Sharp hike in fees at UVCE shocks students

A sudden increase in the fee for courses at University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE) has put the students in jeopardy.

Students were in for a shock last week when the fee hike was communicated to them. In fact, what has brewed trouble for them is a statement by Bangalore University officials that there would be no fee concessions to any student, even those falling under reserved categories and fee concession norms.

The students have been told that the university's decision comes in the wake of funds crunch and that the varsity is not able to bear the cost of fee waiving any more.

Until last year, the fee for general merit students was Rs 16,225 while the fee for SC, ST category students was Rs 9,430 and the BCM students had to pay Rs 1,225 only. This time the fee has been increased to Rs 24,630. 

Speaking to Deccan Herald, a student of UVCE said the university has asked them to sign an undertaking standing as surety for the State government’s fee reimbursement scheme.

The university gets reimbursement from the government for all the fee concession it gives to students. In this case, the students have been asked to be ready to pay the entire fee in case the departments concerned fail to reimburse the fee amount to the university.

“How can the university ask for an undertaking? This is illegal,” the student said. Further, what has infuriated the students is the inclusion of “development fee” in the fee hike. According to the students, Rs 5,000 has been included as development fee.

Some of them met Vice-Chancellor Prof B Thimme Gowda in this connection with the signatures of around 2,000 students in support of their demands.

The students have asked the university to provide the necessary fee concessions and drop the development fee. The last date for to pay fee is September 6. Vice-Chancellor Prof B Thimme Gowda was not available for comments.