UWI students must pay new fee

This according to a media release issued on Sunday by the UWI.

The release states the new fee is not a Guild fee, a second Caution Fee or an increase in tuition, but rather it is a fee exclusively proposed for the development and enhancement of student amenities as well as to support services provided to students through the Division of Student Services and Development.

“There is the offer of a staggered payment option with the fee payable in two instalments of $250, one per semester, to account for the total annual fee of $500. It should be noted that this provision applies only to this academic year 2016/2017, as the inaugural year.

However, students who are in a position to pay the full annual Student Amenities Fee at the beginning of academic year 2016/2017 are encouraged to do so.

“For students requiring such, an extended deadline for the payment of the Semester I instalment of $250 is offered up to September 30, 2016.

A commitment is made that there will be no holds on student accounts before this deadline date.

Students with special cases of financial hardships are encouraged to consult the Financial Advisory Services section in the Division of Student Services and Development.” Yesterday, Newsday spoke to president of the UWI St Augustine Guild of Students, Makesi Peters, who expressed his overall satisfaction with the introduction of the fee and said it was far less than similar fees being paid at other campuses in the region.

“When you look at some of the other fees that are being paid, sometimes in the sum of $800, this is really better for our students,” he said.

Peters added that money received by the UWI, through the Student Amenities Fee, would be regulated by the Guild of Students to ensure the maximum use of finances and to prevent any wastage.”