What are the different types of mandatory fees?

Mandatory Fees are those fees generally assessed to all full-time and part-time students enrolling at Oregon State University (OSU), including fees proposed by recognized student government. Students directly influence the amount and use of the Incidental Fee and have input pathways through the University Budget Committee on the other mandatory fees. HB 2542 (2021) requires public universities to display the amount and description of every mandatory fee charged by the university. Full descriptions of each fee and how students participate in rate-setting and influence use of fees are listed below the summary table.

Mandatory Fee Full-time (12+ credits)*	Summer Term 2024		Academic Term 2024-25
Mandatory Fee Full-time (12+ credits)*	Corvallis	Cascades	Corvallis	Cascades
Student Building Loan/Debt Fee Used to pay debt service (principal and interest) on capital projects for non-instructional buildings, primarily student centers, student health facilities, and student recreational facilities; amount varies by the number of credits in which a student enrolls.	$40.00	$40.00	$59.00	$53.00
Incidental Fee Funds student services, activities, and facilities such as resource centers, childcare services, and athletic activities; amount and usage recommended by student government separately at the Corvallis and Cascades campuses.	$48.50	$91.00	$527.07	$385.00
Student Health Services Provides health and wellness services at both Corvallis and Cascades; services available vary between the two campuses.	$214.76	$114.00	$243.85	$114.00
Total	$303.26	$245.00	$829.92	$552.00
One-time Matriculation Fee One-time fee assessed at the start of first term at OSU to support enrollment and registration services, including but not limited to, student orientations, pre-enrollment advising, and campus open houses.	$350.00	$350.00	$350.00	$350.00

Student Building Loan/Debt Fee

The student building loan/debt fee originated in the 1970’s, established by the legislature in Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 351.170. It was originally called a “building fee.” After individual university governing boards were established in 2014, OSU continued this fee under ORS 352.163. OSU has renamed the fee as the Student Building Loan/Debt Fee and focuses its use on the financing/debt service of student buildings and renovations.

The University Budget Committee (UBC) recommends the fee rate to the President, who in turn makes a recommendation to the Board of Trustees. UBC membership includes student government representatives, students at large, faculty, and administrators, and aligns with requirements of ORS 352.103.

Historically and currently, building loan/debt revenue is used to pay the XI-F debt service (principal and interest) on capital projects for non-instructional buildings (primarily student centers, health centers, student recreational facilities, etc.). As of July 1, 2021, the outstanding principal plus future interest payments comprise a total obligation of $24 million through the final bond payoff in 2041. Projects supported include: Child Care Center, Memorial Union Commons remodel, Memorial Union renovations Phase II, Cultural Center renovations, Dixon expansion/completion, Memorial Union renovations, Student Resource Center, and Student Experience Center (SEC) design. (Debt service for the SEC construction was also supported from the facilities improvement portion of the incidental fee.)

Incidental Fee

The Incidental Fee is authorized in statute in ORS 352.105, recently amended by HB 3012 (2021), which provides:

The board for each public university listed in ORS 352.002 shall collect mandatory incidental fees upon the request of the recognized student government under a process established by the recognized student government of a university. The recognized student government shall:

(A) Make a good faith effort to collaborate with the board and president of the university under the board’s control prior to finalizing any process to collect mandatory incidental fees; and
(B) Notify the board and president of each process, and any subsequent change to a process, to collect mandatory incidental fees that is established by the recognized student government.

At OSU, student fee committees at Corvallis and Cascades campuses recommend the amount and allocation of the incidental fees to the recognized student governments to which they belong (ASOSU and ASCC, respectively).

The Corvallis Student Fee Committee (SFC) oversees the fee allocation process for the entirety of Corvallis student incidental fees, which are then provided to the ASOSU Congress for further review. The Corvallis student fee provides budgetary support for the Associated Students of Oregon State University (ASOSU), Family Resource Center, Human Services Resource Center, Intercollegiate Athletics, Memorial Union, Performing Arts, Recreational Sports, and Student Experiences and Engagement (including cultural centers, clubs and organizations), as well as allocations for student facility improvement, bad debts, and contingencies. The student facility improvement allocation is collected to service bond debt associated with the Student Experience Center, Memorial Union, Legacy Park, and McAlexander Field House. The contingency portion is available for request from the incidental fee committee for unforeseen expenses or other uses including, but not limited to, extreme budget deficits, building repairs, equipment needs, etc. for incidental fee-funded units. The bad debt portion covers uncollectible incidental fees on student accounts. Participation in student advisory boards (SABs) not only provides additional opportunities for students to provide feedback on each unit’s usage of the fee but also represents the critical first step in the entire process. Fee proposals originate with SABs and are reviewed at multiple levels, including the Student Fee Committee (SFC), ASOSU Congress, ASOSU President, OSU President, and finally the OSU Board of Trustees. Descriptions of the fee-funded program areas are found here.

The Cascades Student Fee Committee (SFC) oversees the fee allocation process for Cascades Incidental Fees. The incidental fee supports the programs of the Associated Students of Cascades Campus (ASCC), Cascades Adventures & Campus Recreation, Events Council, and Clubs and other recognized Student Organizations. Per an MOU with the University, the Student Fee Committee has also agreed to set aside additional student fee funds for the next 10 years to support the building of two new "student-centered buildings" as the OSU-Cascades campus continues to expand. The budget is reviewed annually with the SFC to refine the fee based on actual revenue and expenses to date, revised project timelines, and current enrollment projections. The first is a student success center to serve as a place for students to gather and get resources all in one location, and the second a Health & Wellness center serving as a combination of recreation center as well as a location for students to access health services. Participation in public student forums provides additional opportunities for students to weigh-in on fee allocation and the design of the two new student-centered buildings.

Student Health Fees

The OSU-Corvallis Student Health Service and Counseling Service Fees provides fee-paying students access to health care and counseling services through the Student Health Services (SHS) and Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) at no charge. Both SHS and CAPS offer telehealth options. Medical services covered by the Health Fee include medical visits at SHS, nursing care, psychiatry, asthma/allergy care, sports medicine, travel medicine, women’s health care, tobacco cessation, substance use disorder counseling and nutrition. SHS also provides a number of student support services, including medical referrals, enrollment in state-funded birth control, and immunization compliance. The Health Fee also supports essential public health, prevention and wellness services, along with critical student support. There will be additional fees for labs, x-ray, immunizations, and minor procedures. More examples of services covered and not covered by the Heath Fee can be found here. Note that the fee is not health insurance, so does not cover services provided outside of OSU.

The OSU-Cascades Health & Wellness Fee provides health and wellness services including personal counseling, wellness referral and navigation services and telehealth options. Information on OSU-Cascades Student Wellness can be found here. The Corvallis Student Health Advisory Board (SHAB) and the Cascades Health & Wellness Advisory Board gather student input from their respective campuses. This includes input on services provided, promotion of student health initiatives, providing input on annual budgets, and determining priorities for students related to access to care and holistic well-being. Each advisory board works with the University Budget Committee (UBC) to recommend fee rates. The UBC recommends the fee rate to the President, who in turn makes a recommendation to the Board of Trustees. UBC membership includes student government representatives, students at large, faculty, and administrators, and aligns with requirements of ORS 352.103.

One-time Matriculation Fee

Undergraduates: All new undergraduates are charged a one-time fee at the start of their first term at OSU to support enrollment and registration services, including but not limited to: new/transfer student orientation, pre-enrollment advising; and campus open houses.

Graduates: All new graduate students (this includes students who received their undergraduate degree at OSU) are assessed at one-time fee at the start of their first term as a graduate student to support enrollment and registration services, including but not limited to graduate student orientation.

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