The Student Required Fee Committee approved the Student Health Center’s proposal Tuesday for a $60 student fee increase during a three-year period. Beginning fall 2009, the plan aims to raise the current $120 student fee to $180 during the next three years. The focus of the three-hour meeting’s discussion was “getting the biggest bang for your buck.” Six members of the SRF Committee voted in favor of the proposal. Student Senate Speaker Colorado Robertson opposed the increase, and Student Government President Cassie Alsfeld abstained as SRF Committee chair. Two committee members were not present. Arthur Goulas, Student Health Center director, first presented the proposal to the committee Feb. 8 for a $20 semester increase. He said it is necessary to maintain the current level of services offered by the center. He said an increase is also essential to keep the department out of the red because of inflation.The center will have a negative balance of $1,709,840 by the 2011-2012 fiscal year, according to Goulas’ budgetary projection. The committee told Goulas to revise the proposal and include only the funds necessary to maintain the auxiliary service. Goulas presented a modified proposal Tuesday afternoon requesting a $20 fee increase for 2009-2010, a $15 increase for 2010-2011 and a $15 increase for 2011-2012. “We can accomplish whatever we want to do with either one,” Goulas said. “But the 20-20-20 plan will build up reserves. You have to project out what you may need.” Goulas said the modified plan would increase the centers reserve account by 6 percent by 2011-2012. The original plan would raise the account by 14 percent. The committee discussed the value added of the fee increase – what benefits students can expect to see after the auxiliary service implements student fees. Alsfeld said she would like to see the center extend its hours of operation to accommodate students with late class schedules. “Staying open until 7 p.m. or 10 p.m. is not unrealistic,” Alsfeld said. “I think it is necessary. Many students are in class until after 5 p.m.” The committee also asked Goulas if it would be possible to make changes to mental health services offered to students. Goulas said it is possible to increase the number of crisis hotline employees, but that would require salary negotiations. “Sometimes, you don’t always have 9 [a.m.] to 5 [p.m.] issues,” she said. “Since these reviews only happen every four years, I would really like to see us look into this seriously. Especially with the shootings, I think these are services we need to provide.” During the meeting, Goulas resonated a statement he said when he first presented the proposal nearly three weeks ago. “I always hate to come before the student body,” he said. Eric Monday, associate vice chancellor for finance and administration, left the meeting early and did not vote. Ford Athmann, SRF Committee student representative, did not attend. Despite being a six to four student majority committee, Robertson said Athmann has not attended one meeting since his spring 2007 appointment to the committee. The recommendation will be sent to Acting Chancellor William Jenkins for consideration. If the proposal passes favorably, it will then be sent to the Board of Supervisors for the final implementation.
View the SRF committee fee proposal presentation here.
—-Contact Natalie Messina at [email protected]