Stony Brook University has decided to transition entirely online for the upcoming summer session due to COVID19. During these times, students and their families are experiencing extreme financial hardship, along with an immense loss in educational value. Despite the extenuating circumstances, Stony Brook University has decided to charge students a careless amount of fees for the upcoming summer semester - fees which are currently funding inaccessible and impractical facilities, events, etc. The students of Stony Brook University deserve financial alleviation during this crisis, and we earnestly request for this to be reflected within the cost of attendance.

Total Costs

The cost of a three credit course for an in-state, undergraduate student during the summer session is $1,105.10

• $220.10 of this cost is entirely fees
• A single credit costs $295.00, higher than the previous year's cost

A Breakdown of the Fees 

*A summer semester at Stony Brook University is broken into two sessions, so many of these fees are charged twice for a dual session student*

• $5.00 per session "Recreation and Wellness" fee
  • When asked why we were still being charged for a fee we can't utilize, bursar responded by saying we have access to "virtual fitness classes ... lunch time and night time trivia ... and esport intramural league(s) ...." YouTube provides free fitness videos, and I can assure you trivia and online gaming are not more important than our bills.
•  $53.75 per session "Student Health Services Fee"
  • Many programs and former offerings this normally funds, are inaccessible to a majority of students, and the online versions of them are unpractical. When asked why this wasn't reduced, bursar responded that student health services is, "... providing face to face visits for special circumstances... telemedicine, telecounseling and telepsychiatry ...." It is a reasonable assumption that these programs have experienced a massive drop in usage, and funding should reflect that in a time of need. The cost of operating a facility at full capacity is certainly not comparable to the cost of an online alternative.
• $40.50 per session "Academic Excellence Fee"
  
  • This fee is stated on Stony Brook University's website as funding to enhance student academic support services, advisement, research opportunities, equipment, facilities, scholarships, tutoring, laboratory technicians, faculty, and other support services. Many of these resources are not applicable for an online semester. When asked why this wasn't reduced, bursar responded short-handedly that it is "mandatory." Keep in mind, Stony Brook University has charged the maximum allowed value of this fee ($525) during the 2019-2020 school year, and did not adjust this fee for the spring term affected by COVID-19.
• $5.20 per credit "College Fee"
  
  • This fee, according to SUNY Policy 7800, is designated to be $4.25 per credit. Assuming this number is correct, we are being overcharged.
• $10.00 per session "Student Activity Fee"
  • Stated to fund items such as social and recreational activities, athletic programs. Many of these are inaccessible and not applicable to this semester. The bursar failed to address my concern regarding this in their response.
• $95.25 per session "Technology Fee"
  • Despite Stony Brook University no longer needing to fund some of the resources this fee accommodates, this is the one fee that actually makes sense to be charged during an online semester. However, it should be noted that students will need to fund their own technology and networking capabilities during these times, which is not assisted by the university.

The impact COVID19 has left on us and our families has been devastating, and it is insulting that Stony Brook University is expecting us to pay fees for services we cannot properly utilize. With this said, I ask that you sign this petition to spark action and demand change. Help the voices of Stony Brook students be heard.