Eastern’s tuition rates have increased 6 percent for the 2010-2011 school year, however, some fees remain the same as last year, including the health services fee and the textbook rental service fee.

Lynette Drake, director of Health Services, said the health service fee will remain $90.90 for students.

Drake said the health service fee covers educational programs offered by the Health Educational Resource Center as well as medical examinations, but not everything is covered with the health service fee.

“There’s no cost for an actual visit, but students would pay for men’s and women’s health screening and x-rays,” she said.

Students also have to pay for immunizations, prescriptions, no show charges and medical equipment, such as crutches or arm slings.

These fees are usually charged to student accounts.

Carol Miller, director of Textbook Rental Service, said the fee for textbooks is $9.95 per credit hour.

“One dollar will be taken from the fee to go toward the construction of the new textbook rental building,” she said.

Late fines for books are $20, and the price of lost or damaged books depends on the book.

The student’s legal service fee, computer network fee and athletic fee will also remain the same.

However, as part of Eastern’s campus master plan, certain fees such as bond revenue, campus improvement and housing will increase this year.

On April 26, the bond revenue and campus improvement fees were increased to fund the new facilities of the master plan, along with the new science building.

This increase also includes the maintenance of the current science buildings.

Also, during the upcoming school year students will recieve billing statements via- e-mail.

Electronic billing is part of the new e-billing system that Eastern recently adopted.

The first electronic bill will be sent the evening of Aug. 2.

Linda Coffey, bursar, said financial aid will be disbursed the first day of classes, which will be Aug. 23.

She said the funds go in to student bank accounts through direct deposit.

Students who do not have direct deposit will receive a check on the Friday of the first week.

Coffey said students can sign up for direct deposit any time throughout the year.

“To have it for the first week, we recommend that students sign up two days before the start of classes,” Coffey said.

Alesha Bailey can be reached at 581-7942 or at ambailey2@eiu.edu

Photo Illustration by Jordan Boner

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