students and administration supported a successful legislative effort to enable the establishment of a Student Technology Fee which would be used "exclusively for technology resources for general student use." The statute (RCW 28B.15.051) allowed the University to establish the fee upon the agreement of student government. Unlike tuition increases, the Student Technology Fee, as directed by statute, is to be spent only on technology for students. State law directs that the annual expenditure plans for the fee be approved by students rather than by the administration or the Board of Regents. The Student Technology Fee fund will enable the University to support a number of proposals that advance the goals of the technology fee, which are to improve the environment for computing and accessibility to computer resources at the UWT. Money from the technology fee is not to be used to fund items that should properly be funded by legislative or administrative funds, nor is it anticipated that these funds will cover ongoing operational costs and/or supplies.

Who is allowed to submit a proposal?

Any current UWT associated person can submit a proposal; proposals must only be submitted after contacting the head of the department which will be affected by the proposal.

What does your fee buy?

The student tech fee exists to fund supplemental technology for the students. In accordance with state law, technology fees cannot be used to provide services or equipment that duplicate the responsibility of the UWT administration. The student tech fee is only to used to purchase tangible technology assets. The STFC generally funds:

• Computer Equipment, Printers, Scanners, and Other Computer-Related Items
• Audio-Visual Equipment and Software
• Training for Technical Related Skills and internet Connectivity
• Books on Tape, CD-ROMS, and Mulitmedia Learning Materials

In addition, no maintenance or ongoing costs related to technology purchases will be allowed except in the case of service contacts approved at the time of the award.

Who authorizes the tech fee?

The University of Washington, through its President and Board of Regents, and the ASUWT, through its President, agree as follows: that a mandatory technology fee initially set at $120 per year for full-time students at the Tacoma campus will be assessed beginning Fall Quarter 2000; that the University of Washington Tacoma Student Technology Fee Committee will approve the annual expenditure plan on a fiscal period from July 1 through June 30 of the following year; that the period from November first to February first is the only period in which the student government association can exercise the annual statutory prerogative to eliminate or reduce the fee by majority vote; and that the University of Washington Tacoma Campus Student Technology Fee Committee will coordinate with the Student Technology Fee Uniform Access Committee for the funding of Uniform Access services.

What are they bylaws of the technology fee committee?

Article I: Purpose

1. The Student Technology Fee (STF) is designed to provide funds for improving existing technology and acquiring new technology to be used by the students of the University of Washington, Tacoma (UWT). Fee expenditures are determine by the Student Tech Fee Committee (STFC). This committee is setup by the Student Government of the Associated Students of UWT (ASUWT) according to state laws (RCW 28B.15.05) and agreements made with the board of regents of the University of Washington. This committee is subject the ASUWT constitution, ASUWT bylaws, and agreements made with the ASUWS and ASUWB (Tri-campus agreement), subject to the above laws and agreements. In Addition, all meetings are subject to the rules and guidelines established by the Open Public Meetings Act.

Article II: Membership

1. There shall be five student-voting members appointed by the ASUWT.
2. The President of the ASUWT shall be an ex-officio (non-voting) member.
3. There shall be three non-student ex-officio members:
   • A representative from the UWT faculty.
   • A representative from the UWT finance department.
   • A representative from computer services.
4. The STFC shall have the authority to appoint additional non-student, ex-officio members by simple majority.

Article III: Operations

1. The STFC will conduct meetings using the latest edition of "Robert's Rules of Order".
2. The STFC shall elect a voting member to serve as chair and a voting member to serve as vice chair. The chair and vice chair shall be elected at the first official meeting of Autumn Quarter.
3. The term of appointment shall be for one year, beginning first day of the fall quarter of that year and ending the last day of the summer quarter of the following year.
4. Ex-officio members are also appointed, by their respective organizations for one year and may serve consecutive terms.
5. Committee meetings shall be held only if a quorum is present. A quorum shall consist of three fifths voting members
6. If an STFC voting member misses two meetings in one quarter due to unexcused absence, they may be removed from the STFC by a simple majority vote of the rest of the voting members. Excused absences shall be handled on a case-by-case basis. The ASUWT shall appoint a replacement after being notified and approving the removal, by the STFC chair.
7. The STFC may designate three voting members to continue operations during the summer quarter if late changes to proposals must be approved. However, no official meeting can be conducted unless a quorum is present.
8. Up to 8,000 dollars of the yearly budget may be used each year for administrative purposes.
9. A Voting member may proxy his/her vote in writing to another voting member of the STFC. Only one proxy vote may count towards the quorum.

Article IV: Duties of the Chair and Vice Chair

• The STFC chair establishes the agenda for committee meetings chair the meetings, may only vote in case of tie, and insure compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act.
• The Chair shall be responsible for representing the committee to all external committees, entities, and bodies. These responsibilities may be delegated to a voting member of the committee at the discretion of the Chair.
• The Chair shall be the supervisor of STFC employees.
• The Chair shall be member of the Uniform Access Committee unless delegated to the Vice Chair.
• In the absence of the Chair, the Vice Chair shall perform these duties.
• In the absence of the Chair and Vice-chair, with a quorum being present, the committee may designate a temporary chair to preside over the current meeting.

Article V: Powers

• The STFC shall establish guidelines for allocations and distribution of funds. These guidelines shall be publicly posted, including on any STFC web page, along with contact info.
• The STFC shall, in coordination with the University Finance Department, set at least one funding cycles for the acceptance of proposals for the current year. Dates shall be established and posted for proposal to be in by for the funding cycle(s), in addition, dates for all proposals to be rejected or accepted on, should be published. The first proposal acceptance deadline shall not occur before the meeting of the Uniform Access Committee (Section XI). Proposals submitted by the departments after the deadlines will be held and considered during the next cycle, including, if desired, proposals needing consideration by the next incoming committee.
• The STFC may conduct surveys during the year to help determine student technological needs.
• Computer Courses to upgrade general student knowledge may be funded on a one-time basis if sufficient student interest is shown. These courses shall be subsidizes for students only.
• Organizations submitting proposals will be notified in writing of the status of their proposal and why it was rejected/accepted.

Article VI: Limitations

• The STFC shall not expend any funds or enter into any agreement that could be perceived to limit the ability of the ASUWT in exercising the right to set up the STFC.
• Allocation of funds shall not exceed the balance reflected on the accounting records.
• The STFC shall not allocate more than sixty percent of its budget before the first official Uniform Access Meeting of the current year.
• The committee shall refrain allocate any funds for ongoing costs or maintenance.
• The committee shall not duplicate services already available on campus.
• The STFC shall be authorized to allocate up to 15 percent of its annual budget for ongoing costs associated with Uniform Access. Ongoing cost for uniform access are limited to telephone line charges and hardware maintenance contracts for modems. These cost are not to exceed 15 percent, or the amount recommended by the Uniform Access Committee, and must be reflected on STFC accounting records.
• No voting member of the STFC may draw funds for work done on, or on behalf of, the STFC.
• Funds shall be allocated based on policies outlined in state law, UWT policies, ASUWT constitution, ASUWT government bylaws, and these committee bylaws. Records shall be established annually to account for the money expended by the STFC. Receipts and copies of proposals shall be maintained to support each transaction and held for one year. The Following minimum requirements will be reflected on the account records:
  • Amount initially allocated annually to the STFC for expenditures.
  • Total spend on each transaction or proposal.
  • A running balance reflecting the remaining funds that can be spent by the STFC during the fiscal year.

Article VII: Responsibilities

1. The STFC shall allocate funds through a well-documented proposal process.
2. STFC policies, which must establish that goods, services, and equipment acquired by STF funds are being used for the purposes for which they were approved, shall be published and posted publicly.
3. The STFC shall report to the ASUWT senate monthly or as required by the senate.
4. The STFC shall submit a written report to the ASUWT by the second week of May each year. This report shall reflect on a minimum, current funding status and important events during the quarter.
5. The STFC shall strive to increase general student awareness of STFC goals and the status of STFC expenditures. A notice will be placed on the student Bulletin Board indicating where this information could be found.

Article VIII: Subcommittees of the STFC

1. The STFC may establish subcommittees to delegate responsibilities. These subcommittees must include at least two voting members of the STFC and be chaired by a voting member of the STFC.
2. Final approval of any work down by a subcommittee shall rest with the STFC.
3. Subcommittees shall represent reports of their work at the request of the chair of the STFC.

Article IX: Bylaws amendment process

1. These bylaws may be amended by a 2/3-majority vote of the STFC.

Article X: Changes to the STF

1. In February of every year, according to the current agreement, the ASUWT votes on whether to eliminate or change the STF amount. The STFC shall send their recommendation to the ASUWT by the end of fall quarter of that year academic year, or as required by the ASUWT senate.

Article XI: Uniform access

1. Uniform Access Proposals are approved by a tri-campus Uniform Access Committee, as per the Tri-Campus Agreement.
2. The Uniform Access Committee composed of two ASUW members, one ASUWT members, and one ASUWB member, as required by the tri-campus agreement. The STFC shall appoint one member to be the representative for ASUWT.
3. The STFC shall review the Uniform Access proposal before any meeting of the Uniform Access Committee and before reviewing any other proposals for the current funding cycle, upon receipt of any Uniform Access Proposal.
4. Uniform Access proposals are binding unless rejected by a 2/3 vote of the STFC. In the case of Uniform Access Proposals being rejected by the STFC, the final decision shall rest with the Legislative body of the ASUWT.

When are the meetings?

Meetings and minutes can be viewed here or by clicking on the meetings tab.

How do I contact the tech fee committee?

The tech fee committee can be contacted by clicking here, or by visiting the "Contact Us" page.

How do I join the tech fee committee?

You can join the tech fee committee by clicking here, or by visiting the "Contact Us" page.