Course Fee Consolidation

Background

Historically, many academic departments at CSU Channel Islands relied on individual course-specific student fees to fund essential instructional needs such as lab supplies, software licenses, field trip transportation, and other hands-on learning expenses. These Category III fees were approved separately for each course and assessed only when students enrolled in those classes.

While this approach provided departments with direct, course-based funding, it also created a fragmented and inconsistent fee structure across campus. Managing more than 100 individual course fee funds placed a significant administrative burden on departments, analysts, and financial offices and made it difficult to maintain transparency and compliance across the system.

Following a review by the Chancellor’s Office and campus-level analysis in 2024–2025, CSU Channel Islands adopted a centralized funding model under the Materials, Services, Facilities, and Technology (MSFT) fee, a Category II mandatory campuswide fee. This change consolidates nearly all course-related fees into a single, standardized structure.

Beginning in Spring 2026, most individual course fees will be eliminated. Academic programs will instead receive annual block allocations from the MSFT fund to support essential instructional materials, technology, and classroom resources. This model is intended to:

  • Simplify the student fee structure
  • Promote equity across academic programs
  • Improve transparency and compliance
  • Reduce administrative workload across schools and financial offices

A revised MSFT fee, which includes a $20.50 per semester increase ($41 annually), will fund these allocations. All students enrolled in state-supported programs will pay this fee beginning in Spring 2026, and it will be included in financial aid calculations as part of the official cost of attendance.

Academic Planning and Budgeting and the Student Fee Advisory Committee will jointly oversee fund use to ensure compliance with Executive Order 1102 and Category II fee guidelines.

This page provides detailed information on the background, implementation, and reporting process associated with the transition, including official memos, FAQs, allowable uses, and future allocation models.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

This section addresses common questions related to the course fee consolidation initiative at CSU Channel Islands. It covers the rationale behind the change, how the new MSFT-based funding model works, what the new fee supports, and what departments and students should expect during the transition.

  • Q: Who made the decision to eliminate course fees, and when was it made?
    A: This May 9, 2025 memo (5.9.25 Memo Approved Increases) confirms formal Presidential approval of the Category II fee changes originally proposed in April 2024. This approval established the official framework for all subsequent campus-level implementation.

    The memo documents that the Student Fee Advisory Committee (SFAC), working jointly with Academic Affairs and Student Affairs, incorporated the President’s and Vice President for Business & Financial Affairs recommendations before final approval. This means that both the Category II fee increases and the fee consolidation model now carry full executive authorization and are ready for operational rollout beginning January 1, 2026.These increases provide the financial foundation for Spring 2026 course fee consolidation, ensuring sufficient baseline funding in the MSFT pool to absorb the revenue previously generated by individual course fees.  

    Q: What is the rationale behind eliminating course fees?
    A: By eliminating course-specific fees, academic departments will no longer need to collect or manage individual course fees. The previous model often resulted in inconsistent use of funds; some departments carried over unspent balances semester to semester, while others operated in deficit. The new MSFT consolidated course-fee model aims to streamline and standardize support for instructional materials and technology across departments through a centralized funding structure. 

    By centralizing and standardizing this funding, academic departments will no longer be required to collect or manage individual course-based fees. This transition is intended to reduce administrative burden and improve equity in how student fees are administered and used across programs. 

  • Q: Will departments that currently rely on course fees receive additional operating budget support? Our department relies on course fee revenue to support instruction. How will that funding be replaced?
    A: Beginning in Spring 2026, programs that previously relied on individual course fees will receive annual funding through a centralized MSFT block allocation model managed through the School of Arts & Sciences Dean's Office . These allocations are intended to maintain the same level of instructional material and equipment support previously funded by Category III course fees.

    Allocations will be informed by historical fee revenue, course type, and enrollment to ensure continuity of support. Departments will work with their dean and manager of academic resources to identify ongoing instructional needs each year. To sustain long-term funding, annual allocations will include adjustments based on the Higher Education Price Index (HEPI).

    Q: What safeguards will be put in place to ensure students aren’t disadvantaged?
     A: To ensure students are not disadvantaged by the transition, the campus conducted a 30-day student fee marketing campaign in Spring 2025 to collect feedback and fulfill the student consultation requirements under Executive Order 1102.

    Academic Planning and Budgeting, in coordination with the Student Fee Advisory Committee, will monitor use of MSFT funds to ensure all expenditures align with Category II and MSFT guidelines. Programs must use their annual allocations within the fiscal year to promote transparency, equity, and accountability.

  • Q: What will the new general fee amount be?
     A: The consolidated course fee will be $41 per year for each student enrolled in state-supported programs. 

    Q: When will the new fee be implemented?
     A: The Category II fee increases and the consolidation of course fees under the MSFT structure were reviewed and approved by the Student Fee Advisory Committee on May 2, 2025. The new fee will take effect on January 1, 2026, with implementation beginning in Spring 2026

    Q: Will the new MSFT fee be covered by financial aid?
    A: The revised MSFT fee will be included in the official cost of attendance, which is used to determine financial aid eligibility. Financial aid awards will account for this fee, helping to minimize any additional financial impact for students who qualify.

    Q: Will every student be required to pay the new fee?
     A: All students enrolled in state-supported programs at CSU Channel Islands will be required to pay the new MSFT fee. This applies to both undergraduate and graduate students in regular (non–self-support) degree programs.

    Q: Can the general fee be used to cover student salaries (e.g., student assistants)?
     A: Student salaries may be supported only when the work directly benefits instruction or enrolled students, and when the use of funds complies with MSFT and Category II guidelines. Programs should ensure that any use of MSFT funding for student wages provides a clear instructional benefit and fits within the approved purpose of the allocation.

    Q: Will departments have more flexibility in how they use MSFT funds?
    A: Appropriate use(s) of course fee funds include:
    • Purchasing laboratory or studio supplies, materials, or consumables used by students during instruction;
    • Maintaining or replacing minor equipment (<$2K) or software required for course completion;
    • Providing safety equipment, models, instruments, or technology upgrades essential to instruction.

  • Q: How will the general fee funds be structured, allocated, and monitored?
     A: Under the new model, individual course fees will be eliminated, and academic programs will instead receive annual block allocations from the MSFT fund to support their instructional needs.

    Programs that previously had course fees will work with their school Dean to review their needs and submit a proposed plan through the department chair. Based on this plan, a course block allocation will be assigned annually.

    This model strengthens accountability by requiring programs to spend their annual allocations within the designated fiscal year, aligning with the intended use of Category II (MSFT) fees.

    Q: Will accessing MSFT funds require a formal application or approval process? Similar to IRA funding?
    A: Departments will complete an annual instructional needs summary for their Dean’s office to inform MSFT allocations. A formal application process like IRA is not expected, but each program may establish a simple internal approval process to ensure accountability and transparency while minimizing administrative workload.

    Q: Who will manage the proposal or fund distribution process?
    A: Under the new model, annual MSFT allocations will be distributed to the School of Arts & Sciences, who will manage the internal proposal and fund distribution process. Departments will work with their Chair and Manager of Academic Resources to identify instructional needs and develop spending plans.

    Academic Planning and Budgeting, in coordination with the Student Fee Advisory Committee, will provide oversight to ensure that funds are used in compliance with MSFT and Category II guidelines.

    Q: Will this create additional workload for faculty, chairs, and analysts?
     A: The consolidated course fee model is designed to reduce workload rather than increase it. By eliminating more than 100 individual course fee funds, the new structure significantly decreases the time analysts, resource managers, and deans spend on fund management, reconciliation, and reporting.

    Under the new model, programs will submit a single instructional needs summary and work directly with their Chair to address funding requirements. The need to complete individual course fee proposals for Student Fee Advisory Committee (SFAC) review will be eliminated, streamlining the overall process. The only exception will be for courses with travel or field trip components, which will continue to require separate review and approval.

    Q: How will the funding pool be divided across programs?
    A: Allocations will be informed by historical course fee revenue, course type, and enrollment to ensure equitable support across programs. 

    Q: Will Extended University (EU) and the Library be included in this new funding structure?
    A: Extended University is not included in this model, which applies only to state-supported academic programs. The Library will continue to request MSFT funding annually through the existing MSFT proposal process, separate from the course fee block allocations provided to academic schools.

    Q: How can I request course fees for travel or field trips?
    A. Courses that include domestic or international travel, such as UNIV 391 and UNIV 392, will continue to request Category III fees through the standard course fee process. These requests should reflect the specific programmatic needs and travel costs for each course offering.

  • Q: What will happen to the current balances in existing AF (course fee) funds?
    A:All existing AF funds must be fully expended by the end of Fall 2025. This process is already underway. Any unspent funds will be returned via a refund to students. 

Resources and Supporting Materials

The following documents offer essential background and policy context for the consolidated MSFT fee model. They include CSU system guidance, state education code, and campus-specific procedures to support implementation and oversight.

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