Fee Reimbursement Information Center

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On May 28th, reimbursement checks for fees paid by 50% ASEs in Winter Quarter 2013 were mailed by the University.  However the amount issued for the SFR Fee was incorrect: the Winter 2013 SFR fee was $91 while only $80 (plus interest) was reimbursed.  We’ve contacted the University about this mistake and to inquire how it will be fixed.  For more information click here. Many ASEs have already received their checks; if you do not receive yours soon (allowing for mail delivery time) please notify laborrel@uw.edu.  You’re welcome to copy us at uaw4121@uaw4121.org.

On March 25th the University mailed over 5,000 checks to all ASEs they believed to be eligible for reimbursements of the SFR and U-Pass fees.  Their calculations were made according to the arbitrator’s award and our settlement agreement.   Many ASEs have already received their checks; if you do not receive yours soon (allowing for mail delivery time) please notify laborrel@uw.edu.  You’re welcome to copy us at uaw4121@uaw4121.org.

The components of the settlement agreement [which you can read in its entirety here] are as follows:

• The decision of the arbitrator, which held that the University violated the collective bargaining agreement when they imposed these new fees without waiving them—for ASEs with 50% appointments, will stand, and UW will not continue to challenge it in the courts.
• All ASEs with 50% appointments who paid the SFR Fee from Fall 2011 through Winter 2013 will receive a full reimbursement.  This reimbursement will be paid with 12% interest.
• All ASEs with 50% appointments who paid the UPASS Fee from Fall 2011 through Fall 2012 shall receive a full reimbursement for the U-PASS Fee for each quarter where it was used 5 or fewer times.  Reimbursements will be paid with 12% interest.
• For the duration of the current collective bargaining agreement (which expires April 30, 2015), ASEs with 50% appointments who do not use the U-PASS will be eligible for a full reimbursement (if the total number of ASEs seeking reimbursement exceeds 15% of eligible ASEs, the reimbursements will be prorated).
• ASEs with 50% appointments will also receive a 50% remittance (pay-back) of the SFR fee between Spring 2013 and Spring 2014; and a 100% remittance of the SFR fee between Summer 2014 and the expiration of the contract.

 

FAQ

New 1) What should I do if I didn’t receive a reimbursement?

Send an email to laborrel@uw.edu – the University office who is handling queries about the issue. Please include your employee ID (not student ID) and make sure your address is up to date in UW Employee Self Service. You can also copy us at uaw4121@uaw4121.org

New 2) How much should my reimbursement be?

Please see this chart which lists the amount of fees per quarter that should be reimbursed per the settlement agreement.  In addition please note the following:

1. We learned after the March 25^th reimbursements had been sent that the University did not include the Winter 2013 SFR reimbursement in the calculation.  UW is still obligated to issue the amount ($91 plus interest) “in the most prompt manner feasible” and has communicated to us that they will do so in a separate check.
2. In addition, UW appears to have not included in the check one quarter of SFR reimbursement from the 2011/12 academic year ($6 plus interest).  Like the Winter 2013 amount we are pursuing this with UW to ensure the payments will be issued as quickly as possible.

New 3) Even accounting for the omissions described in (2), I think my reimbursement amount is wrong.  What should I do?

Please contact laborrel@uw.edu if you think there is a problem with your reimbursement and feel free to copy us at uaw4121@uaw4121.org  Keep in mind that you are eligible for a reimbursement of your U-PASS for each quarter that you used it 5 times or fewer between Fall 2011 and Fall 2012.

New 4) Why are my fees in Spring quarter 2013 not less than they were in Winter 2013?

Per the settlement agreement, all ASEs are still required to pay the Building Fee* ($132 in Spring 2013), SAF Fee ($120 in Sp ‘13), IMA Fee ($35 in Sp ‘13), SFR Fee ($91 in Sp ‘13), and Universal U-PASS Fee ($76 in Sp ‘13).  However for ASEs with 50% FTE appointments:

• 50% of the SFR Fee will be remitted for Spring 2013 (see chart  for future quarter amounts)
• 100% of the U-PASS will be reimbursed for ASEs who do not use it

For example in Spring quarter of 2013, a 50% ASE enrolled in a Tier 1 graduate program and classified as a resident would pay $454 in mandatory fees.  That ASE would be reimbursed $45.50 for the SFR fee.  Additionally, that ASE would be reimbursed $76 for the Universal U-PASS fee if his or her U-PASS was not used during Spring quarter.

* The building fee varies by tuition category and residency status.  Amount listed is for Tier 1 Graduate Tuition category.  For more information on graduate tuition categories please click here.

New 5) How do I get my remissions for the SFR or U-PASS in Spring 2013 (and beyond)?

Under the settlement the University agreed to implement a system that avoids billing ASEs for fees or portions of fees for which they are not responsible, unless this is not administratively feasible.  We are continuing to work with UW to determine what such a system will look like and to ensure that reimbursements will be processed as quickly as possible.  For the U-PASS the University might need Eligible Non-Users to sign disclosures that allow them to access individual accounts to verify that the U-PASS has not been used.

New 6) Can I cash my reimbursement check? 

Yes, you can cash your reimbursement check.  If the amount that the University has sent you is less than the amount provided by the settlement agreement, then the University is still obligated to remit to you the full value of your reimbursement.  Cashing this check does not remove any rights you have under the settlement agreement.