DCS Lab Fee Increase!!

What do you guys think of this proposal?

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Ronald M. Tuñgol, Ph.D.
Associate Professor & Chair
Department of Computer Science
February 21, 2005

Dear CS student:
Proposal for an increase in lab fees
The Department of Computer Science, through the Engineering Student Council (ESC) and the University Student Council (USC), is conducting a survey of the students’ position on the following proposed lab fee increase.

The last time lab fees were increased was in 1999—almost six years ago. The lab fees were computed then as

Php 10/hour × 3 hours/week × 13 weeks/semester = Php 390/semester.

It should be pointed out that there are actually 16 weeks in a semester.

The department proposes the following:

1. Increase lab fees for CS 11, 12, 21, 150, and 192 from Php 390 to Php 960 per semester, computed as

Php 20/hour × 3 hours/week × 16 weeks/semester = Php 960/semester.

2. Start charging lab fees for CS 145 at the same rate.
3. Increase the fees for computer rental at the Engineering Computer Room (ECR) from Php 10 to Php 20 per hour.
4. Retain the per-use basis for computer use in CS 198, but adjust rates to the ECR level.

Note that other UP units, UP Manila in particular, already charges much higher lab fees than what we are proposing.

Shown below is a computation of lab fees collected and spent for three academic years. The average collection per student is just Php 316 per subject per semester since some scholars do not pay lab fees at all.

CS lab fees
Collections EEE’s share CS’s share

AY 2001–02 Php 320,650.00 Php 74,411.77 Php 246,238.23
AY 2002–03 Php 324,460.00 Php 66,825.15 Php 257,634.85
AY 2003–04 Php 281,630.00 Php 70,618.46 Php 211,011.54

3-year Total Php 714,884.62

Expenses
MSDNAA at US$800 per year Php 132,000.00
Hardware for support and maintenance Php 127,820.00
Purchase of MH 209 computers Php 666,500.00

3-year Total Php 926,320.00

3-year Deficit Php 211,435.38

It is clear from the above computations that current lab fees are only enough to refurbish a single computer laboratory every three years. The department maintains three instructional laboratories (MH 209, MH 215, MJEC), an undergraduate research laboratory (NEC 414), and the engineering computer room (ECR) through lab fees and sale of coupons. Although some of these equipment came from donations and other sources, the department is still responsible for their upkeep. Furthermore, the department wishes to refurbish other labs as well when it transfers to the Engineering Library Building.

The department wishes to solicit your support for our proposal, which we believe will benefit mainly current and future CS students. Hoping for your understanding and cooperation.

Very truly yours,
Ronald M. Tuñgol
College of Engineering
University of the Philippines
Diliman, 1101 Quezon City
Tel: +63-2-9205301 ext. 5200
Telefax: +63-2-9252366
E-mail: rmtungol@up.edu.ph