Questions surrounding the increase in the MSU international student fee finally are being addressed by university officials.
This summer, there was a large increase in a fee paid by international students, aside from their tuition, causing concern among members of MSU’s international community.
International students are required to pay a certain fee each semester to recognize international students’ not paying U.S. or Michigan taxes, Provost Kim Wilcox said.
“(MSU) is supported by the state tax, and it’s also supported by the federal government tax,” Wilcox said. “Students that grow up in Michigan … they pay both (and) this was an attempt to recognize that difference.”
During summer, the fee increased from $25 to $500 per semester for first-year international undergraduate students, and from $25 to $150 per semester for the remainder of international undergraduates.
It increased from $25 to $75 per semester for international graduate students, university spokesman Kent Cassella said in an email.
The issue recently has been addressed at both ASMSU, MSU’s undergraduate student government, and Council of Graduate Students or COGS, meetings, where group leaders said there was a lack of explanation concerning the increases and where the money goes.
Wilcox said the international student fee, along with all tuition costs, has not been raised in previous years because of the recent economic recession.
He said the money goes into the same university fund as tuition does and out-of-state students not paying Michigan taxes is reflected in the large amount they are charged in tuition.
“It comes in a different package but it amounts to the same thing,” Wilcox said.
Wilcox said because the fee goes into the same pool of money as tuition, it will contribute, as all tuition money does, to providing support for students, including international students.
He also said the university attempts to help all students succeed through services.
Even with these answers, however, international students such as Kuba Alimbekov still are confused by the details of the fee.
“There’s no out-of-state student fee,” said Alimbekov, a media and communication technology senior. “It kind of makes international students stand out.”
He said the university should make exceptions for international students who face financial burdens.
“There’s a general feeling that … international students have a lot of money to spare, which is not the case,” he said.
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