The Undergraduate Council will soon consider a 50-percent hike in the fee paid by every Harvard student to support the council's activities.

If enacted, the hike, which would be only the second increase in the council's 12-year history, would raise the Undergraduate Council fee included on every student's term bill from $20 to $30.

Council representatives discussed the possibility of a fee hike, yesterday during a joint meeting of the Committee on College Life and the Committee on House Life.

In addition to the hike, Council members discussed the possibility of making it more difficult for students to avoid paying the fee. They also said the council's membership could be reduced by as much as one-fifth in the near future.

Council members at the meeting projected that the increase in the fee would boost the council's budget to $180,000, about $60,000 more than its current budget.

John Mann '92-'94, a member of the council's reevaluation committee, characterized the hike as "barely keeping up with inflation. "He said the additional funds would allow the council to sponsor more events on campus.

But the proposed fee increase must still be presented before the full council. And Mann said that if students oppose the idea, the council will not pursue it.

"If nobody thinks we do anything, we don't want any more money, "Mann said.

A fee hike could affect students' ability to waive the fee on their term bill if it is coupled with another change members discussed at the meeting.

Currently, undergraduates can get $16.67 of their $20 council fee refunded by checking off the appropriate box on their term bill. To receive the remaining $3.33, students must write a letter to the dean of students.

This year, approximately 16 percent of undergraduates waived much of their term bill fee with a single check mark, costing the council at least $15,000.

Council representatives yesterday said they were considering a system in which any individual who wanted a refund would have to write a letter to the dean.

But if the fee hike or other proposals are passed by the council, they would still have to receive the approval of the full faculty, Dean of the College L. Fred Jewett '57 said yesterday.

"Any fundamental changes...to the Undergraduate Council must be voted on by the full faculty," Jewett said. "There will be a lot of debate for a term bill increase."

During the meeting, Council rep- resentatives said they were consideringdownsizing the body by as much as one-fifth. Thereduction would come in response to criticism thatthe sheer size of the council allows somerepresentative to neglect their responsibilities.

"We want to eliminate any dead weight," Mannsaid.