What is eTech@UCI?
eTech@UCI, the UC Irvine Educational Technology Initiative, builds on and expands UCI’s existing services and capabilities, extending them to meet the growing and changing needs of students for information technology resources in support of their educational and personal goals. It is funded via a course material fee.
What does eTech@UCI support?
Electronic educational technology at UCI including:
- Canvas learning management system
- EEE+ suite of learning management tools
- Third-party educational technology tools
- Software the supports remote and hybrid instruction (Zoom, Yuja, etc.)
- Course-related research and productivity software
- Other recommendations from the eTech Advisory Committee and campus affiliates
How much is the fee?
The course material fee is $5.50 per unit of undergraduate lecture courses enrolled in, up to a maximum amount of $82.50 per quarter. It is assessed at the end of the third week of instruction (5.p.m. Friday).
Did the fee change?
Yes, the eTech fee changed from $4.00 to $5.50 per undergraduate lecture unit in fall 2025. The limit is now $82.50 per quarter.
The eTech fee was set at $4.00 per unit at its inception in 2012. In 2020, the pandemic and ensuing shift to online teaching changed the University’s relationship with teaching technologies. While the majority of classes have returned to in-person teaching, changes made during the pandemic have permanently increased reliance on online tools, even in primarily in-person courses, and changed expectations about connectivity and access. By 2023, in the face of these changes in campus needs and significant increases in service costs, it became clear that eTech would not be able to sustain its level of service support at $4.00 per unit. An extensive analysis of costs and forecasted needs determined that a fee level of $5.50 would allow eTech to maintain its level of educational technology support. The resulting fee change proposal was reviewed and approved by the Student Fee Advisory Committee.
We do not take a student fee increase lightly and are confident that the increased fee will result in overall value for UCI’s students. There are a few ways in which the eTech fee reduces costs and provides a better experience for students overall:
- eTech-funded teaching software often takes the place of costly textbooks that students would otherwise need to buy.
- eTech is used to obtain bulk pricing for software that would cost far more if a student was to purchase it directly. For example, MATLAB (a data analysis tool) is required by several classes and is provided to students for free with support from eTech. A student MATLAB license costs $99 off the shelf.
- eTech funded services provide more dynamic, effective, and accessible learning experiences such as through tools like Zoom that enable more flexible collaboration, Ed Discussions that provides peer-to-peer engagement around course material, Apporto Virtual Computer Lab that makes lab software available from home, and NameCoach that creates a more inclusive environment by teaching name pronunciation.
- eTech supports the adoption of cutting edge tools, such as interactive AI-assisted learning tools, that make learning experiences feel more person while reducing the need for other kinds of operational costs and fees.
Why is the fee necessary?
Without the fee, existing services and capabilities would be cut back as has been the case elsewhere in the University.
Of course, also, without the fee there would be no way to support improving and expanding educational technology to meet the changing needs and preferences of students.
Students are investing in increasingly capable personal computing and communications devices from smart phones to tablets to laptops. Getting full value and use of these devices requires University investment in services and resources which this fee helps provide.
How does this fee relate to others?
This fee is separate from any other fees both in its purpose and in its administration. Recent fee increases have not been able to take into account the unique, pervasive and growing importance of educational technologies.
Irvine was an early pioneer in the use of educational technology; however, the current financial situation means that existing funding sources have been cut back and are not sufficient to sustain the current level of support nor to ensure we stay current in services that students need for their academic success.
How will the fee be collected?
The eTech Fee went into effect with the Winter 2012 quarter. It is assessed on ZOTBills after the third week of instruction each quarter, based on the number of units of undergraduate lecture courses a student is taking in that quarter. Dropping a course after the third week of instruction will not reduce the amount of the fee; the eTech Fee is nonrefundable. The fee is due at the next 30 day billing cycle. Enrollment in courses for any quarter is contingent upon fees for previous quarters being paid in full.
As a financial aid recipient, will I receive additional aid to pay for this fee?
No. The fee will be paid by a portion of the aid you receive toward your books and supplies.
What if I have questions about eTech@UCI or the fee?
Questions about eTech@UCI and the fee supporting it can be sent to eTech@uci.edu.