By Agustin F. San Andres, Jr. and Arvene John P. Dela Cruz

Far Eastern University (FEU) administration proposed a 3.5% tuition and miscellaneous increase for the academic year (AY) 2020-2021 during the annual University Tuition Consultation held at the Mini Auditorium last January 30.

Based on the copy of the comparative schedule of increases provided by the Vice President for Academic Services (VPAS) Joeven Castro, a 3.5% and 4.0% increase per unit for upperclassmen and freshmen will be given respectively.

Moreover, changes in the enrollment process will be implemented as the previous P8,500 down payment will be raised to P10,000.

“So starting next school year, P8,500 will now be P10,000 as your [the students’] down payment is more than ten years na--‘yung P8,500,” VPAS Castro said.

For the incoming freshmen applicants, an optional and non-refundable confirmation fee of P8,500 may be paid in order to secure a slot in the University. This will then be deducted from the P10,000 down payment should they proceed with the enrolment.

“So in effect, it’s just deducted from the down payment but you [students] pay the confirmation fee as an advance payment to secure the slot,” he added.

In addition, a new fee called Student Research Development Fund (SRDF) will charge an additional P30 for undergraduate and P55 for graduate students. According to Castro, SRDF will be used to fund qualified FEU student researchers who will represent the University in conferences outside the campus.

“Kung mapili ng institute ninyo ang research ninyo na i-present in national or international conferences, this is the budget source (If your institute chose your research to be presented in national or international conferences, this is the budget source),” he explained.

Castro furthered that student researchers who will apply for SRDF will undergo a certain process and procedures before their group shall be granted by the said fund.

Meanwhile, the Institute of Tourism, Hospitality and Management (ITHM) will have a new fee amounting to P315 called the Asian Pacific Institute for Events Management (APIEM) Fee for their TRM 1107 course that will grant them a certificate of achievement afterwards. Additionally, APIEM-Certified Events Planner Qualification Certificate (CEPQC) that was priced at P1,250 is billed as needed or optional for the ITHM students.

Among the presented breakdown of fees, only the student insurance fee will experience an 89.2% growth due to the increasing number of accidents in the previous years.

“Everything is 3.5% increase except student insurance fee before it is just only P37, ngayon P70 (but now it’s P70). It’s the lowest rate that FEU got after a bidding process.” he discussed.

Castro added that the P70 or P37 pesos in student insurance fee will go to the external provider insurance company.

On the other hand, the graduating student fee amounting to P1,624 for the graduation packet last year will have a P578 decrease as the diploma holder will be removed from the package and will be transferred to the commencement packet.

Stretching from P2,758 from last year’s P1,500, the increase for the commencement packet which is an optional fee for graduating students arose brought by the addition of the diploma holder and increasing price of venue yearly.

In an online interview conducted by FEU Advocate, Castro justified that the increase is primarily prompted by the academic development plans.

“The increase is either a continuation or improvement of long-term academic development programs,” he emphasized.

The University administration is set to have another round of consultation with officers of all student academic organizations on Tuesday, February 18 to present the final result before submitting it to Commission on Higher Education (CHED).