While the Residence Life department ponders possible budget restrictions for next year, resident assistants could see a compensation increase if a Vision Ohio grant proposal is approved.
Judy Piercy, assistant vice president for Student Affairs and Residence Life director, said most Ohio institutions pay the entire cost of an RA's room, but Ohio University covers only 61 percent of that cost in addition to a $2,140-$3,240 total annual stipend.
The department asked the Strategic Initiatives Fund for $150,000 of the additional $360,000 needed to supplement RA room fees, according to the proposal. Auxiliary Services would fund the remaining $210,000.
The department will present the proposal to the General Fee Advisory Committee, which will make a recommendation on whether the proposal should move forward to Kent Smith, vice president for Student Affairs. Smith will then make a recommendation to President Roderick McDavis, who has the final decision.
If granted, the proposal would increase RA compensation to 100 percent of room fees, but Residence Life would need $668,000 to pay for both room and board, according to the proposal.
Piercy said the proposal falls under Vision Ohio's goal of improving students' experiences at OU.
It enhances the undergraduate experience that we have qualified and experienced staff
she said.
In an open forum with RAs and security aides, Piercy asked students for input on reducing the department's budget. The department will present to the General Fee Advisory Committee how it would absorb a 3 or 5 percent budget cut. Some of the plausible ideas students proposed were reducing SA hours and reducing the programming budget by taking advantage of already existing campus activities, Piercy said.
The group also discussed reducing parking costs and charging organizations to put up fliers in the residence halls. After examining those options, Piercy said they do not seem possible.
I don't think it's a serious possibility she said. I appreciate the staff members' creativity . . . (but) I don't think we could generate enough income (to justify it).
Aside from budget problems, the forum included discussion about reconfiguring the professional staff placement to include fewer resident directors and assistant resident directors, and more graduate resident directors.
The goal of these changes would be to reduce RD workload in large complexes and increase student interaction with the professional staff. RDs make a $42,000 annual salary plus benefits and GRDs make $17,000.
The reconfiguration possibilities made some RAs worry about being in a smaller staff and having to do rounds alone. But confrontations that require more than one person are rare, Piercy said. Despite concerns about their responsibilities, RAs thought students would benefit from increased access to RDs and GRDs.
Piercy said she hopes to have more discussions with students as planning continues for next year.
When you have a broader group of people looking at a problem or idea the result is better
she said, adding that students propose ideas she never thought of.
As a division
we've made a commitment to involving students in our conversations about how we're going to make cuts if that becomes necessary
Piercy explained.
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Emily Grannis
