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Differential Fees

Engineering is a high-cost program. A significant investment in resources is required to train engineering students to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing technological environment. Differential fees allow the College to enhance the quality and growth of our engineering programs and offer degrees that make students highly competitive in a global market environment.

Why differential fees?

Differential fees support the College's initiative to offer a globally competitive engineering and computer science education, which includes state-of-the-art undergraduate curricula, an internationally competitive graduate program, high-quality outreach activities and opportunities for students to participate in global experiences.

Differential fees can be used in several different ways to support these goals, including the following:

• Purchasing state-of-the-art lab equipment or software
• Remodeling labs
• Hiring faculty, teaching assistants and staff
• Granting need-based scholarships
• Awarding graduate fellowships

What are differential fees?

Differential fees add the following charges to University of Nevada, Reno tuition and fees:

• Additional $85 per credit for all 300- and 400- level courses
• Additional $100 per credit for all 600- and 700- level courses

Differential fees replace all course and laboratory fees previously in place for 300-level and above courses.

Differential fees were implemented in stages beginning in Fall 2011 and are fully in place as of Fall 2013.

Who decides what differential fees are used for?

All students, faculty and staff may submit proposals for the use of differential fees. Departmental and central committees, which are composed of faculty and students, recommend proposals for funding. Committees meet several times each semester. Funding recommendations from the department committees and central committee are forwarded to the Dean's Office for review and approval.

Central Committee Faculty Representatives

• Chemical and Materials Engineering: Dev Chidambaram, dcc@unr.edu
• Civil and Environmental Engineering: Eric Marchand, marchand@unr.edu; Gokhan Pekcan, pekcan@unr.edu
• Computer Science and Engineering: Sushil Louis, sushil@cse.unr.edu; Mircea Nicolescu, mircea@cse.unr.edu
• Electrical and Biomedical Engineering: Jim Henson, jmh@engr.unr.edu
• Mechanical Engineering: Emil Geiger, ejg@unr.edu
• College of Engineering: Candice Bauer, cbauer@unr.edu

Central Committee Meeting Schedule

The central committee meets three times a semester:

• September and February to solicit proposals and address administrative issues
• October and March to review funding proposals
• November and April to recommend proposals and train new members

For specific meeting dates or department committee meeting times, please contact a central committee representative.

How can I submit a proposal?

Proposals for the use of differential fee funding can be submitted by students and faculty of the College of Engineering. In order to give your proposals the best chance of being funded, students should work with a faculty member to fill out the application form to ensure that the proposal conforms to committee requirements and contributes to the goals of differential fees.

The differential fee application is available online, but it must be submitted in person. Fall 2013 due dates and submission instructions will be posted online.

Where can I learn more about differential fees?

You can view an online summary of differential fee expenditures for the latest fiscal year.

Binders that provide a more detailed breakdown of expenses are available for review outside SEM 131B. Additionally, you can request to see committee operation guides.

For more information, please contact Candice Bauer at cbauer@unr.edu.