Ohio University administrators will bring students into Budget Planning Council discussions earlier after learning last week the majority were unaware it existed.
Last Thursday’s Student Senate ballot included four issues addressing BPC’s function and student involvement, but of the nearly 1,900 students surveyed, about 62 percent reported had no prior knowledge of the council.
The new questions were added to the ballot after Zach George, senate president-elect, met with Ohio Student Power, leading to a resolution that passed earlier this month.
“I think lack of student awareness is partially to blame,” George said in an email. “Most students are familiar with the Board of Trustees or the president’s office. Few are probably aware of the existence of a BPC due to the fact that BPC is something unique to Ohio University.”
Stephen Golding, vice president for Finance and Administration and co-chair of BPC, believes that the senate was hoping to increase earlier student involvement in making budget decisions.
“(This is something) which I believe would be helpful and the provost and I would welcome,” said Golding in an email. “I am not sure how the students communicate with each other, but do know the open budget forum we did was not well attended.”
Though BPC publishes its meeting minutes online, the meetings are closed to the public.
Kyle Triplett, Student Senate president, is a member of BPC and agrees that the council could be more visible to students on campus.
“I think these resources are there for students who want to know about it, but at the same time the council could do a better job of the forums that they have each year regarding where they’re at raising costs,” Triplett said. “When you get out there more to educate, then people are going to be able to make a decision.”
sj950610@ohiou.edu
