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Proposal #: 149

Title: Evaluating Graduation Fee

What type of Proposal is this? New (Types: Increase Retention)

Will it require one-time funds? Or on-going funds? Ongoing
One-time: $
Ongoing: $unknown, maybe $50k?


1. Requestor: Gavin Keulks
Honors Program
503-838-8519 keulksg@wou.edu
Additional Sponsors: 



			
			2. What are you proposing?  

			
I've long felt that we shouldn't charge students a graduation fee.  I believe it's $50.  There's simply no reason to take money from students in advance of one of the best days of their young lives.  Eliminating this fee wouldn't technically "cost" any money, but it would result in less money being collected.  And that's okay.  I suspect the fee disadvantages the Foundation as it tries to cultivate new donors among recent grads.  Let's cut it and send the students out with our blessing and congratulations.  They have to pay for their robes and pictures and other things.  The least we could do is not charge them a fee to participate in the ceremony honoring *them.*



			
			3. Identify and justify the primary institutional priority that your initiative addresses: Student Success

			Identify the Impact:

			
Impact would be clear:  improved morale among graduates with possible side-effect on donor-giving



			
			4. Who will benefit from your initiative?

			
Every graduating senior.



			
		

				5. LIST OUTCOMES AND DESCRIBE YOUR ASSESSMENT PLAN.

				
This proposal differs from others in that it proposes to eliminate something rather than create a new initiative.  The outcome would be to have no graduation fee.  We could assess the impact subjectively, anecdotally, but gathering quantitative data (surveys or donation revenues) wouldn't be advisable or reliable.  



				
				6. PROVIDE YOUR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND TIMELINE

				
If approved, upper-level administrators will remove the fee immediately, effective for this upcoming Commencement.



				
				7. IF YOUR INITIATIVE IS NOT FUNDED, DESCRIBE YOUR CONTINGENCY PLAN

				
I personally have no contingency plan.  I would hope that the rationale for this proposal could inspire decision-makers to explore whether we should gather these fees elsewhere instead of tied to graduation.  Personally, I think we should just eliminate the fee, but at the very least reposition it.  



				
				8. WHAT EXTERNAL AGENCY OR ORGANIZATION IS DOING SOMETHING SIMILAR? DESCRIBE WHAT THEY ARE
				DOING AND HOW YOUR PROPOSAL IS SIMILAR AND/OR DIFFERENT AND WHY

				
n/a



				
				9.PROJECT ADVERSE IMPACTS, IF ANY (e.g., training required, extra workload, resource reallocation):
				(1) WHAT PRIMARY POPULATIONS AND/OR UNITS MAY BE UNFAVORABLY IMPACTED? (2) WHAT
				SECONDARY POPULATIONS AND/OR UNITS MAY BE UNFAVORABLY IMPACTED? AND (3) HAVE THE
				POPULATIONS/UNITS BEEN CONSULTED?

				
Eliminating the ($50) Commencement fee would cost the university $50 per graduate.  According to Camarie Campfield, that's around $70k, with $50 already gathered for AY1819.  I would not want the registrar's office to be adversely impacted by the fee elimination, and according to Camarie, they would *not* be impacted.  I have consulted with both the business manager and the registrar, and I have provided Camarie's explanation in the notes section of the spreadsheet.



				
				10. WHAT IS YOUR BUDGET JUSTIFICATION FOR THE RESOURCES REQUIRED?

				
For years students have complained about having to pay a fee to graduate.  Psychologically, it leaves a negative impression when they feel they're being charged to graduate.  I've heard some students express that it feels cheap and money-grubbing.  That's not the image -- even temporarily -- we want to create in a pending graduate's mind.  



				
			
      	  
	  
       
  


	  
       
     

     

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