Fees, Room, and Meal Plans
Comprehensive Services Fee
The Comprehensive Services Fee covers some of the costs associated with the Caprio Alumni Healthful Living Center, Campus Center, health services, counseling, placement services, technology fees, and other support activities at the University. The fee is $1,275 per semester for full-time undergraduate students.
Health Insurance Fee
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires all students enrolled at or above a three-quarter full-time load to have health insurance, and coverage must meet minimum standards defined by the state. Students enrolled for nine or more credits (five credits for graduate students in the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business or Engineering), must have coverage unless they are enrolled in fully-online programs.
To ensure students meet the state's health insurance coverage requirements, the University makes available a general health insurance program provided by an outside carrier. Coverage begins at the start of the school year and continues for twelve months. The fee appears on the student's charges in Self-Service. Students with comparable coverage may request a waiver by completing the online waiver form accessible in Self-Service; only approved waiver requests will have the annual fee removed. Students who do not complete the waiver and receive an official approval of such by the required deadline will be responsible for the fee on their account. See Immunization and Health Record Requirements in the Legal Matters section of this catalog for insurance requirements necessary for registration.
Health Services Fee
The Health Services Fee enables all matriculated undergraduate and graduate students (full-time and part-time) at WNE to access the services provided by the Center for Health and Wellness (Health Services, Counseling Services, and Health Promotion, Prevention, and Education Services) with no additional charges. The fee is $100 per semester for full-time students and $50 per semester for part-time students.
Laboratory Fees
Laboratory fees are required for some courses and are indicated in the course descriptions. The charge covers the use of laboratory equipment, machinery, chemicals, supplies, computers, and business machines. The laboratory fees are payable at the time of registration and are not refundable.
Student Activities Fee
Each full-time undergraduate student, by vote of the Student Association and endorsement of the Student Senate, is assessed $150 per semester as a Student Activities Fee. Payable at the beginning of each semester, the fee is not refundable. Funds are allocated through the Student Senate and provide the principal source of funding for social and cultural programming, traditional events; student clubs and organizations; student publications such as the newspaper and yearbook; and the radio station. The Student Activities Fee also supports publication of the Student Handbook and allows for cooperative funding of such programs as new student orientation, minority and international student groups, and Family and Friends Weekend.
Residential Fees for 2023-2024
New and transfer undergraduate students normally reside in residence halls composed of traditional rooms and suites, and they are required to participate in a meal plan. The housing and food rates are as follows (all double occupancy rooms):
New and Transfer Students
Standard Housing: Quad (Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden), Windham - $14,900
Premium Housing: Commonwealth Hall and LaRiviere Center- $16,900
Returning Undergraduate Students
Returning undergraduates normally reside in the apartments or townhouses, all of which have kitchens. Various dining options are available. Housing room rates are as follows:
Gateway Apartments (standard housing/double-occupancy) *$10,500
Evergreen Village/Southwood (double-occupancy) *$13,000
Southwood (single occupancy) *$14,100
*Room fee only
General Housing Policy
Students are required to live in University housing their first two years unless granted an exception to live off campus. Students must be actively enrolled at the University as a full-time, undergraduate degree candidate. The Resident Student Housing Agreement is binding for the full academic year unless the student starts mid-year, graduates, or withdraws from the University. Students who are not required, but request, to live on campus must complete a housing application and pay a nonrefundable, nontransferable housing verification payment to participate in the housing selection process.
Payments and Billing for Campus Housing
The procedure differs for incoming and currently matriculating students, as follows:
For incoming students, the housing verification payment (to the amount of $300) is due immediately upon notification of acceptance from the Admissions Office or as otherwise defined by the University. Receipt of this payment also authorizes student-initiated participation in the online housing selection process.
Currently matriculated students are expected to provide the housing verification payment (to the amount of $300) by the application deadline. This is a non-refundable, non-transferable payment. Receipt of this payment authorizes student-initiated participation in the online housing selection process as a returning student. To confirm campus residency, the student is responsible for completing all components of the online process. Otherwise, the University rightfully presumes the student, if not required to live on campus, has made other arrangements for accommodations as a commuter. Any student who submits this payment late will be placed on a waiting list and will choose their housing on a space-available basis after students who submitted their housing verification payment on time. Proper submission of the housing verification payment and completion of the online process will result in the appropriate residency fee (room and board charge, if applicable) billed to the student’s account with the University.
Students who are required to live on campus but do not select housing for themselves will be assigned and financially responsible for housing as long as they are enrolled and required to live on campus.
Change to Commuter Status
Students may not change to commuter status while they are required to live on campus. If a student who is not required to live on campus notifies the Office of Residence Life, in writing, of their decision to commute for the fall or spring semester by the first Monday in August, then all room and board charges for the respective fall or spring semester, except the housing verification payment, will be credited to the student's account. After the deadline, the student is obligated to the Housing Agreement for both the fall and spring semester.
Complete Withdrawal from the University
All room and board charges except the housing verification payment will be credited to the student’s account if they have officially withdrawn from the University prior to the first day of classes for the semester.
All rates are for occupancy on a semester-basis and are refunded according to the Tuition, Room and Meal Plan Refund Schedule. Status as a full-time student must be maintained through mid-semester to qualify for university housing. Failure to meet the established payment deadlines releases the University from any obligation to maintain the housing reservation.
Normally, University residence units must be vacated during regularly scheduled vacation periods. At the close of the academic year for which residency has been authorized, all of the student’s personal property is to be removed from the premises and the appropriate checkout procedure is to have been completed. Items left behind shall be considered abandoned and disposed of by the University.
University insurance does not cover students' personal property. Students should obtain their own renter's insurance or make sure their belongings are covered by their family/parents' homeowner's or renter's insurance.
Residence Hall/Area Damage Deposit
Students are required to leave their living space in good order when departing from the University. A damage deposit of $100 per student is required of all resident students. Damages are charged against occupants when necessary. This deposit is refundable at the end of the senior year or on withdrawal from the University. The refund will be based upon the condition of the living space at the time of departure.
Meal Plans
Students residing in traditional or suite-style units are required to participate in a comprehensive meal plan. As such, they will be assigned to the 7-day All Access Meal Plan by the Office of Residence Life. Students residing in Gateway Village apartments, Evergreen Village, Southwood Hall, or commuting may choose to participate in a variety of alternative meal plans. Individual meals are also available on a cash basis. Meal points may be purchased in a variety of denominations and can be used for any food service on campus.
No meals are served during regularly scheduled vacation periods.
Meal plan fees are billed on a semester basis and are due with other student charges. Meal plan fees are refunded according to the Tuition, Room and Meal Plan Refund Schedule. Food Service professionals are available to assist with dietary concerns, such as food allergies. Detailed documentation from a physician, outlining specific food restrictions and/or needs, should be provided to the Office of Residence Life. An opportunity will then be coordinated to review specific dietary concerns with personnel in Food Service.
Students who fail to follow this process, regardless of its outcome, are not relieved of financial obligations.