A student general fee committee heard budget input from the 10 departments of Ohio University's Division of Student Affairs last night and will eventually recommend how the division should spend its allotted money.
Student Affairs presented how it would implement 3 and 5 percent reductions in general fee support and made a proposal for an increase of around $519,000 from the $7.7 million received in 2007. Student Affairs comprises Baker Center, Campus Life, Career Services, Counseling and Psychological Services, Health Education and Wellness, Student Health Services, Judiciaries, University Events and the offices of the Dean of Students and Vice President.
To be honest
after the last couple years of cuts the Student Affairs staff has quietly gone about their business and hunkered down and worked harder said Terry Hogan, dean of students. We're getting to a point where we're not able to continue doing that.
About $194,000 of the requested increase in general fee support would go toward Counseling Services ' a program in a near critical condition financially, said Rich Carpinelli, associate vice president for budget and operations within Student Affairs.
We think their level of funding right now is unacceptable
he said.
Student Affairs also requested $150,000 for Residence Life's plan to increase Resident Assistant compensation. RA compensation at OU ranks 23 out of 39 Ohio colleges and universities, according to the department's proposal.
Residence Life wants to increase RA compensation $360,000 over three years. Auxiliary Services, the department in charge of operating residence and dining halls, agreed to pay $210,000. The department already requested $150,000 through the Strategic Investment Fund.
We do get quality RAs
but they don't stay with us for very long
and that's a major concern
said Judy Piercy, assistant vice president for Student Affairs and Residence Life director.
The university divides the general fee revenue among athletics, student enrichment and campus life, and health, wellness and safety.The Student General Fee Advisory Committee will meet with all organizations that receive funding from the general fee pool and will present recommendations to Budget Planning Council. Organizations are supposed to present how they would implement 3 and 5 percent budget reductions and are allowed to submit proposals for increased funding.In other news
Following the Athletics Department's presentation Monday ' where it asked for a more than $425,000 increase in general fee support ' Student Senate and the Student Activities Commission each presented options for reducing their budgets 3 or 5 percent.
Student Senate, which received about $23,000 in general fee support for 2006-07, would decrease its advertising and general accounts a combined $4,500 to meet either scenario. Its 2007-08 budget request asks for an increase of $3,242, or 14 percent.
More than 360 student organizations are eligible for money from SAC, which funds University Program Council, International Student Union and Black Students Cultural Programming Board.
SAC ' whose budget is separate from Student Senate ' received about $446,000 for 2006-07 and focused most of its potential losses in its operating budget. It requested an additional $64,997 for 2007-08.
I truly believe students learn from experiences outside the class
said Molly McKenney, who as Student Senate treasurer, oversees the SAC funds. Most student organizations keep their activity prices low because of SAC funding.
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