The Ohio University Student Senate recently passed a resolution affirming support for General Fee-funded programs and services by opposing fee structure changes that would threaten these services. In response to calls to rebalance the Instructional Fee and General Fee, senate’s resolution states that changing the ratio of these revenue sources would threaten essential student services that directly support academic persistence and success.
The Division of Student Affairs is funded by the General Fee, with the majority of the division’s operating budget used to support the health, safety and wellness of students. The four largest budgets in the division are Counseling and Psychological Services, Student Health Services, Campus Recreation and Baker Center/Event Services. These unique services are essential in a residential campus environment.
In addition to health and safety needs, Student Affairs creates unique opportunities for students to be engaged outside the classroom. Student Affairs offers practical applications for learning and leadership development, and students take advantage of these opportunities.
According to the first-year involvement study conducted by OU’s Office of Institutional Research, 88 percent of first-year students in 2009-10 reported participating in extracurricular activities, up from 77 percent in 2006-07. That same year 72 percent of first-year students reported participating in campus recreation activities, up from 57 percent in 2006-07. These are students who are more likely to progress, be academically successful and persist to graduation (Kuh, 2005 & National Survey on Student Engagement, 2010).
Yet, the Student Affairs division has not been immune to significant budget reductions in recent years. Since 2006-07, the Student Affairs General Fee budget has been reduced by 11.5 percent.
Since Baker University Center opened in 2007, its budget has been reduced by almost 15 percent, and Campus Recreation has sustained a cut of more than 26 percent in the same time frame. The division has eliminated 15 full-time positions, representing 10 percent of its workforce. Another 11 positions are currently held vacant because of the hiring freeze with an additional seven full-time staff working in interim appointments.
These reductions have required restructuring including the consolidation of Housing and Residence Life into Residential Housing; combining Baker University Center, University Events and Conferences Services into Event Services; and the merging of Health Promotion, Leadership, Greek Life, Community Service, Student Organizations, Baker Programming and the Performing Arts Series into the Campus Involvement Center.
Baker University Center and the Ping Center have also reduced their hours of operation.
The division has made these changes along with many others as good stewards of the resources OU students and their families are investing.
The dedicated professionals in the Division of Student Affairs are committed to the mission of serving students every day. We are grateful to the Student Senate for publicly acknowledging that this mission is essential to student success at OU.
Dr. Kent J. Smith Jr. is the vice president for Student Affairs.
