Office of the Bursar
Accessory Instruction Fee

On July 15, 2024, ESF announced a change in how undergraduate and graduate students are charged for elective courses taken at Syracuse University (SU). 

ESF and SU have enjoyed a partnership dating back to our founding in 1911 – and that partnership remains strong today. The formal contract memorializing this arrangement is the five-year accessory instruction agreement we have with Syracuse University. Going forward, ESF will pay SU $750/credit hour for classes our students take there. While this fee represents a discount to ESF, the cumulative total results in an annual $2M cost to our college. The accessory instruction cost for ESF has become prohibitive, given the lower tuition charged to students who attend ESF.

It is a priority for us to continue to make courses at Syracuse available to our students and, as a result, we have implemented the following for Fall 2024:

• Credits for SU courses required for an ESF major will continue to be provided to our students at no additional cost.
• Credits for SU electives taken by our students will be charged to our students at the deeply discounted rate of $355/credit hour.

We are happy to be able to continue to provide our students with access to Syracuse University courses and believe this new arrangement balances our desire to do so with the reality of the cost to ESF.

The following courses taken at SU will continue to be offered at no additional cost to our students:

• PHY 101- Major Concepts of Physics I
• PHY 102- Major Concepts of Physics II
• PHY 211- General Physics I
• PHY 212- General Physics II
• PHY 221- General Physics Laboratory I
• PHY 222- General Physics Laboratory II
• CEE 337- Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering
• NSD 114- Food Safety and Quality Assurance

In addition, all MSL and ASC courses required for ROTC programs will receive an automatic fee waiver.

What To Do Next

If students registered for an elective at SU for the fall semester, the fee will appear on their Fall 2024 bill. ESF will open the MySlice registration portal on August 14 for students who choose to drop the SU elective and instead add an ESF course, which will result in the removal of the accessory instruction fee.

Beginning August 19, ESF faculty and advisors will be available to assist students with this process ensuring they remain on track to achieve their academic goals. 

Students may also apply for a waiver and appeal the accessory instruction fee by filling out the Accessory Instruction Appeal Form located on this page. Appeals will be considered on a case-by-case basis in a timely manner to ensure there is no delay in completing registrations for the Fall semester. You will also find FAQs on this page. 

We appreciate your understanding and stand ready to work with every student to ensure they remain on track to achieve their academic goals. While we have worked hard to prepare internally, I will also ask for your patience over the course of the next few weeks as we manage the implementation of this new policy.

All SU courses remain available to our students. For those courses that are required to fulfill a major, there will be no change. For those courses that are electives and where options exist to take a course at ESF instead, you will see a fee equal to $355/credit hour added to your student bills.

If you have further questions or need assistance, please contact the Bursar’s Office via email at bursar@esf.edu.

We value your contributions and commitment to ESF, and we look forward to welcoming all of our students to campus in August for the 2024-2025 academic year. 

Sincerely,

Joanie Mahoney
President

 

Why is ESF instituting an Accessory Instruction Fee?

One of SUNY’s primary goals is to maintain affordability and access to all New Yorkers wishing to achieve their learning goals.

ESF has a special relationship with our neighbor, Syracuse University, which provides open access to all their courses to ESF. Syracuse University is not a part of the SUNY system and charges a tuition that is more than that charged by ESF and other SUNY institutions.

ESF does not wish to limit our students’ access to SU courses should they choose to take them. ESF cannot, however, continue to subsidize the difference in the rate ESF students pay for tuition, which is set by the New York State Legislature, and the rate charged by Syracuse University for credit hours there.

This fee of $355 is a tremendous value for ESF students while also ensuring that our tuition dollars and state aid remain available for ESF to use to support our faculty, staff, and facilities. 

Can I seek a waiver from this fee?

Yes. The College has a waiver process and each request will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis with a focus on ensuring that students maintain a timely path to graduation.

Courses required to complete your major course of study that ESF does not offer will be automatically waived (please refer to the list of courses that are automatically waived). However, the College will assess this fee on all directed electives, general education electives, and general electives.

Will ESF waive this fee if a course is approved for my graduate degree course of study? 

Please fill out the waiver form and each case will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The College will take into consideration courses that have been previously approved for a graduate student’s faculty approved course of study. 

My advisor approved my SU course, does this make me eligible for a fee waiver?

Advisor approval is not a basis for a fee waiver. Going forward, advisors will notify students that when registering for SU courses the Accessory Instruction Fee will apply.

What if my waiver is denied?

You may proceed with ESF’s add/drop process (see questions below for detailed instructions). If you opt to remain enrolled at SU, you will be assessed the accessory instruction fee.

If you have additional substantial information to justify an appeal, you may submit another waiver request online here.

It is important to note that late payment fees will not be assessed on pending and unpaid Accessory Instruction charges while you work through the waiver and add/drop process with your academic advisor.

Do I have to pay the Accessory Instruction Fee if I audit a course at Syracuse University?

ESF does not permit its students to audit courses at Syracuse University.

I don’t think I’ll be able to graduate unless I take the courses I’ve registered for, what should I do?

Please use the waiver process and explain your circumstances.

What if I can’t get into another course at the same time at ESF if I choose to add drop?

We will work with all students to ensure the continuity of their schedule. This is new to all of us including our faculty and academic advisors.

What courses receive an automatic waiver?

If your program of study requires the classes below, you will not be assessed a fee:

• PHY 101- Major Concepts of Physics I
• PHY 102- Major Concepts of Physics II
• PHY 211- General Physics I
• PHY 212- General Physics II
• PHY 221- General Physics Laboratory I
• PHY 222- General Physics Laboratory II
• CEE 337- Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering
• NSD 114- Food Safety and Quality Assurance

In addition, all MSL and ASC courses required for ROTC programs will receive an automatic fee waiver.

I’m registered for a course at Syracuse University that is an approved elective in my major. Will I be assessed the accessory instruction fee?

Yes. Any course that is not on the approved list (see above) will be charged a fee.

How much is the fee and when do I need to pay it?

The fee is $355 per credit hour. An ESF student electing to register for a three-credit SU course will result in the assessment of an accessory instruction access fee totaling $1,065, which represents a tremendous value for the quality of the classes offered and the caliber of the faculty at SU. 

Can I get additional financial aid to cover the fee?

The fee is not covered separately by financial aid or scholarships.

When is the last day to drop a class?

The last day to drop a class is February 7.  However, if you drop a class after the first week of classes, you will be partially liable for all tuition and fees associated with that class.  For more information about the liability schedule, please refer to the Bursar page: https://www.esf.edu/tuition-aid/bursar/

Can bills be paid with a payment plan?

Yes, payment plans are available for student bills. You can find them in the student portal where your bill is posted.

How was the decision to implement a new fee made?

We did not make this decision lightly; it was after careful consideration and financial analysis, and with authorization from SUNY.

How do I drop a class?

These instructions to drop a class are for prior to the end of the add period at the beginning of a semester. After the end of the add period, students must submit a registration form signed by the instructor of the class and their advisor to the Registrar's Office and their staff will drop the class. Students do not have access to make any changes in MySlice after the end of the add period.

1. Click on the "Enroll in a Class" from the Student Services application. The Enrollment/Select a Term page is displayed.
2. Select the term for which the class is to be dropped. The Enrollment/View My Schedule page appears.
3. Select the "Drop/Update Classes" at the bottom of the page. Enrollment Drop/Update page and a listing of all enrolled classes is displayed.
4. Select the class you want to drop. Select from the enrollment action field located on the same row as the class to be dropped. Choose DROP from the drop-down menu. DROP is displayed in the ACTION field.
5. Click SUBMIT button. The enrollment request is posted. The update status is changed to success, and the Enrollment Status is DROPPED.

Please consult with your academic advisor before making changes to your schedule.

How do I add a class?

To add a class:

1. Click on the "Enroll/Drop/Adjust Classes" in the Student Services application in the Portal. The Enrollment/Select a Term page is displayed.
2. Select "Add Classes" at the bottom of the page. The Enrollment/Add Classes page is displayed.
3. Enter the 5-digit class number in the class number field or search for a class.
4. Select class and add to shopping cart
5. Proceed to step 2 of 3
6. Confirm enrollment
7. The Add status displays:

Success = The class has been added to your schedule, or

Errors=The class has not been added. See the enrollment errors section for information to help resolve the error.

Please consult with your academic advisor before making changes to your schedule.

I’m registered for a course at Syracuse University that is required for my minor. Will I be assessed the accessory instruction fee?

Yes. Any course that is not on the approved list (see above) will be charged a fee.