The Student Technology Fee (STF) provides funds to improve technology available for general student use. The Tacoma STF Committee (STFC) is lead by UW Tacoma students who determine how the fee is used. The committee operates under guidelines set-out in RCW 28B.15.051 and agreements between the Associated Students of the University of Washington Tacoma (ASUWT) and the Board of Regents.

UW Tacoma's STF is currently $44 per quarter. Part-time students pay a pro-rated fee; full-time students pay the entire fee.

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Student Technology Fee Committee (STFC)

Committee Overview

The Student Technology Fee Committee (STFC) is appointed by the Associated Students of UW Tacoma (ASUWT). Student members of the fee committee recommend the amount of the STF and decide what technology resources the fee will fund through the Annual Allocation and the Special Allocation processes. The STFC includes at least four students, five non-voting ex officio members and one compliance officer.

STFC Student Members

Elected Student Technology Chair: Susan Palmer
Appointed ASUWT Representative: Alicia Whitten 

Additional student members of the STFC are appointed annually. A listing of student committee members can be viewed by clicking on the budget years.

Ex-Officio Members

  • Patrick Pow, Vice Chancellor of IT & Chief Information Officer
  • Mike Russell, Director of Finance & Administration
  • Conor Leary, Director of Student Involvement & Leadership(Compliance Officer)
  • Joshua Gibson, Manager, Client Services

To contact the STFC, email the ASUWT Director of Student Technology.

STFC Appointment Process

The STFC member selection process starts with the ASUWT elected STFC Chair distributing STFC member application packets to those interest within the student body to apply for voting membership.  After applications have been compiled, the Chair may conduct interviews and enlist the help of the ASUWT Executive Board and Senate in the selection process.  After the interviews are complete, if applicable, the Chair submits STFC appointment selections to the ASUWT Executive Board for approval.  Upon approval, members shall formally be recognized as voting members of the STFC for one (1) academic year, beginning the first day of their appointment in autumn quarter, ending at the commencement of the current academic year.  All STFC members are required to follow all rules outlined in the STFC Policies and Procedures (By-Laws) and ASUWT Constitution & By-Laws.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Student Technology Fee?
Who is allowed to submit a proposal for STF funds?

Current UW Tacoma facutly, staff or students can submit a proposal but must have permission from the head of the department that will host the resources being proposed.

What does the fee buy?

The STF exists to fund supplemental technology for general student use. In accordance with state law, technology fees cannot be used to provide services or equipment that duplicate the responsibility of the UW Tacoma administration. The STF is only used to purchase tangible technology assets. The STF generally funds:

  • Computer equipment, printers, scanners, and other computer-related items
  • Audio-visual equipment and software
  • Multimedia learning materials (e.g. books on tape; DVDs, etc.)

The STF typically does NOT fund maintenance or other ongoing costs related to technology purchases unless a service contract was approved as part of the original STFC decision.

Who authorizes the technology fee?

The University of Washington, through its president and Board of Regents, and the ASUWT, through its president, have agreed that the mandatory technology fee be initially set at $120 per year ($40 per quarter) for full-time students at the Tacoma campus and that the committee will assess the amount of the fee regularly. They have also agreed that STFC will approve the annual expenditure plan on a fiscal period from July 1 through June 30 of the following year; that the period from November 1 to February 1 is the only period in which the student government association can exercise the annual statutory prerogative to eliminate or reduce the fee by majority vote; and that the UW STFC will coordinate with the STF Uniform Access Committee for the funding of uniform access services.

STF Resources