By Mark Vincent A. Durano and Shayne Elizabeth Flores

Far Eastern University (FEU) students appeal against the observed tuition fee adjustments across different programs despite the University’s initial ‘No Basic Tuition Fee Increase’ statement for the first semester of A.Y. 2024-2025.

Several students resurfaced the University’s statement denying a tuition fee increase for the following school year, expressing their dismay over its “inconsistency.”

The announcement came after the Tuition and Other Fees Consultation last February, wherein Vice President for Academic Services (VPAS) Arch. Raquel Baquiran attributed the three-percent tuition increase during the A.Y. 2023-2024 to the estimated six-percent national inflation rate last year.

The miscellaneous fee was only raised as the University sought to improve and expand its services, which was said to total to P573 or less than one percent of the total average fees.

‘Tiered’ fees

Upon the release of the updated tuition fee for the following school year, certain institutes and programs saw higher laboratory fees and unit number changes brought by curriculum shifts.

In an initial response to FEU Advocate’s inquiry, Chief Finance Officer Rosanna Salcedo explained that most of the observed increase is due to the special assessment fees (SAF) on lab costs.

“The SAF is the excess number of hours paid to the faculty. Students are charged a Fee per 1 unit or 1 hour. However, the faculty are paid based on the number of hours equivalent for a lab unit. 1 lab unit is equivalent to 2 hours. For ITHM [Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management], Medtech [Medical Technology] and Nursing,  some lab units are equivalent to 3 to 4 hours,” the statement read.

FEU follows a tiered basis for its tuition fees such as the basic tuition fee per unit, miscellaneous fee, WRP Learning Journey fee, ID Maintenance fee, as well as the SAF for course miscellaneous fees.

No increase was observed in basic tuition fees, except for freshmen at three-percent higher from P1,966 to P2,056.

An increase of 2.22 to 6.69 percent was observed in general miscellaneous fees, with freshmen incurring the highest from P12,648 to P13,494. The Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts’ (IARFA) miscellaneous fees are also raised at around the same rate.

The number of units for each program and year level also influenced the hike, which either grew or dropped by 0.5 to 3.5 units, correspondingly modifying the overall amount of basic tuition fees.

Freshmen-exclusive costs also increased such as the National Service Training Program fee which rose from P2,297 to P2,366, along with ‘other fees’ which increased from P1,799 to P1,853. The Administration also imposes a new FEU Learning Journey fee of P283, which replaces the former Wellness and Recreation Program (WRP) Learning Journey fee of P275.

This also follows Physical Activities Towards Health and Fitness or PATHFIT’s replacement of WRP as FEU’s physical education course for incoming freshmen.

Slight ‘increase’

Furthermore, the new curriculum for fourth-year local Accounting students requires nine more units, causing their tuition to climb by 52.98 percent, the highest among the tuition increases in the Institute of Accounts, Business, and Finance.

There is also a varying 2.70 to 17.55 percent decrease in other programs, with local senior Business Administration under the Leadership and Human Capital Management Track students having the largest fee cut brought by a six unit-reduction.

Similarly, the tuition fee spike at ITHM peaked at 33.93 percent for fourth-year local Hotel and Restaurant Management under the Culinary Management Track students due to additional five units and lab charges.

The majority of the Institute of Arts and Sciences programs also experienced higher lab fees, with senior Applied Mathematics under Data Science Track students incurring the largest. Their curriculum introduces additional and higher lab fees, with one of it rising by 88.01 percent.

Moreover, the Institute of Education’s (IE) tuition fee influx peaked at 20.10 percent for both first-year local Special Needs Education and Exercise and Sports Sciences students. The new curriculum imposes additional general education fees for freshmen as well as a practicum fee for other year levels and programs.

Other IE programs also recorded a decrease in units for senior local Elementary Education, Physical Education, and Special Needs Education students.

The tuition fees for all programs under the Institute of Health Sciences and Nursing increased by 3.57 to 19.81 percent, with first-year MedTech local students recording the highest due to higher lab fees.

In contrast, IARFA’s tuition rates generally declined due to lower drafting, art, and lab charges. However, fourth-year Studio Arts students face additional fees despite a decrease in their units. 

Most thesis defense fees have also been retracted for graduating students in various programs.

Unclear statement

In a separate interview, incoming senior Internal Auditing student Joenell Aeron Jorie Barlis stated that he did not expect the tuition fee increase for the upcoming academic year.

“After the statement of the University regarding the ‘no tuition fee increase’ for the A.Y. 2024-2025 during the last tuition fee consultation, I only expected an increase in selected miscellaneous fees and not in our [other] tuition fees,” he said.

Despite stating the tuition fee hike as the students’ benefit, incoming second-year Nursing student Trisha Marie Jacinto appeals that it should be more affordable.

“I think that means na (that) they are investing on more resources, faculty, etc. for the students. Pero sana, ma-balance pa rin nila ‘yung affordability ng tuition sa mga students para lahat mag-benefit din sa quality education na habol ng school (But hopefully, they can balance the affordability of the tuition so that all students can benefit from the quality education the school is striving for),” she expressed.

On the other hand, Barlis cited their experience last academic year to contradict FEU’s intention to improve students’ education through the increases.

“Last academic year, the Internal Auditing students faced problems such as shortage in professors, limited slots which left us with no choice but to be a cross-campus student in Makati Campus, and conflicting class schedules that pushed us to take night classes. I believe that this speaks a lot and it indicates that if this became our situation last academic year even with the tuition fee increase, then the commitment of our University is nowhere to be found,” the Internal Auditing student claimed.

The students also call upon the University to provide more financial aid options and implement transparency measures to better inform students about the purpose of the fee hikes.

FEU Advocate is communicating with the Office of the Treasurer for further clarification as of writing.

According to the Office, meetings regarding the tuition fee adjustments are set with the executive and management committees for this and the following week.

The FEU Central Student Organization also initiated a survey to address the concerns raised by students regarding tuition fee payments last July 31.

(Photo by Raph Bautista/FEU Advocate)